Name: Catherine Turcotte (she/her/hers)Job Title: Licensed practical nurse (LPN)Years of Service: 6Worksite:  Penticton Regional HospitalCommunity:  PentictonAncestral Territory: SyilxFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: Don't let anyone steal your sunshine! Take it one day at a time. Licensed practical nurse Catherine Turcotte is a positive person who has a go-with-the-flow personality. She was born in Holland, and lived in Germany for a brief time. As a child, Catherine’s military family was posted to Canada, and for most of her childhood she was raised in Edmonton, Alberta.

Your living situation could change quickly during wildfire season if you’re evacuated, but your need to access health care could remain the same. Consult these resources on how to access health care if you are evacuated.

Name: Heather Jane Johnson (she/her/hers)Job Title: Manager, Support ServicesYears of Service: 5Worksite:  Kootenay Lake HospitalCommunity:  Nelson         Ancestral Territory:  Ktunaxa TerritoryFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “My current manager taught me this one and I often see its relevance in my everyday work: 'Less is more.” Whether she’s leading and inspiring others in her role as Support Services manager, or riding her motorcycle through the mountains of the Kootenays, Heather Jane Johnson is passionate about living life to the fullest.

What’s in your drugs? As the toxic drug emergency continues unabated, drug checking is one of the ways to find out what’s in your drugs. In fact, drug checking provides the most accurate information about what is in substances, so people who use drugs can make informed choices about where, when and how much to use. The service is fast, free and confidential, and is legal at approved sites. Samples can be as small as a grain of rice, and results are typically available within 10 minutes. The technicians who provide the service are non-judgmental. No matter the test results, we don’t confiscate drugs, and they can be returned to you. Whether you’re planning to experiment with drugs for the first time, you rely on the illicit supply for pain relief, or use substances regularly and purchase from a familiar source – no matter the reason – we want you to bring in or drop off a sample before you use for testing. Get alerts to your phone and stay safe For up-to-date information on toxic drug alerts, sign up for text alerts by sending the keyword JOIN to ALERTS (253787). We also publish toxic drug alerts. 

Name: Barry Hengel (he/him/his)Job Title: Manager, Clinical OperationsYears of Service:  6Worksite: Westview PlaceCommunity: PentictonAncestral Territory: SyilxFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” - Aristotle Barry was born and raised in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in Cranbrook, B.C., home to five Stanley Cup champions – as he proudly points out. Today, Barry lives in Summerland and is also proud to be leading the clinical operations team at Westview Place long-term care. “I’m inspired by all the great people I get to work with, and the positivity they bring,” he says.

Name: Leslie Bryant (she/her/hers)Job Title: Improvement consultantYears of Service: 16Worksite:  KGH and homeCommunity:  Kelowna/Lake CountryAncestral Territory: Syilx NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “I am a part of all that I have met.” – Alfred Lord Tennyson Meet Leslie Bryant, a dynamic and versatile individual passionate about sports, research and community engagement. Born in Edmonton and raised in rural B.C., including a farm on Secwépemc Nation territory, she now resides on a small organic farm in Lake Country, overlooking the beautiful Okanagan Lake on Syilx Nation territory. Leslie’s diverse experiences range from moonlighting as a writer for Backroad Mapbooks to running an Airbnb, proving herself to be a true jack-of-all-trades. She also has served as a ski patroller and held a role as a minor official in the NBA, highlighting her love for physical activity. Whether it’s golf, skiing, pickleball or hiking, Leslie is always active. Additionally, she actively supports her three kids’ various sports such as hockey, baseball, volleyball, basketball, and track and field. It’s no surprise that Leslie describes herself as “a sporty busy mom of three beautiful smart kids.”

Interior Health (IH) is not only a health provider, but a health promoter. One way we promote healthy communities is by looking after our environment, and taking action to reduce the environmental impacts health care has on the communities in which we operate.  We just released our 2022 Climate Change Accountability Report. Here are some of the highlights from the report – and some of the ways we are helping mitigate, adapt and increase our resilience to the impacts of climate change.   We have been carbon neutral since 2010.  We have finalized a new 5-year Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap. We’ll be releasing the full document soon.  We annually update the Strategic Energy Management Plan to meet our long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.   Our staff-led environmental sustainability committees have grown from two to six. These committees advance grassroots environmental initiatives at various IH sites focused on patient care, staff education and engagement, and creating a culture of sustainability.   IH became the first health authority in B.C. to implement anesthetic gas recovery technology at Royal Inland Hospital, reducing emissions associated with our services.  Look at this infographic, which highlights these actions, results and more.     Celebrating our champions Here are a few of the people you'll see in the report, and who are making a difference and working to create a sustainable health-care system at IH.

Name: Cindy Cota (she/her/hers)Job Title: Accounts receivable supervisorYears of Service:  5 yearsWorksite:  LansdowneCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: T'kemlupsFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Don't sweat the small stuff! Everything happens for a reason!” Cindy Cota is dynamic, people-centric, kind, loving and, according to her friends, a true mama bear.

At Interior Health, one of the most significant priorities is supporting Indigenous Peoples.  For generations, many Indigenous People have celebrated their culture and heritage on or around June 21. As we humbly work to strengthen our relationships with Indigenous partners, we recognize and appreciate the heritage and diverse cultures of Indigenous communities and people we serve, and we are striving to embed their wisdom, knowledge, and culture into how we deliver services to provide culturally safe care. It is a critical aspect of our vision of health and well-being for all. Every day, including June 21, we celebrate the Indigenous People in our communities, and we are passionately committed to our journey of strengthening relationships, building trust and confidence with all Indigenous partners.