NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

North Okanagan Hospice Society Announcement
New Executive Director Appointed

Vernon, BC (June 23, 2021) – The North Okanagan Hospice Society’s (NOHS) Board of Directors is very pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa Matthews as Executive Director effective August 9, 2021.

Ms. Matthews was most recently the Chair of the Practical Nursing Department at Okanagan College in Vernon, BC. In that role, she provided academic leadership, advice and oversight of curricula, operations, recruitment and learning outcomes. She also brings a wealth of experience to her new position from working internationally as a consultant, project director and executive director on a wide variety of projects and initiatives designed to improve the delivery, efficacy, quality and safety in healthcare in the Middle East, Europe and the UK.

“Lisa’s knowledge, experience, analytical skills and talent for working with stakeholders, combined with her commitment to the highest standards of care, will be the foundation for moving the NOHS forward in its mission to provide compassionate and comprehensive palliative care in the North Okanagan” said Dave Kennedy, NOHS President.

Lisa has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Dalhousie University and a Master’s degree in Public Health from Michigan State University as well as nursing certifications in critical and emergency advanced care.

The NOHS Board also wishes to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank our retiring Executive Director, Ruth Edwards, who has spent the last 20 years at Hospice, including the last 10 years in the leadership role. “Ruth’s dedication, diligence and hard work has both served the NOHS well in the past, including during the Covid-19 pandemic, and left us in excellent shape for transition to new leadership,” said Mr. Kennedy.

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About the North Okanagan Hospice Society

Located in Vernon, the North Okanagan Hospice Society (NOHS) is a registered charity that operates a 12-bed palliative care facility in Vernon for residents of the North Okanagan. NOHS was incorporated in 1984 in Vernon as a charitable organization to relieve suffering and improve quality of life through skilled and compassionate care to those with a palliative diagnosis along with support for their loved ones and the bereaved. Initially formed as a small volunteer organization with a visiting program, the Society is currently recognized as a leader in the development and delivery of comprehensive hospice palliative care. NOHS is a contracted partner with the Interior Health Authority and receives generous support from the community through donations and grants, bequests, fundraising and volunteer services. Please visit NOHS.CA for more information including financial statements and Annual Reports.

For more information, contact:

Dave Kennedy, Board President
North Okanagan Hospice Society
Email: [email protected] or Tel: (250) 550-5366