Hello BC

Hey everyone,

I left Whitehorse Aug 08. I got back home to Mississauga and immediately went into mountain, sunlight and kayking withdrawal. Not to mention the overwhelming feeling of needing a ventolin puffer when I stepped off the plane. And Kindle, I can actually kayak now and don't just sit in my kayak and pretend.It was GREAT to see everyone though and I definitely had a fun week. I am now in Abbotsford, British Columbia. So far it has been uneventful but I have only been here 2 days. It's no Whitehorse or Atlin but the Abbotsford Regional Hospital is brand new and seems good. Once again, no pediatrics though. I will post some pretty awesome Whitehorse pictures when I get my lazy butt around to it. Enjoy the rest of the summer.

OMG...I'm living in a nursing home!!

In my first post I forgot to mention my reaction to my place when I first moved in. I am living in a residence that was used as a rehab center to integrate clients back into communities. Hence my bathroom is completley wheelchair accesible AND I have a freaking Century tub in my bathroom. I think thats funny and a bit creepy. So what the heck is going on up here when I'm not working? Mostly hiking, trail running, roadtripping and drinking. Occasionally I go kayaking on the rapids in the Yukon River. Well...I attempt to float in still water areas surrounding the rapids and try not to get caught in the current :(. I finally posted more pictures. For those of you who aren't computer savvy (i.e. MOM) just click on VIEW ALL to see fullscreen pictures.

Yes I am still alive, no I did not get eaten by a bear.

I figured this blog is way overdue since I am starting to get messages inquiring whether or not I am still alive. As most of you know I left Ontario on May 05 to begin some travel nursing with an agency called Select Medical Connections. I will be travelling to different jobs across Canada, mostly northern and western, on 6 to 12 weeks assignments.


My first assignment is at Whitehorse General Hospital (WGH) in Whitehorse, Yukon Teritorry. I will be in Whitehorse until July 31st, 2009. I was hired on as a "pediatric" nurse. However, I quickly realized that although I am on a pediatric unit, the peds population is sparce and my patients are mostly over 60 with a 1 to 9 nurse-patient load. (A detail that the manager failed to mention in my informational interveiw.) I've been up here for 4 weeks now and have cared for maybe 3 or 4 relatively healthy children. While I am not too pleased about the work, I LOVE the wilderness here.

I am living on the Yukon River bed, surrounded by the mountains. My backyard is an endless number of lakes, hiking and mountain biking trails. The people are friendly and laid back, the atmosphere is chill and there is lot more going on here then I expected. I've met some great people and been on a couple of roadtrips, a lot of day hiking trips and seen a couple of black bears. Just to clear a few things up:

• No I have not found a "Whitehorse".
• I will not get frost bite or seasonal affective disorder.
• I will not get attacked by a bear but I carry bear spray just in case.
• There is only one hour of darkness right now and the midnight sun is absolutely beautiful.

I am trying to post a slideshow of pictures but can't promise that I will be successful. :(