Living and practising in beautiful Bella Coola

Julia finds reassurance in knowing that her practice in a remote community is supported by a larger health authority, allowing her to focus on her role with confidence and efficiency. 

“I enjoy the close team atmosphere working in Bella Coola,” Julia shares. “My colleagues are extremely diverse with varied skill sets in and outside of medicine, but we get along so well and bring different expertise and viewpoints to the table.”

Depending on the day, she tends to patients in the clinic or in the Emergency Department. During their daily morning rounds, Julia alongside her fellow physicians and nurses review patient cases and works closely with various allied health-care workers. When visiting specialists come to town, the team gathers for group lunches to learn and connect.

“I love the outdoors and appreciate the quietude of smaller town life, away from the hustle and bustle,” Julia says. With mountain views and beautiful scenery, she enjoys her 27 km commute to work without a single traffic light along the way.

Outside of work, Julia’s love for nature and the outdoors shines. She spends her spare time with her husband and two children. In the summer, they fish, swim, hike, horseback ride and mountain bike. In the fall, they hunt for food that lasts year-round, and with fertile soil, the valley’s produce and crops are shared at the weekly farmer’s market. In the winter, they skate on frozen ponds around the valley, cross-country ski on local trails, and on the weekends, they go ski and snowmobile in the backcountry.

Bella Coola is home to the Nuxalk Nation, where Julia has learned a lot about life, humanity, and the local culture through interactions with patients and Nuxalk staff alike. She cherishes the tight-knit relationships built in a small community. 

Julia values the flexibility and balance that her role offers. She enjoys the daily morning snack provided to hospital staff, the clinic gym in the locum house next door, as well as the opportunity to go for a run or hike during breaks and lunch.

Moreover, Julia appreciates the option to choose her work schedule, and collaborates with her colleagues to ensure that everyone is satisfied with their own schedules while maintaining full coverage for their community.

“For people with a sense of adventure, who enjoy fresh water and mountain air, who like to live close to and off of the land, and who have a sense of respect, appreciation and community,” Julia highly recommends a career in Bella Coola.

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