Tyler Smith

Job Title
Project Manager

Department/Location
Coastal Community of Care

How long have you worked at VCH?
10 months

Tell us what you do at VCH in one or two sentences:
Provide project support to the many important initiatives either in planning or underway throughout the Coastal CoC.

What’s your favourite thing about your work?
The diversity of projects I am involved in tests my skill set and requires me to be a ‘jack of all trades’. What I really enjoy is being able to work and learn from a talented team of leaders, managers and staff throughout Coastal including Sean Parr, who has been instrumental in my development and is a pleasure to work for.

How does your work contribute to the VCH True North goals?
The True North goals serve as our compass in the work that we do. We align our projects with these goals to ensure they contribute to the organization reaching its strategic objectives.

One thing we might be surprised to learn about you:
Despite not having an accent I was actually born in Brisbane, Australia – moved to Canada at 5 years old, however still have lots of extended family down under and try and get back as often as I can.

Three things you always have in your fridge:
Hot sauce, almond milk and adult beverages.

Who or what inspires you?
My wife – she encouraged and supported me when I decided to quit my old job in another industry and go back to school. I left the workforce for several years and she worked long hours so I could focus on my studies which I am forever grateful for. She works at VGH (Hi Kelsea!) and is very passionate about the work she does and inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare.

Most healthy habit:
My many times dislocated/separated shoulder has forced me to hang up the skates and put my NHL aspirations on hold for now, so in the interim I play a lot of tennis and other low impact sports as I plan my rec league comeback.

Favourite vacation spot:
I have had an opportunity to travel to Bella Bella on BC’s Central Coast on several occasions through a project we are working on and was amazed by the natural beauty of the area. The energy of our VCH team at RW Large is contagious and I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to travel to the area to do so. The townsite sits at the entrance to the Great Bear Rainforest and is paradise for those that love the great outdoors.