Meet Michel Bazille

Director
Community of Care, Bella Coola General Hospital

How long have you worked at VCH?

Seven days!  I began working for the United Church of Canada in 1973 – I was a young kid right out of school.  As the organizational needs were identified, I did whatever I could do to pursue the education, put into practice what I learned and move on to the next challenge!

Your VCH contribution. Tell us what you do at VCH in one to two sentences. 

I provide administrative leadership to the Bella Coola General Hospital and the RW Large Memorial Hospital staff, which includes a total of 19 acute beds and 11 residential care beds at the two sites. I also provide administrative leadership to diagnostics, physiotherapy, mental health services, support services, transit services, home and community care services, health records, plant operations and telehealth.

One thing that we might be surprised to find out about you:

There’s nothing surprising about me!  I have lived and worked in this small community the majority of my life which leaves nothing to be surprised about!  Good or bad, happy or sad!

Favorite thing about your work?

I enjoy the variety of work the small sites offer, the challenges of making things work and supporting the staff in the provision of healthcare services to our rural remote communities.  I am a “get ‘er done” kind of person.

How does your work contribute to the VCH True North goals?

That will remain to be seen! I feel I have provided consistency, fairness and compassion to the staff at Bella Coola General Hospital and RW Large Memorial in the years I have been in a leadership role.  I enjoy people and healthcare service is about people.

Three things you always have in your fridge?

Coffee cream and I am never without cat food although it does not live in my fridge.

What makes you happy?

Wilderness, as far away from habitation and people as one can get, with good friends, waterproof gear and my dog.

Most healthy habit?

Cooking and eating food I grow and harvesting locally.

Favourite vacation spot?

Africa. I climbed Kilimanjaro with a group of like-minded individuals and raised $30,000 to help fund a facility to support orphans from genocides in Burundi and Eastern Congo. I am a director with Canadian Communities 4 Africa, a charitable organization and our small group of folks, which began initially in Bella Coola as Bella Coola 2 Africa (BC2Africa)  and has now progressed to become Canadian Communities 4 Africa (cc2Africa.ca).  The climb was the most difficult thing I have done in my life due to the high altitude but it was also the most rewarding.  The wild animal safari in the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro crater was simply spectacular! I still wonder if that was really me in that movie!  We continue to fund raise with events in our communities of Bella Coola and Kimberley to support health and education in Burundi.

Currently in the CD player?

Andre Rieu – I am fortunate to have attended two live performances and hope for more in my life as I slow down!