Community & Culture

We Are IH: Kelowna psychiatric nurse strives for excellence

Name: Tanya Chmilar (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Registered Nurse/Registered Psychiatric Nurse
Years of Service: 25
Worksite: Community Health Services Centre
Community: Kelowna
Ancestral Territory: Syilx Okanagan
Advice to live by: Have fun and do your best. Maintain a work-life balance.

Tanya Chmilar lives her motto every day — both at work and in her personal life: Have fun and do your best. After earning her Psychiatric Nursing Diploma in 1985, and her General Nursing Diploma in 1988, Tanya worked in Vernon, Kelowna and Cranbrook psychiatric inpatient units. She moved to Vancouver to complete her BScN from the University of British Columbia (UBC), then worked in emergency and short stay psychiatry at St. Paul’s Hospital and UBC.

Learn more about her journey with IH

Woman wearing safety gear lifting off the water on a wakeboard.
Tanya on her wakeboard.

Returning to the Interior in 1993, Tanya worked with Kamloops Community Mental Health, then in Kelowna. Seeing a need to “practice more upstream,” she switched to public health in 2005, working in Rutland, Vernon and Summerland — including time with overdose prevention. 

Over the last two years, Tanya has worked with the North Okanagan COVID-19 Response Team. 

I know we’ve made a difference. Now with the COVID-19 Therapeutics Clinic, we’re able to offer treatment for high-risk clients, and prevent severe illness and hospitalization.

-- Tanya Chmilar

In her free time, Tanya travels to dog shows with her Rough Collie and two German Shepherds. She is a Canadian Kennel Club Juniors Representative; two of her dogs, Thorin and Radar, are Canadian Grand Champions. Her youngest dog, Stealer, is in training for conformation, obedience, scent detection and tracking. 

Tanya also enjoys watersports, including wakeskating and wakeboarding—two sports where she held championship titles— plus skiing and gardening.

A Rough Collie relaxes on a tan leather couch while a German Shepherd sits at attention on the wood floor in front of the couch.
Two of Tanya’s dogs at home: Thorin, the Rough Collie and Radar, the German Shepherd.
Woman kneeling next to rough collie with large purple dog show ribbon.
Tanya with her Rough Collie, Reserve Best in Show, Castlegar 2019.

Explore Nursing Careers@IH

Have you thought about a career as a nurse at IH?

Explore career opportunities

top employer

Stories@IH

Read our latest stories

View All Stories

3 Minute Read
Health & Wellness
Cleaning a shed, attic, cabin or barn? Protect against hantavirus

Hantavirus is a rare but serious disease caused by inhaling hantaviruses in old rodent droppings or urine. Learn how to protect yourself while cleaning.

/stories/cleaning-shed-attic-cabin-or-barn-protect-against-hantavirus

4 Minute Read
Health & Wellness
How to live well at home—well into your senior years

Living well at home as you grow older is possible with some forethought and planning. Explore IH services and community resources that support you in your home.

/stories/how-live-well-home-well-your-senior-years

3 Minute Read
Community & Culture
New modular homes in Oliver to support health-care workers

Two new modular homes have arrived at Sunnybank Retirement Centre, marking a major step in the Town of Oliver’s Housing for Healthcare Workers Initiative.

/stories/new-modular-homes-oliver-support-health-care-workers

4 Minute Read
Community & Culture
We are IH: Cranbrook hospitalist continues to learn and grow

When Dr. Elena Schroeder decided to pursue medicine, her goal was to always learn and grow. Today, she’s a leader helping shape the future of health care.

/stories/we-are-ih-cranbrook-hospitalist-continues-learn-and-grow

3 Minute Read
Health & Wellness
Your child is never too young to see a speech-language expert

If you’re concerned about your child’s communication skills, the earlier they see a speech-language pathologist, the better the outcomes—and it’s free.

/stories/your-child-never-too-young-see-speech-language-expert

7 Minute Read
Community & Culture
Volunteers bring kindness, comfort to the people we serve

Thousands of volunteers of all ages work alongside our staff across our region. Read how volunteers are making a difference in delivering outstanding care.

/stories/volunteers-bring-kindness-comfort-people-we-serve

STAY CONNECTED

Receive news, alerts, public service announcements and articles right to your inbox.

Sign up today
mail