Name: Dr. Joel Stimson (he/him/his)Job Title: Full-scope rural family physicianYears of Service: 6Worksite: Elk Valley HospitalCommunity: FernieAncestral Territory: KtunaxaFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “I may not be the best doctor, but I’m the best doctor working that shift.” This helps ease the anxiety of working in a rural community, and pushes me to work towards being the best physician I can. Born in Halifax and raised in Calgary, Dr. Joel Stimson has always known he loved all aspects of medicine, which is why he chose rural family medicine. Dr. Stimson describes himself as passionate, caring, a team player and hard working, all vital to being a full-scope rural family physician out of the Elk Valley Hospital in Fernie. “I love variety. Providing birth-to-grave care allows me to be involved with the families and people in need. Being part of patients’ highs and lows, and critical life decisions, is an honour.”

Name: Jacqueline Stewart (she/her/hers)Job Title: Nursing unit assistantYears of Service: 10Worksite: Shuswap Lake General HospitalCommunity: Salmon ArmAncestral Territory: Secwépemc NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: I was born ready! Jacqueline Stewart was born in Kamloops at Royal Inland Hospital and moved to North Vancouver when she was eight. A happy-go-lucky person who is always ready for adventure, she set off for California with a girlfriend in their Volkswagen van the day after Jacqueline’s 21st birthday. They lived in beautiful Santa Barbara for three years before Jacqueline returned to North Vancouver, where she raised her two children.  Eleven years ago, Jacqueline decided to go back to school and start a new career. She chose to go into the medical field and earned her nursing unit course certificate. She’s now been working at Shuswap Lake Hospital for 10 years.

Naloxone is a widely available medication that can reverse an opioid overdose temporarily. It has been a vital tool in combatting the toxic drug crisis since B.C. launched the Take Home Naloxone program in 2012. Anyone using street drugs is at risk of a toxic drug poisoning. If there is a chance you may witness or experience a toxic drug poisoning, you can get a free Naloxone kit to carry with you. Many pharmacies provide them, as do health centres and community agencies. You do not need a prescription and you do not need to provide your name. Naloxone is very safe. It does not get you “high” and does not cause dependence. “Naloxone is a really important life-saving tool for me to have when I’m out in the community. I encourage everyone to get Naloxone training and either have a kit or know where there is one nearby. You could save a life!” says Dr. Carol Fenton, a medical health officer with Interior Health. 

Name: Kayleigh Lowey (she/her/hers)Job Title: Nursing unit clerkYears of Service: 10Worksite: Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: SecwépemcAdvice to live by: One day at a time. Born and raised in Kamloops, Kayleigh describes herself as honest, outgoing, adventurous, loving, compassionate and loyal – traits that contribute greatly to the work she does as a nursing unit clerk at Royal Inland Hospital. Growing up with medical issues and having numerous surgeries led Kayleigh to her career in the medical field. Kayleigh was a lifeguard for some time in her twenties, which demonstrates how she’s always been drawn to helping people. “I find the medical field very interesting and to be able to learn new things every day makes me happy.”

Submitted by the Canadian Mental Health Association  You might have a thousand Facebook friends or followers on Instagram. Or maybe you have friends the “old-fashioned” way. In any case, we know that having a good community of friends is about the quality – and not the quantity – of our relationships. And communication is at the core. So, if we want to strengthen our relationships, practising the art of listening is an effective strategy.

Name: Tasha Kanigan (she/her/hers)Job Title: Regional lead for primary careYears of Service: 10Worksite: Castlegar Health CentreCommunity: CastlegarAncestral Territory: Converging territory of the Sinixt, Syilx, Ktunaxa, Secwepemc peoples in the Kootenay BoundaryAdvice to live by: No matter the challenges that life presents, always look for the positive learning opportunities that come about and make every day a reason to smile. When Tasha Kanigan went into nursing, she didn't imagine the “endless opportunities” that her career would bring. Nearly 11 years into her career, Tasha is now the regional lead for primary care with Interior Health (IH). “I feel so fortunate that I have been able to work with and support clients from across the lifespan, and work with many professionals and teams that are all striving to do the best that they can to provide optimal care to their clients,” she said. “I am continually inspired by the stories that I hear about the work we do.”

Story by Jacqueline Turvey, primary care respiratory therapist  Quitting smoking can add years to your life. It improves your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, taste and smell, and has financial benefits as well.  However, as a clinician, I often remind myself that it is not my responsibility to make people quit or reduce their tobacco and nicotine use. It is my job to support individuals at all stages to achieve their goals, and for those who may not be ready for change, to let them know that I am there for them if and when they change their mind.

Name: Lauren Phillips (she/her/hers)Job Title: Interim clinical operations managerYears of Service: 10Worksite: Hillside CentreCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: SecwépemcAdvice to live by: Just breathe Lauren Phillips describes herself as motivated – this is why the regional tertiary coordinator recently took an interim position as the clinical operations manager at Hillside Centre, which provides psychiatric services. Her current day-to-day work includes supporting staff, psychiatrists, professionals and patients within Hillside.  “Being new to this role it’s a steep learning curve, but I have amazing support from my director, fellow MHSU managers and the staff.”

Name: Franz Huber (he/him/his)Job Title: Registered Nurse (RN)Years of Service: 25Worksite: Rutland Community Dialysis ClinicCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganAdvice to live by: Work hard and be disciplined, but also have fun, and spread love and kindness Franz Huber has been a registered nurse with Interior Health (IH) for over 25 years. He moved to Canada from Austria in 1986, settling in Kelowna in 1990. Franz describes himself as a hardworking, caring, practical and "well-rounded" experienced nurse. While he is very much a self-sufficient survivalist and an environmentalist, Franz also considers himself a farmer/cowboy with a good sense of humour.