Dion Thevarge

Job Title
Aboriginal Health Lead

Department/Location
Aboriginal Health, VCH

How long have you worked at VCH?
7 years

Tell us what you do at VCH in one or two sentences:
I provide Indigenous Health Leadership for VCH focusing on mental wellness and substance use, Clinical System Transformation and Aboriginal health professional practice, in addition to working with LGBTQ2S and Southern Stl’atl’imx communities.

What’s your favourite thing about your work?
I enjoy the team -riented work at Aboriginal Health and how the team is leading change around Indigenous cultural safety.

How does your work contribute to the VCH True North goals?
The Aboriginal Health Department places the “People First” strategy at the core of our work, which is in alignment with not only VCH True North Goals but Indigenous ways of knowing.  We strive to support VCH teams to provide the best care and innovation possible with the overall vision of cultural safety.

One thing we might be surprised to learn about you:
I won a Centennial Achievement Award for leadership and excellence in nursing, February 2008.  I was one of 10 selected persons from across Canada.

Three things you always have in your fridge:
Baby kale, onions and berries.

Who or what inspires you?
My dad: he is a humble and resilient man who is a survivor of Indian Residential School.  He took the basic skills he learned with a limited education and became a role model for me in terms of his amazing work ethic and dedication to family.  He is a well-respected man who shares his wealth of knowledge and his resources with not only his immediate family but his whole community.

Most healthy habit:
I enjoy working out three times per week.

Favourite vacation spot:
I enjoy Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  I have been there twice and love the mix of old town and new town.  Other than that, my favorite place is going home to N’Quatqua to be with my family.