“So how is your retirement going?” Julie Imbeau, a nurse of 40 years is still dressed in her scrubs and seated next to her husband Ward, laboratory technologist and former part-time department manager at Sechelt | shíshálh Hospital. “Great!” she laughs. “We both still work at the hospital.”
Not your typical retirement indeed, the Imbeaus simply haven’t let go of their passion for people, health care, or mentorship, four years in. “We keep working here because we both really enjoy being able to guide and mentor new staff members,” Ward remarks. “We also want to ensure we continue to have local staff working here,” adds Julie.
Julie, a nurse who has worked in the OR and Ambulatory Care Unit for the last 10 years, recalls her time at Sechelt| shíshálh Hospital where she has also worked as a nurse in the Emergency Department and Critical Care Units. “There are a lot of agency and visiting health care staff these days, which is great. But it’s important to have staff working here with the history and connection to our community too.”
For Ward, a sports fan, he jumped into the field after being inspired by a fellow baseball player and lab technician, and even likens his role to playing sports. “You’re on a team, and everyone has a position to play,” he says. “I’ve coached a number of staff members in pursuing their goals in health care during my time here.”
Together, they continue to work at the hospital well into their retirement for the value it adds to the hospital and community. “That community feeling you get here is one of the things that makes our hospital so special. I hope more nurses choose to stay here for their careers,” added Julie.
Keeping “the best medicine local” and passing the baton to the newest generation of health care workers is more than just an on-the-job mission for Julie and Ward, it’s a family mission too. Their daughter, Colleen, started her career as a pharmacy technician in 2018 and now works at the hospital as well. Inspired by her parent’s careers, she chose to help people through the pharmacy department because it suits her skills and strengths.
“You grow up thinking ‘doctor’ or ‘nurse’ are the only two options,” Colleen points out, “But there are so many other roles and areas in health care that are just as important. Some roles only require a six-month program and are really important jobs.”
Colleen’s hope is that she can show local students that there are many sides to working in medicine and consider working at the hospital. She’s also dedicated to ensuring the continuity of medical treatment on the Coast.
“I’ve recently started training in mixing chemotherapy drugs,” says Coleen, “Because I want to ensure cancer treatments remain available at the hospital. I want to support patients to stay home with their families while undergoing medical treatments.”
