Aboriginal Health Program Contacts

We work together with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to maintain and improve the health of Aboriginal people living on Vancouver Island and surrounding areas.

Penny Cooper - Interim Director

Penelope.Cooper@viha.ca
250-370-8965
Fax: 250-370-8200

Dr. Troy McLeod - Medical Director

Troy.McLeod@viha.ca
250-737-2607 ext. 45747

Averil Henderson, Admin Assistant

averil.henderson@viha.ca
250-331-8582
Fax: 250-331-8513

Michelle Stewart, Contracts Assistant

250-755-7691 ext. 57571

North Island Team

c/o Campbell River General 
375-2nd Ave
Campbell River, B.C.
V9W 3V1

Michelle McClain, Manager - Campbell River
250-286-7100 ext. 67304

  • VACANT, Aboriginal Liaison Nurse - Alert Bay
    250-974-7126
  • Nadine Kruger, Aboriginal Liaison Nurse - Campbell River
    250-830-8865
  • Jessie Newman, Dietitian - Campbell River
    250-286-7100 ext. 67306
  • Laurel Anderson, Aboriginal Liaison Nurse - Comox
    250-650-5714
  • Lisa Greer, Nurse Practitioner - Port Hardy
    250-230-1100
  • VACANT, Nurse Practitioner – Port Hardy
    250-202-9621
  • VACANT, Aboriginal Liaison Nurse - Port Hardy
    250-949-0340 
  • Fran Prince, Elder in Residence - Comox 
    250-202-9621
  • Sheryl Thompson, Elder in Residence - Campbell River
    250-203-9631

Central Island Team

c/o Aboriginal Health
528 Wentworth St
Nanaimo, B.C.
V9R 3E4

Cody Caruso, Acting Manager - Nanaimo
250-755-7691 ext. 57572

  • Helen Dunlop, Aboriginal Liaison Nurse - Duncan
    250-709-8204
  • Sharon Thoms, Aboriginal Liaison Nurse - Nanaimo
    250-741-4234
  • Carla Young, Aboriginal Liaison Nurse - Nanaimo
    250-741-4234
  • Deb Melvin, Aboriginal Liaison Nurse - Port Alberni
    250-735-4319
  • Gerri Thomas, Aboriginal Liaison Nurse - Port Alberni
    250-735-4319
  • Leslie Cerney, Nurse Navigator - Port Alberni
    250-731-5392
  • April Nelson, Care Transitions Liaison Nurse - Tofino
    250-735-1014
  • Cynthia Fitton, Care Transitions Liaison Nurse - Tofino
    250-735-1014
  • Valerie Jefferd, Nurse Practitioner  
    250-510-4759
    • Cowichan Tribes:  Ts'ewulhtun Health Centre - Slhexun Sun'ts'a' Clinic
    • Halalt Lyackson Health Unit
    • Penelakut Health Centre  
  • Oonagh O’Connor, Cultural Safety Facilitator – Comox Valley
    250-218-6560
  • Joe Elliott, Cultural Safety Facilitator – Cowichan
    250-218-5466
  • Lily Han, Cultural Safety Facilitator – Nanaimo
    250-619-4323

South Island Team

c/o Royal Jubilee Hospital
Memorial Pavilion, Watson Wing 320
1952 Bay St
Victoria, B.C.
V8R 1J8

Vacant, Manager - Victoria

  • Yula Stevens - Administrative Support
    250-370-8914
  • Cathy Condy, Aboriginal Liaison Nurse - VGH/RJH)
    250-812-1464
  • Monique Pat, Aboriginal Liaison Nurse - RJH/VGH
    250-480-8333
  • Jane Fox, Aboriginal Liaison Nurse - SPH 
    778-677-0774
  • Judith Atkin, Diabetes Nurse Educator
    250-370-8111 ext. 13773
  • Jennifer Irvine, Nurse Practitioner - Pauquachin, Tsartlip
    250-652-4473
  • Kelly Sharp, Nurse Practitioner - Tsawout, Tseycum
    250-652-1149, ext. 207
  • Vacant, Dietitian
    250-370-8258
  • Yvette Ringham-Cowan, Facilitator, Cultural Safety Programs
    250-519-1831
  • Fiona Devereaux, Cultural Safety Facilitator
    250-216-5251

News & Events

Code Hack 2020

Code Hack is back!

Are you ready for an exciting challenge that could help shape the future of health care? Island Health is looking for 100 people to participate in a 24-hour design sprint that aims to generate fresh ideas to improve health care.

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Women hugging holding yoga mats

Island Health Magazine Winter 2020

The Winter 2020 issue of Island Health magazine encourages readers to live their healthiest life. Read features on how to keep your resolutions; re-thinking “diets” and some delicious soup recipes. Also included in this issue are articles about the stigma of mental illness and an Island Health Research project on dementia.

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port alice

Temporary service reduction at Port Alice Health Centre

Island Health is advising that, despite significant effort to fill shifts, there is a temporary shortage of registered nurses and physicians over the holiday season resulting in a temporary service reduction at the Port Alice Health Centre.

Read more