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.

Name: Elizabeth Benade (she/her/hers)Job Title: Family physician and hospitalistYears of Service: 6Worksite: Glenvalley Medical Clinic and Kelowna General Hospital (KGH)Community: KelownaAncestral Territory: Syilx/OkanaganFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” — Albert Schweitzer Born and raised in Bloemfontein, South Africa, Dr. Elizabeth Benade completed her medical studies in South Africa. She moved to Brandon, Man. in 2009, where she completed the LMCC I & II and CCFP examinations to gain full registration in Canada. Despite returning to South Africa in 2013, Dr. Benade continued to work in Canada doing locum work in Brandon until 2017 when she relocated to Kelowna, B.C., which she now calls home. Dr. Benade is now a family physician and hospitalist based at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH). She describes herself as determined, caring and passionate about helping others.

Name: Kaity Elliot (she/her/hers)Job Title: Patient ambassador (Forest View Place - long-term care)Years of Service:  10Worksite:  Dr. Helmcken Memorial HospitalCommunity:  ClearwaterAncestral Territory: Secwépemc / Shuswap - Interior SalishFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “What you put out into the universe you get back. Be intentional and aware what you put out there because it will come back :)” Kaity Elliot has always been a happy and talkative social butterfly, who enjoys getting to know people, which is what makes her role as patient ambassador in Clearwater such a phenomenal fit.

It’s the time of year when the weather is getting warmer, heating up recently to summer-like temperatures in the B.C. Interior, and with that comes to the obvious desire to jump into a lake to cool down and have fun. However, people swimming in lakes need to keep a few things in mind, including the potential presence of blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria. While cyanobacteria can be present through winter, it is most prominent during the spring and summer when the weather is warmer. The blue-green algae blooms can seriously affect marine life, depleting oxygen from fish and blocking sunlight from reaching creatures living at the surface, but it can also impact people’s health. “It’s that time of year when we can see increased cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, blooms on lakes. These blooms tend to stay on the water surface and may have a leafy scent. Sometimes blooms can be toxic for those who come in contact with the water. My advice is for users to use common sense, and avoid contact or consuming water if you suspect there is a cyanobacteria bloom,” noted Interior Health medical health officer Dr. Silvina Mema.

For as long as she can remember, Kimberly Whidden has been cycling on urban and city roads. “When my sister and I were growing up in Victoria in the 1970s, our parents would take us from Esquimalt to Beacon Hill Park along some pretty busy routes. I don’t think bike lanes were even a thing then,” recalls the Interior Health communications consultant. Today, Kimberly lives in Penticton, and uses her bike for getting around town, recreation and fitness. “I love how far the cycling infrastructure has come in so many cities across B.C.,” she says. “Even though I’m comfortable cycling in traffic, I also deeply appreciate the separated bike lanes, bikeways/greenways and multi-use paths that have been built.”

Carl Meadows is a name synonymous with Pride season at Interior Health (IH), having contributed greatly to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community both at IH and within the wider Okanagan community. As Carl’s retirement draws near, and to mark his last Pride Month with IH, we wanted to send him off in style. Read on for our interview to celebrate his career and efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion. Name: Carl Meadows (he/him/his)Job Title: Executive director, clinical operations, South OkanaganYears of Service:  7Worksite:  Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH)Community:  PentictonAncestral Territory: Syilx/Okanagan Interior Salish

When it comes to stroke, minutes can save lives and loved ones. “Our goal in working together to prevent and treat stroke is really to give people back those essential moments. This is not only walking again, talking again, and eating again, as we used to focus on for a ‘good’ outcome. These moments are dancing, laughing, traveling, holding hands on an evening walk, and all those things that make life a good life,” says Dr. Aleksander Tkach, Interior Health's Stroke Services Medical Director. “In a stroke every second counts. Every second we save by all working together to treat a stroke gives people back those moments in life that are precious.”

David Mackie has suffered two major concussions in his football career. He says he’s lucky they haven’t ended his career in the Canadian Football League, but it’s something that weighs heavily on his mind. “It’s something we’re always cognizant about for player safety and it’s not only going to affect your current career but also your life down the road,” noted the Canadian fullback for the B.C. Lions. In the first part of a new series called Safety First: IH’s Guide to Safe Sport, Interior Health looks at concussions: their impacts and how to prevent them. The B.C. Lions being in Kamloops for their annual training camp ahead of the 2023 CFL season was a perfect opportunity to ask the players and coaches about concussions and sports safety. Lions’ defensive end David Menard has also had a pair of major concussions during his time playing football as a young kid, then in university with Université de Montréal, and in the pros. “I take them very seriously. It’s a real problem. It’s not just a myth,” said Menard, who’s in his ninth year in the league.

Name: Kathleen (Katie) Keegan (she/her/hers)Job Title: Perinatal Social Worker, Primary Care Network Years of Service: 6 Worksite: Rutland Health Centre  Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory:  Syilx NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: "Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness." – Kurt Vonnegut Perinatal social worker Katie Keegan has been passionate about helping others and acknowledging and supporting the inherent power of women throughout her life and career. Born and raised in Kelowna, Katie always had a natural, helping nature, and an interest in pregnancy and babies – qualities which informed the trajectory of her career. Katie says, “As a girl I was taught that I could do or be anything and I think that really stuck with me.”