Indigenous Liaison Nurses

Indigenous Liaison Nurses (ILNs) can advocate on your behalf, helping you access referrals, benefit information and more with ease.

Indigenous Liaison Nurses can help

  • access non-insured health benefits as needed
  • access to the All Nations' Healing Room in the Patient Care Centre
  • discharge planning and communication with community contacts
  • get a hardship parking pass for one family member 
  • refer you to community services 
  • refer you to Spiritual Health as requested
  • support for you and your family during a hospital stay 
  • understand health care issues 

As an Indigenous patient, you have a right to

  • ask questions about your health care
  • be acknowledged as an individual
  • be cared for in a respectful, dignified and culturally safe manner by health care professionals
  • be consulted and actively participate in decisions about your health care
  • freedom from verbal, physical and sexual abuse, or neglect
  • get a second opinion from another doctor
  • privacy and confidentiality of your health information
  • request access to the information in your health record
  • refuse to have students, residents and other training present during your appointment or examination
  • refuse treatment, unless you have a serious communicable disease that could harm other people such as TB or Syphilis

General Information on Indigenous Liaison Nurses

Referral Required?
Not required
Contact Us

North Island

Alert Bay 

Namgis Health Centre

Campbell River 

Nadine Kruger, ILN
250-286-7100 ext. 67305 
Cell: 250-830-8865
Fax: 250-286-7177
Nadine.Kruger@islandhealth.ca

Comox

Laurel Anderson, ILN
250-331-5900 ext. 65308
Cell: 250-650-5714
laurel.anderson@islandhealth.ca

Emily Mark, Weekend ILN
250-331-5900 ext. 65308
Cell: 250-527-0139
emily.mark@islandhealth.ca

Mt. Waddington

Port Hardy Hospital

Vacant

Violet Alfred, IPN 
250-702-5614
Fax: 250-902-6030
violet.alfred@islandhealth.ca

Central Island

Nanaimo Hospital

Louise Dexter, ILN (Friday to Sunday)
250-755-7691 ext. 52095
Cell: 250-741-4234
Fax: 250-755-3361
louise.dexter@islandhealth.ca

Joanne van Engelsdorp (Monday to Thursday)
250-755-7691 ext. 52095
Cell: 250-883-3010
Fax: 250-755-3361
Joanne.vanengelsdorp@islandhealth.ca

Miranda Borrelli, ILN, NRGH ED
250-713-8184
Miranda.borrelli@islandhealth.ca

Port Alberni

West Coast General Hospital

Deb Melvin, LPN / Claudette Watts, ILN
Deb Melvin (Monday to Thursday) Claudette Watts (Friday)
250-723-1390 ext. 48109
Cell: 250-735-4319
Fax: 250-731-1342
Deb.Melvin@islandhealth.ca or Deb.Melvin@nuuchahnulth.org
claudette.watts@islandhealth.ca

Linda Smith, LPN (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
Nurse Navigator
250-724-5757 ext. 280
Cell: 250-731-5392

Becki Nookemis, BA (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
Client Navigator
250-724-5757 ext. 264
Cell: 250-735-3033

Tofino General Hospital

Jessica Kozan, ILCTN (Wednesday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.)
250-725-4010 ext. 64143
Cell: 250-619-5161
Fax: 250-725-4012
Jessica.Kozan@islandhealth.ca

Cowichan District Hospital

Danny Pasichnyk, ILCTN, (Thursday to Monday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
250-727-2030 ext. 45682
Cell: 250-589-8256
Danny.Pasichnyk@islandhealth.ca

South Island

Saanich Peninsula Hospital

Jane Fox, RN BScN
250-652-7590 ext. 27590
Cell: 778-677-0774
Fax: 250-652-7547
jane.fox@islandhealth.ca

Lucia Bartleman, IPN
250-217-6407
Lucia.Bartleman@islandhealth.ca

Victoria General Hospital

Cody Kirkpatrick, ILN (Saturday to Monday)
Phone: 250-727-4543
Cell: 250-217-0934
Fax: 250-519-1524
Cody.Kirkpatrick@islandhealth.ca

Catherine Condy, ILN (Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
250-516-9394 
Fax: 250-519-1524
Catherine.Condy@islandhealth.ca

Simi Ono, ILN (Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.)

Royal Jubilee Hospital

Selina Bickle, ILN
250-370-8847 x18447
Cell: 250-580-4922
selina.bickle@islandhealth.ca

CASUALS

Alexandra Copley
Alexandra.Copley@islandhealth.ca

Laura Whitaker
Laura.Whitaker@islandhealth.ca

News & Events

Indigenous totem pole

Island Health introducing voluntary Indigenous self-identification program at all care facilities

As part of our commitment to providing safe, culturally appropriate care that is free of racism and discrimination for all patients, Island Health is implementing a voluntary Indigenous-self identification program (ISI) at all care facilities where patients are registered to receive services.

Read more

Noel and his father, Elder Gary Brown, watch the unveiling of Noel's commissioned art for NRGH

Noel Brown art unveiled at NRGH

Nanaimo Regional General Hospital has a beautiful new piece of Coast Salish art enhancing its main entrance to honour the partnership between Snuneymuxw First Nation and the hospital.

Read more

image of accord signing

Vancouver Island Partnership Accord Renews Commitment for First Nation’s Health Outcomes

A renewed commitment to improve the health and wellness outcomes of all First Nations people living in the Island Health region has been made.

Read more