With the new year comes a new look and feel for our newsletter. After much thoughtful conversation, we have renamed it Aspire. For me, it is the perfect reflection of where we are today and where we are headed as a Foundation.

Aspire. It is a small word that carries enormous intention. 

Aspiring asks us to ground ourselves even more fully in the present so that we can take meaningful steps toward a future we believe is worth building. It invites us to hold two truths at once: that the challenges in health care are very real, and that our collective capacity to spark positive change is just as real. 

Through Aspire, we will share the stories of today – the people, progress, and impact already happening – alongside the vision guiding our future. Both matter. Together, they help us understand what is needed now and where we are headed, reminding us that the actions we take today shape the future of care we aspire to build. 

Many times over this past year, I’ve been moved by conversations that reflect those moments where vision meets courage, and where hope takes shape through action. 

I think of the privilege I had of spending time with Anida Johnson, story on page 16, in the final days of her life. Anida spoke clearly and beautifully about how she hoped her  legacy would impact the future of care. Her aspirations were grounded in grattitude for what already exists, with a belief in a potential still waiting to be unlocked. 

I think, too, of Dr. Dimitrios Coutsinos, story on page 12, who recently shared his ambition for KGH to become known nationwide for thoracic robotic surgery and lung cancer treatment. His confidence in this future is not wishful thinking, it’s rooted in the progress already made possible through community support for projects like ‘Vinni’. He aspires boldly because he sees the path already forming beneath his feet. 

When a few colleagues and I first met Dr. Jeff Wong, story on page 8, we left with a genuine sense of hope. His aspirations for the future of pediatric care at KGH, and his deep, evident love for the work, were truly inspiring. One member of our team, a mother of two young children, was so reassured knowing this kind of leader would be shaping pediatric care at KGH that it brought her to tears.

Stories like this remind us that progress always begins with people. 

Aspire exists because you are helping to bring these stories to life. Because you believe that progress in health care is not only possible, but worth it. Your generosity keeps us grounded in what matters most, even as we imagine what could be, and helps turn that belief into meaningful change for all who live in the Interior of BC. 

So, what does Aspire spark for you?

With heartfelt appreciation,