More than 150 rural physicians, EMTs and health-care specialists gathered at The Exploration Place on Saturday, June 7, to celebrate their profession and honour six unique and notable members of the rural health-care community.
The celebration was part of the BC Rural Health Conference, held at the CN Centre, which brought together more than 300 rural health-care workers from across the province to connect, learn and celebrate their shared contributions.
The event at The Exploration Place included the presentation of three special awards to eight outstanding members of BC’s rural health-care community:
- The Rural BC Community Award was presented to the Nisga’a Valley Health Authority (NVHA)
- The Award of Excellence in Rural Medicine — Lifetime Achievement was awarded to Dr. Jeff Beselt, Dr. Bruce Hobson, Dr. Garnett Tarr and Dr. Karen Forgie
- The Resident Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Yonabeth Nava
Nisga’a Valley Health Authority recognized for innovation
The NVHA was honoured for its innovative approach to expanding services and addressing local health-care challenges.
NVHA is a community-led authority that serves four communities in the Nisga’a Valley — Gitlaxt’aamiks, Gitwinksihlkw, Laxgalts’ap and Gingolx — and also offers outreach services to Nisga’a Nation members living away from home.
Since 2020, NVHA has significantly expanded its services, fully staffing primary care positions and clinics in each of the four communities. The authority now offers 24-hour care across the region.
Through partnerships with the Pacific Northwest Division of Family Practice, Kitselas Nation, Kitsumkalum Nation, Tahltan Nation and Northern Health, NVHA has also co-created the Coast Mountain Primary Care Network. As a result, they’ve recruited a full-time occupational therapist, kinesiologist and dietitian to serve under the NVHA banner.
NVHA CEO Corinne McKay said the award is a reflection of years of hard work.
“We have worked so hard to ensure that we have all of the physicians we need,” said McKay. “Our medical director, Dr. Chan, has done amazing work on that front. We also have a medical adviser, Dr. Penner, who is an excellent support, and our team of doctors is more committed than ever—spending more time with our people.”
McKay added that, despite the organization’s growth, challenges remain.
“We still have citizens needing specialist care who can’t travel independently,” she said. “We’ve been able to recruit specialists to come to the valley, but we are very challenged with facilities. We’ve maxed out our office space and accommodations. It’s a real challenge, but we’ve managed to make it work.”
NVHA has also recently launched a new mobile outreach vehicle, funded through a federal health grant.
Dr. Yonabeth Nava leads by example in Chetwynd
Dr. Yonabeth Nava, recipient of the Resident Leadership Award, is a first-year resident at the Chetwynd Rural Immersion Site. She is one of the first participants in UBC’s new family practice residency model, which places residents in full-time rural practice supported by academic mentors in Prince George.
She was nominated by Chetwynd physician Dr. Bron Finkelstein, co-lead of the Rural Immersion Program.
“She consistently seeks quality improvement and has initiated several QI projects,” said Finkelstein. “Most notably, she identified pain as a barrier to IUD uptake and began using topical anesthetic. That project is now expanding as her Scholar Project and has attracted regional research interest throughout South Peace.”
Hilary Therrien, with UBC’s Family Medicine Residency Program, described Nava as “a clear change-maker.”
“She has expressed interest in joining committees to help bring change that benefits all residents. She is always pleasant and always grateful,” said Therrien.
Dr. Bruce Hobson reflects on a lifetime of connection
Dr. Bruce Hobson, who practised full-service family medicine in Powell River for 37 years, was one of four recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Currently a senior medical lead with UBC’s Rural Coaching and Mentoring Program, Hobson has supported more than 130 participants with over 760 hours of mentorship.
“I had the opportunity to go back to the community where I was born,” said Hobson. “I cared for people I’d known all my life — teachers who once taught me, classmates, family. There’s nothing quite like the connection you feel in a rural community.”
He also spoke of ongoing systemic issues.
“One of the biggest challenges is access to specialized care,” he said. “We never had a social worker until about five years ago. People need services—social work, pediatricians, mental health care — and it’s difficult for providers to access the training and support they need.”
Dr. Garnett Tarr: A leader at South Okanagan General
Dr. Garnett Tarr, chief of staff at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, also received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of service and leadership.
He teaches new medical learners and is known for his compassionate care and his love for animals, including his farm chickens.
“We don’t have the support system of urban centres,” said Tarr. “You’re often diagnosing and treating with limited resources. That’s real medicine.”
He shared a story about a mental health case that left a lasting impression.
“Years later, the girl’s father found me and told me she’d earned a master’s in psychology. It really reminded me why we do this."
Dr. Jeff Beselt: Committed to Northern BC
Dr. Jeff Beselt was recognized for his dedication to the remote communities of Kwadacha and Tsay Keh, where he has served for more than 20 years.
“These communities are a 10-hour drive on a logging road,” he said. “You end up learning a lot of roles. I even learned to be an X-ray technician. Everyone pitches in — from the person grading the runway to the community health rep who might also drive the ambulance.”
Beselt reflected on both the privilege and responsibility of rural medicine.
“Some of the highlights are home visits with elders or working with patients in remote camps. But the hard times — like accompanying a patient in premature labour by helicopter — also define the experience. They’re difficult, but they’re also privileges.”
Dr. Karen Forgie: Champion for change in Sechelt
Dr. Karen Forgie, based in Sechelt, served as a family physician from 1993 until her retirement in 2022. She was honoured for her leadership at both the local and provincial levels.
She was elected president during the transition of the Section of General Practitioners to BC Family Doctors and has worked with the Health Data Coalition to embed quality improvement using electronic medical records (EMRs).
Forgie has remained active in Sechelt, helping to recruit new physicians to the area.
“Dr. Forgie is a force to be reckoned with,” said Drs. Jennifer and Julie Baxter, local colleagues. “She has always acted with deep care and respect. She’s been a role model for decades.”
Forgie encouraged others to find their voice in the profession.
“One of the biggest things I recommend is to find a place to lead,” she said. “Your knowledge is valuable, and we need more physicians in leadership at every level — community, organizational, and government — to improve health care across BC.
