COVID-19 has impacted all of our lives. And not one of us has escaped the impacts.

Yet none bore the strain more than our health care stars — the heroes on the front lines who, despite knowing so little about this new and infectious disease, stepped bravely into our hospitals and health care centres to care for our most critically ill patients.

This is why VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is proud to grant 2021’s Leadership Award, presented by Odlum Brown, to BC’s Health Care Workers.

“I think we can all agree that health care workers are the stars of our health care system,” said Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer. “They have continued to provide care, without pause or hesitation, to everyone who has been most in need — whether with COVID-19 or another illness.”

Dr. Henry bestowed the award at the 25th Night of a Thousand Stars gala, presented by B2Gold Corp., on October 22, 2021.

The Leadership Award recognizes individuals, families or organizations that are leaders in our health care system. Those who have made a significant contribution to our hospitals and health care centres, and who have made it their mission to transform health care and save lives.

“I can think of a no more deserving group to receive this year’s Leadership Award than BC’s Health Care Workers,” said Dr. Henry.

“I think the value of this award for all the health care workers in BC is really that level of acknowledgement. It’s a way to formally say you are all heroes. You have all gone above and beyond. And we appreciate you in ways we could never express.”
– Michelle de Moor, Interim Vice President, Vancouver Acute Services

 

Straight from the Stars

The Leadership Award is for all of BC’s Health Care Workers, including kitchen staff, housekeeping, volunteers nurses, doctors, administrators, and more, who each play a vital role in our health care system.

Here is what some of them had to say about receiving the award.

“I think that we’ve overcome a lot and it’s just great to be recognized,” says Ramie Locke, Registered Respiratory Therapist, who helped care for Jaclyn Robinson when she was severely sick with COVID-19 in the ICU. “I think just like the 7 o’clock cheers and the signs, they make us feel like we’ve been seen. The award does the same thing and shows that people recognize our dedication and recognize what we’ve been doing, and they’re grateful.”

“Knowing that we played a big role in this situation has been emotional,” says Lily Bucahan, housekeeper.

“In the midst of seeing the challenges of our staff, what you see is incredible acts of compassion, of heroism and creativity,” says Titus Wong, Regional Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control. “You want to say thank you, but it seems just not enough… just not enough.”

“It’s remarkable that people are getting through it, and all the departments are up and operational, and they deserve our thanks for that,” says volunteer Stuart de Vroome.

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is proud to support all of BC’s Health Care Workers. Thank you for being there for us this, and every, year. Your dedication and commitment to helping those in need of complex and urgent care is inspiring, and we can think of no one group more deserving of this year’s award. Congratulations.