mY JOURNEY…

I was raised in the small central-island town of Gold River, as an uninvited guest on the traditional and unceded territory of the Mowachaht and Muchalaht peoples in Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations. Growing up in the 80s, outdoors was our playground. We would be gone from dawn to dusk using only our imaginations as toys. I left home after graduation moving to the big city of Victoria and then back to the small village of Brentwood Bay to raise my sweet darlin alongside my husband Jason, spending our free time in the beautiful forests and oceans around Central Saanich (Tsawout and Tsartlip First Nations), and Sooke (T’Sou-ke and Scia’new Nations). I am grateful for growing up in the wild, and being able to raise my sweet darlin the same.

As a teenager I dreamed of being a nurse. My grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s at a young age. So my teenage years were spent visiting gramma Jessie and the other residents at Yucalta Lodge, a Long-term Care home in Campbell River. I visited her almost daily often helping the care staff accomplish her care. She was labeled “resistant and uncooperative”, but she continued to trust me, so those regular visits helped the staff to care for her. These early experiences solidified my belief that healthcare was my calling.

I took a detour working in hospitality as an office administrator, then into law before going back to school to become a health care attendant (HCA).

Throughout my years providing care for seniors, my primary focus was on ensuring the best safe quality care for them.  I learned and shared improved ways of communicating and interacting with the residents living with dementia, problem solving solutions to make our work tasks being less physically demanding. To further support myself and my peers from injury at the bedside, I completed a Healthcare Musculoskeletal Injury Prevention (MSIP) coaching course. From mastering body mechanics to utilizing mechanical equipment, I quickly became the go-to person along with my advisor for those more challenging care cases.

My passion for coaching my peers was evident, I took on additional support positions and soon became a violence prevention facilitator (PVPC). Not long after that, I was awarded a position with the Occupational Health and Safety team and into the role of MSIP Advisor. It was in this role that I felt I was truly making a difference for the care staff. I was supporting workshops, training MSIP coaches, Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum (PVPC) facilitators, and a host of other workshops such as Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC) and respectful workplace.  As a health and safety advisor, I assist managers, leaders and coaches in navigating change, implementing new policies, procedures, and protocols, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and training new peer coaches bi-annually. By embracing change, healthcare organizations can enhance patient outcomes, improve staff satisfaction, and ultimately deliver higher quality care. Advancements in equipment, techniques, and ergonomic understanding have revolutionized how healthcare professionals manage patient mobility and transfers, reducing the risk of injury for both staff and patients.

Through each stage of my career, I have honed my ability to listen deeply, ask insightful questions, and provide tailored guidance that empowers individuals to reach their full potential. This immersive experience has profoundly deepened my understanding of human behavior, motivation, and the complexities of personal and professional growth. By working closely with diverse clients, I have gained invaluable insights into the unique challenges and aspirations people face, allowing me to offer more empathetic and effective support. My coaching abilities have not only enhanced my clients' lives but have also enriched my own, fostering a continuous cycle of learning and development.