BC's Top Employers (2025) Magazine - Flipbook - Page 46
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BC’S TOP EMPLOYERS (2025)
Employees 昀椀nd purpose paddling together at FNHA
S
atisfied employees often
say the company they
work for is like a family to
them. At the First Nations
Health Authority (FNHA),
Francine Gascoyne appreciates
that sense of belonging.
“When you become an employee with FNHA, you become a part
of the Wolf Clan,” says Gascoyne,
a member of the Nuxalk Nation.
“As an organization, we’re grounded in First Nations culture and in
that tradition, family comes first.”
The FNHA is the health and
wellness partner to First Nations
people in B.C., including over 200
diverse First Nations communities.
The organization delivers First
Nations health and wellness
programs and services across the
province and its employees bring
a First Nations approach to health
and wellness.
The workweek at the FNHA begins with Mindful Monday, where
employees are invited to gather in
person or virtually to listen to the
words of an Elder, preparing them
for the week ahead. The event
wraps up with the singing of the
Coast Salish anthem.
“For me, it’s a good start to the
week. It’s really grounding to share
in the drumming and singing
and the dancing and to hear the
language,” says Gascoyne.
“That’s one of the main things
for me, knowing that I can tap into
those traditional ways of who we
are as First Nations people.”
Gascoyne is a regional nurse
manager working out of the
FNHA’s Oyster Bay offices south
of Nanaimo in the Stz’uminus
First Nation’s traditional territory.
For her, the best part of the job is
getting out into the community
and building relationships with
clients and their families.
That people-first attitude is
reflected throughout FNHA work
culture, says Dr. Terri Aldred,
medical director, primary care.
“People come into the organization because they’re called to
the work and want to give back
to communities and families
and share our vision of creating
healthy First Nations,” says Dr.
The First Nations Health Authority offers diverse professional opportunities, ranging from medical staff to
corporate services.
Aldred, from the Tl’azt’en Nation.
“We’re really passionate about
trying to create a health system
that uses the best of what the
Western system has to offer, as
well as incorporating Indigenous
ways of knowing and being into
how we support our medical
staff.”
Every morning, I wake up
and I’m excited to go to
work and see the what the
day has in store.
— Francine Gascoyne
Regional Nurse Manager
In addition to taking care of
communities, the FNHA makes
employee health a top priority.
Gascoyne helps her nursing team
by creating wellness plans tailored
to individual employees’ needs.
There’s also a strong emphasis
on mental wellness and a robust
employee family assistance program including access to cultural
supports.
Employees are also supported by education and training
programs within a First Nations
cultural framework. Gascoyne says
she’s benefited from these and
the FNHA’s career planning and
leadership training courses.
“I wanted the opportunity for
growth within myself as a registered nurse and I knew I would get
those opportunities at the FNHA,
especially around education,” she
says. “It allows me to serve the
people better, as well as being very
fulfilling.”
