Rural Coordination Centre of BC - RCCbc

04/08/2026

Where Are We Wednesday 📍 You’ve been on a roll with your guesses lately, let’s see if this mountain town keeps the streak going!

🔹 This community sits in the Columbia Valley, surrounded by the Rocky and Purcell mountain ranges.

🔹 It’s located along the shores of a warm freshwater lake that’s a popular summer destination for swimming, boating, and beach days.

🔹 A unique pedestrian-only main street makes it especially charming to explore shops, cafés, and local spots.

🔹 In the winter, a nearby lake transforms into one of the longest skating trails in the world.

🔹 The area is known for its natural hot springs, drawing visitors year-round to relax and recharge.

🔹 Wildlife is a big part of life here, and bighorn sheep are often spotted right in town!

Do you think you know where we are this week? Drop your guess below and tell us which rural BC community these clues point to 👇️

📸 Photos taken by RCCbc’s Site Visits team

04/07/2026

🌎️ This World Health Day, WHO’s theme, “Together for health. Stand with science,” reflects a simple truth: meaningful health system change happens when everyone who should be at the table is there.

At the RCCbc, our Partnership Pentagram Plus helps guide that work in rural BC, grounded in evidence, partnership, cultural safety, co-creation and respect for Indigenous ways of knowing.

🔗 Explore the interactive model: https://rccbc.ca/our-story/

04/05/2026

🐣 Early Bird rates for the BC Rural Health Conference end tomorrow, April 6! As the conference draws closer, we're excited to reconnect with rural health providers from across the province once again in Prince George, BC!⁠
⁠
With limited spots available for certain activities, now's the time to register early and secure your place in Friday's half-day workshops and our pre-conference courses. ⁠
⁠
🔗 Explore the full agenda and register at https://bcrhc.ca

04/02/2026

Congratulations to the Birth-Related Cardiovascular Health (BiRCH) Clinic team on receiving a BC Quality Award from Health Quality BC.

Led by local champions and supported by strong partnership, this work is improving postpartum cardiovascular follow-up care for families on Vancouver Island.

We are glad to have supported parts of this journey through the Rural Obstetrical & Maternity Sustainability Program (ROAM) and related rural engagement work.

Well done to Dr. Jennifer Kask and the full team on this important recognition🎉

💻️ Watch the recent BC Quality Awards Webinar Series to hear from Dr. Kask on how the BiRCH Clinic is transforming postpartum care: https://healthqualitybc.ca/resources/innovation-in-clinical-care-delivery-bc-quality-awards-webinar-series

Learn more about ROAM: https://rccbc.ca/roam

03/31/2026

When communities lead, meaningful change happens!

When Karen Eastland, Manager at the Sicamous Community Health Centre and a passionate community champion, reached out for support through the Rural Voices Initiative, the answer was a resounding yes.

With facilitation support from Alice Muirhead, Director of Engagement & Outreach at RCCbc, local health and social service providers in Sicamous came together to strengthen referral pathways and improve how they support their community, together.

This is what the Rural Voices Initiative is all about: creating space for communities to connect, collaborate, and lead solutions that reflect their unique needs.

Looking to bring your community together? Facilitation support is available through the Rural Voices Initiative.

➡️ Learn more: rccbc.ca/rural-voices-initiative

📩 Contact: [email protected]

03/30/2026

We’re proud to share a reflection on the 2026 Indigenous Medical Education Gathering (IMEG), held on the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation).

IMEG brings together Indigenous learners and health professionals from across disciplines to connect, learn, and support one another at every stage of their journey.

Throughout the weekend, participants took part in sharing circles, mentorship conversations, cultural workshops, and land-based learning. These spaces created opportunities to build relationships, share experiences, and strengthen a sense of community across generations of care providers.

“It’s such a warm community and welcoming space,” said Jocelyn Benjji, a second-year medical student and IMEG co-chair. “It makes the whole journey a little easier and helps you feel part of the community.”

For many, that connection is what continues to bring people back year after year; creating space for Indigenous healthcare leaders to grow, support one another, and move forward together.

Read the full story: https://rccbc.ca/story/imeg-2026/

First Nations Health Authority IPAC Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada UBCFamPractice Doctors of BC

03/29/2026

There's just over a week to lock in your early bird rate for the BC Rural Health Conference! Join us in Prince George for a weekend of learning and camaraderie on May 29-31, 2026. ⁠
⁠
Practical CME, real connection, and a weekend built for rural and remote healthcare providers. Highlights include the opening keynote from Prof. Timothy Caulfield on the “knowledge crisis” in health care, rapid fire lectures, Ask-Me-Anything sessions, and two signature socials: Friday Night Live! (featuring a live band and jam session) and Sip, Socialize & Celebrate on Saturday evening featuring the BC Rural Health Awards. ⁠
⁠
Don't forget to maximize hands-on learning opportunities by pre-registering for Friday's practical workshops, focused on procedural skills, ultrasound, dermatology, and emergency care. These half-day immersive workshops often book up in advance! ⁠
⁠
🔗 Register by April 6 for early bird rates: https://bchrc.ca

03/28/2026

If you guessed the most recent Where Are We Wednesday as Mackenzie, BC, you were right! Let’s take a closer look at this northern community.

