North Island Community Health and Wellness

10/30/2026

For Silja, living and working in a rural community means embracing a simpler life connected to nature.

As a Registered Nurse in Port Alice, on the traditional, unceded territory of the Quatsino First Nation, Silja values the slower pace, close-knit community, and meaningful connections that come with rural practice. She finds purpose in the diverse and rewarding nature of her work, as well as in the kindness and gratitude shown by the people she cares for.

Could rural practice be part of your future? Learn more about living and working in Island Health’s rural and remote communities and explore current opportunities: https://careers.islandhealth.ca/rural-remote/

📷: Vancouver Island North Tourism / Daniel and Meriana Plaja

10/28/2026

Meet Ryan van Haastert, a Central Island Indigenous Employment Advisor and member of Island Health’s Indigenous Employee Experience team.

Across the traditional and unceded territories of the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth and Kwakwaka’wakw Peoples, the team works to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. They support Indigenous employees through connection, advocacy and culturally safe workplace practices.

If you identify as Indigenous and would like support with your application, connect with the team at [email protected].

Learn more: https://careers.islandhealth.ca/apply-now-indigenous-employee-experience/

Follow Island Health Indigenous Recruitment and Retention on Facebook for news and career opportunities: https://www.facebook.com/IslandHealthAboriginalRecruitment/

10/26/2026

Please share:

PLEASE SHARE: A Drug Poisoning/Overdose Advisory has been issued for the Mount Waddington area.

- Check out Island Health’s Harm Reduction Services page at https://ow.ly/FgyS50PLkLF to find information on overdose prevention and supervised consumption sites, drug-checking services and more.

- For harm reduction services and information, including naloxone programs, visit Toward the Heart at https://ow.ly/Nlzv50PLkLO

- If you’re using alone, try the Lifeguard App at https://ow.ly/183a50PLkLN or the Brave App at https://ow.ly/rbxN50PLkLG, or call the National Overdose Response Service at 1-888-688-6677

- For Indigenous-specific information, visit the First Nations Health Authority’s Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction pages at https://ow.ly/ktA450PLkNW

10/26/2026

B.C. clocks won’t go back on November 1. Here’s what you need to know to avoid a time mix up:

- Some phone and computer calendars might. Your calendar may have already shifted the time of a future appointment.
- Use the appointment time your clinic gave you by phone, text, email or letter.
- If your calendar shows a different time, follow the original appointment information from your clinic.
- You don’t need to call to confirm.
- If your appointment changes, your care team will contact you.

Learn more about the November 1 change: islandhealth.ca/time-change

10/23/2026

10/19/2026

Happy to all healthcare professionals and support staff who dedicate themselves to keeping our rural North Vancouver Island sites running, making a difference in our communities and working towards Island Health's vision of excellent health and care for everyone, everywhere, every time.

10/15/2026

Your next chapter could include a new nursing role, and a favourite trail home.

Picture meaningful work, new connections and days off spent doing what you love. From coastal communities to city neighbourhoods, Vancouver Island offers plenty of places to put down roots.

Bring your nursing skills to Island Health and find a place to grow, in your career and beyond your shift.

Nursing, more human.

Find your place: https://careers.islandhealth.ca/nursing/

Island Health offers programs and services on the unceded and traditional territories of the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth and Kwakwaka'wakw Peoples.

We respectfully acknowledge that this image was taken at Sugarloaf Mountain on the traditional and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw, Snaw-naw-as, and Stzuminus First Nations.

📷: Tourism Nanaimo/Justin Parsons

10/08/2026

You help people work toward what matters to them. What matters to you in your next career move?

Put your skills to work in physiotherapy or occupational therapy at Island Health, helping people participate in everyday life while building your own next chapter on Vancouver Island.

Pictured: Sarah and Kristen, occupational therapists at Royal Jubilee Hospital.

We respectfully acknowledge that this image was taken at Royal Jubilee Hospital on the traditional, unceded territory of the Lekwungen People, now known as the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) and Songhees Nations.

Learn more about rehabilitation careers: https://careers.islandhealth.ca/rehabilitation/

10/05/2026

BC is making it faster and easier for internationally educated doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to join the workforce. This includes streamlining credential recognition and reducing barriers.

For example, more than 1,200 internationally trained doctors were licensed to practise in BC in 2025, bringing the total number of internationally trained doctors licensed in BC to more than 6,000.

And more than 780 US-trained doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals have accepted jobs in BC’s public health-care system.

BC is also training more doctors here at home. In recent years, UBC’s medical school added 40 undergraduate seats, while BC’s new SFU Stephens Family School of Medicine welcomed its first 48 students this year. More than 160 new residency training positions are also being added by 2028.

Today, BC has the most doctors per capita in Canada, with 271 physicians for every 100,000 people.

This growing health-care workforce is helping people get connected to care. Since 2018, one million people have been connected to a primary care provider, and about 4,000 people are now being matched with a family doctor or nurse practitioner every week.

By training more doctors here at home, recruiting health professionals from around the world and making it easier for qualified professionals to join BC’s workforce, we’re continuing to strengthen health care for people and communities across the province.