We Are IH: Kamloops social worker is a trusted advocate

February 13, 2025

Interior Health social worker Magalie Knopf works at Royal Inland Hospital and in Home & Community Care.

Name: Magalie Knopf (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Social Worker
Years of Service: 1.5
Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital and Home & Community Care
Community: Kamloops
Ancestral Territory: Secwepemc Nation
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: "What’s meant for you will never miss you, and what misses you was never meant for you." - Imam Al-Shafii

For Interior Health (IH) social worker Magalie Knopf, her destination is the product of her journey. Born in Haiti, she was adopted and moved to Canada at the age of four. She grew up in Alberta as the youngest of eight children. She graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work and has been a registered social worker in Alberta and B.C.

“What inspired me to pursue a career in social work was initially rooted in my own experiences: I experienced significant loss at an early age. I became passionate about maternal health and advocating for education and support systems that could prevent maternal death, especially for those in developing countries,” Magalie says.

“I have always been drawn to being part of systems impacting change. Working in health care allows me to support change both at a macro level and micro level by addressing not only immediate health needs, but also social determinants of health.”

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Learn more about Magalie’s journey with IH

A smiling woman with long hair wearing casual clothes and a New York Yankees hat holds a camera in one hand while standing outside. The scene in the background is blurred. — Magalie owns Magalie J Photography.

Magalie has experienced a lot of great moments while working at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops and in Home & Community Care. She enjoys being able to bridge the gap between the two settings, helping people navigate complex systems and making them feel heard.

“I'm always empathetic to the frustrations of trying to make calls or get to appointments, and having to talk to endless people before getting listened to or having your issue resolved,” she said.

“It always feels impactful when I’m able to take on some of a person’s frustrations and be on the other end advocating to get the care they need, whether they’re the patient or the family member. It's incredibly meaningful to have helped make a small difference in situations that otherwise may have left them without support.”

-- Magalie Knopf

Advocacy has always been a key component of Magalie’s work and led her to pursue work experiences around the globe. One of her favourite experiences was working as a regional representative for an international non-profit agency in San Diego and getting to travel across Canada and the U.S. She has engaged and spoken with leaders at the Parliament of Canada, the U.S. Senate and other world leaders about international development efforts.

She has also held various positions focused on justice and substantive equality for people experiencing gender and race-based oppression. Before IH, Magalie spent the past six years focused on supporting culturally based practices in adoption, and kinship connections in Indigenous child welfare. She now directs much of her personal advocacy towards adoptee voices pertaining to cross-cultural adoption and has been featured in various publications and media outlets, providing both a professional and personal perspective.

A woman wearing summery clothing stands on a tropical beach by some shrubbery and looks out at the ocean. — Magalie in Barbados.

Outside of work, Magalie has a long list of hobbies including travel, wine touring, cooking, and health and wellness. She owns a photography business (Magalie J Photography) and hopes to continue to grow her business as a lifestyle photographer specializing in commercial, travel and event photography. She also works as a seasonal employee for Princess Cruises as a youth staff member. Much of her travel with the cruise line has been in the Caribbean.

She is looking forward to spending time travelling this year, pursuing her hobbies, resting, and enjoying time with friends and family.

Magalie is a strong supporter of inclusion, belonging and accessibility, and ties these principles into her area of work.

“To me, inclusion, belonging and accessibility are about creating spaces where everyone feels valued, respected and supported, regardless of their background or abilities,” she said. “It’s about recognizing and celebrating diversity, ensuring that barriers - physical, social or systemic - are removed, and making sure everyone has an equal opportunity to participate, contribute and thrive.”