Mackenzie is located on the traditional territory of the McLeod Lake Indian Band (Tse’khene), part of the Sekani people, as well as the Tsay Keh Dene Nation, who have long stewarded the lands and waters of this region. Their deep connection to the territory continues to shape the cultural and natural landscape today.

Located about 180 km north of Prince George, Mackenzie lies within the Rocky Mountain Trench, surrounded by vast forests, lakes, and mountain ranges. Originally developed in the 1960s as a planned forestry town, the community quickly became a hub for BC’s forest industry and remains closely tied to that history today.

Mackenzie is home to one of the largest sawmills in the world and is known for its larger-than-life roadside attraction, the world’s largest tree crusher, a relic from the town’s early days of land clearing that still stands as a symbol of its industrial roots.

Outdoor life is central to the community, with year-round access to fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, and backcountry exploration. Nearby lakes and rivers offer endless opportunities to connect with the landscape and wildlife that define the region.

Healthcare services in Mackenzie are provided through the Mackenzie & District Hospital and Health Centre, which offers emergency care, inpatient services, laboratory and diagnostic imaging, and primary care. As with many northern communities, residents may travel to larger centres like Prince George for more specialized services.

Mackenzie has been a place of connection for RCCbc, with our team visiting the community in May 2023 as part of the Site Visits project, an opportunity to listen, learn, and better understand the unique strengths and challenges of delivering care in this region.

From its strong industrial foundation to its deep connection to the surrounding wilderness, Mackenzie reflects the resilience and spirit of northern BC communities.

Thanks for guessing along with us and stay tuned for our next Where Are We Wednesday!

📸 Photos taken by RCCbc’s Site Visits team (1-3) and Dr. Svetlana Hadikin (4)

03/26/2026

We are working towards resuming 24/7 service for MaBAL and CHARLiE but the exact timeline remains unknown. When more information is available and can be shared, we will share.

Questions? Email [email protected].

03/25/2026

Where Are We Wednesday 📍 Can you guess which rural BC community we're highlighting this week? Drop your guess below and tell us where these clues point to! ⁠
⁠
🔹 This resource-based town is surrounded by forests, lakes, and mountains. ⁠
⁠
🔹 It was originally built in the 1960s as a planned forestry community during a major period of industrial expansion in BC. ⁠
⁠
🔹 A massive tree crusher, once used to clear land for development, now stands as a unique roadside attraction. ⁠
⁠
🔹 This community is home to one of the largest sawmills in the world. ⁠
⁠
🔹 Outdoor recreation is a way of life here, with easy access to fishing, snowmobiling, hiking, and backcountry adventures. ⁠
⁠
🔹 Nearby lakes and rivers make it a popular spot for boating and wildlife viewing. ⁠
⁠
📸 Photos taken by RCCbc’s Site Visits team (1-2) and Dr. Svetlana Hadikin (3)⁠
⁠
👋 We'd love to feature every RSA community in BC, and we'd like your help! Share your snaps from life in rural BC with us at [email protected]

03/24/2026

The next Finding Your Way in Teamwork: Team Coaching Principles virtual workshop will take place on Tuesday, April 28 at 5:00pm – 7:00pm PT / 6:00pm – 8:00pm MT.

🤝 In this participatory and interactive workshop, participants will learn the attributes, skills and tools of high-functioning interprofessional teams and the critical role of developing psychological safety as the fundamental foundation of healthy teams. Participants will then be supported to design an action plan for strengthening psychological safety within the team they work with on a day-to-day basis.

The workshop will be co-facilitated by Dr. Rahul Gupta and Dr. Cecile Andreas, both physicians and Professional Certified Coaches with extensive experience in individual and team coaching.

🔗 Find out more and register:

The Finding Your Way in Teamwork: Team Coaching Principles workshop is a two-hour long virtual education session on the eight elements of high-functioning teams.

03/23/2026

🌎️ The Rural Global Health Partnership Initiative (RGHPI) offers grants of up to $10,000 to support partnerships between rural BC physicians or medical trainees and underserved rural communities in British Columbia, other parts of Canada, or internationally. These partnerships recognize that health (including planetary health) is the outcome of globally shared risks and responsibilities that require collective action to achieve good health for all. ⁠
⁠
🔗 Read more about RGHPI and apply by April 30 at:

RGHPI offers grants for projects spearheaded by rural physicians or medical trainees in British Columbia (BC) and their partners based in underserved rural communities in BC, other parts of Canada, or internationally.