Nursing health and friendship in the Squamish Valley

Liz holding baby NaDeen at the the Ayas Lam Program House.

VCH public health nurse Liz Grant loves working in the Squamish Valley.

“It’s an amazing place to work and be active – you can go for a bike ride or a rock climb after work…or even at lunch,” Liz says with a laugh. She works with the people in the Squamish Nation Valley. “But I love the people. I love my colleagues and also the First Nations people in the valley who I see every day – they’re really lovely, beautiful.”

“I’ve definitely built a connection and friendship with the people I work with.”

For the past eight years, Liz has worked with the Squamish Nation Health Department, primarily at the Ayas Lam Program House and on the other reserves in the valley, helping children and youth access some pretty important health services. On a daily basis, Liz keeps babies immunized, connects families with other social services and introduces young mothers to services like the Best Beginnings Program, the Healthy Pregnancy Outreach Program, the Ayas Lam Family Program, and other health resources.

“I wear a lot of different hats,” she says. “I want to promote overall health, which can mean regular immunizations or encouraging active lifestyle or showing them how to have a healthier pregnancy.”

Liz knew she wanted to be nurse as far back as in high school.

“I really liked the combination of the science – like the study of diseases and epidemiology – the problem solving aspect and the ability to work with people,” explains Liz, who has been with VCH since 2003. “I knew that was what I wanted in a career and I found that in nursing.”

So what does she enjoy most about her job?

“I enjoy the people and helping them access health services,” she says. “Some are socially isolated and low-income and it’s really rewarding to help them out – I see the direct benefits. No matter who you are, everyone should have access to basic health requirements like clean water, immunizations and safe pregnancies.”

National Aboriginal Awareness Week runs from May 19 to 25.