People First award winner: Brent Fitzsimmons
We’re thrilled to profile Brent Fitzsimmons. Brent won the Award of Excellence as an Unsung Hero in this year’s People First Awards.
Here’s what his colleagues say about him:
“Brent will treat you with kindness. He will provide you with what it is you need to reduce harm to yourself, and your community – this may be information, equipment, naloxone or safe shelter. It might be attending an appointment with you because you literally have no one else, or anyone else you know would be a liability to your credibility. He interfaces with health care, mental health, RCMP, pharmacy, municipality – all the while upholding the voice and experience of the patient. No amount of training produces this caliber of human.”
Congrats, Brent for the amazing work you do every day, and for being an inspiration to your colleagues!
Job Title
Needle Exchange/Harm Reduction Worker
Department/Location
Gibsons Public Health Unit
How long have you worked at VCH?
14 years
Tell us what you do at VCH in one or two sentences:
I provide outreach services, including needle exchange services and Take Home Naloxone, to people who use drugs, caregivers and our community.
What’s your favourite thing about your work?
After one of my favorite older male clients passed away, his wife invited me onto a converted fishing boat to help her spread his ashes into the ocean waters of Gibsons Harbour. It was a beautiful day and his ashes turned the water turquoise as he floated away.
Which True North goal does your work contribute to the most?
Promote better health for our communities
One thing we might be surprised to learn about you:
I am a singer/songwriter/guitarist and have performed live music for 30 years.
Three things you always have in your fridge:
Glass bottle of sunshine coast tap water
Hot sauce
Cheese
Who or what inspires you?
I am inspired by nature
I am inspired by my daughters and wife
I am inspired by the stories that are shared with me
I am inspired by the musicians that I have created music with
Most healthy habit:
Gardening
Favourite vacation spot:
Davis Bay Sunshine Coast (my neighbourhood)
Do you know someone at VCH who you’d like to see profiled in VCH News? Send your suggestion to news@vch.ca and we’ll follow up with them. Don’t worry, we won’t tell them you suggested them. It’ll just be our little secret.
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