Story provided by Chelsea Isenor, Director of Communications & Board Administration

On Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 60 Grade 10–12 students from across the Kamloops-Thompson School District gathered at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) for the 4th annual Discover Day in Health Care—a full day of hands-on learning, career exploration, and meaningful connections with health-care professionals.

Designed for students interested in pursuing careers in health care, Discover Day in Health Care is hosted in partnership with TRU’s School of Nursing and Faculty of Science and Interior Health. The event provides students with early exposure to post-secondary learning environments and the wide range of career pathways available within the health-care sector.

Throughout the day, students worked directly in TRU’s Nursing and Respiratory Therapy simulation labs alongside faculty, using the same tools, equipment, and resources as post-secondary students. These immersive experiences allowed participants to step into realistic clinical settings and gain a better understanding of what health-care training and work can look like.

Hands-on activities were a highlight for many students. Participants practiced taking blood pressure, using breathing bags, cleaning wounds, intubating manikins, and responding to simulated real-world scenarios. For some, it was their first opportunity to work in a nursing station or experience advanced medical simulations.

“The simulations were really cool, and it was interesting to see how the work happens,” one student shared.

In addition to lab experiences, students took part in an Interior Health Career Carousel. During seven short meet-and-greet sessions, professionals introduced students to their fields, sharing insights into their daily work, education pathways, and career opportunities. Departments represented included Lab Medicine, Medical Imaging, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Nurse Practitioner roles, Social Work, Pharmacy or Physician pathways, and Biomedical Engineering.

A key focus of the Health Care Discover Day was helping students understand that health care is a broad field, with many roles that extend beyond direct patient care. Presenters spoke about diverse career paths, competitive compensation and benefits, and opportunities such as job shadowing, helping students see the many ways they could contribute to health care.

Many students shared that the event introduced them to careers they hadn’t previously considered.

Grade 11 Valleyview Secondary student Ava Porlier attended Discover Day to explore her options and gain clarity about her future. “There are so many career paths out there, and I wanted to see what’s out there,” Ava shared. “I know I want to go into health care, but there are so many things in health care that I wanted to get a sense of everything to help figure out what I want to do.”

Coming from a family of nurses, Ava had long envisioned herself becoming a Nurse Practitioner, but the day expanded her perspective. “I feel like I was pretty set on being a Nurse Practitioner and now, being here and seeing all the different things you can do, I’m torn,” she said. “I’m going to do more research and figure out what I’m going to do.”

For Jessica Raeside, a Grade 12 student from NorKam Secondary, the experience helped confirm her direction. “I know I want to go into Nursing, and I wanted to get an idea of the different paths you can go with Nursing and options out there,” Jessica shared. “Today helped me so much in getting a clearer mind on what I want to do. Going into the Nurse Practitioner room gave me a light bulb moment—I saw my pathway.”

Jessica hopes to pursue Nurse Practitioner studies as well as Labour and Delivery. “I want to be able to help people and make a difference,” she shared. “Being able to support people and help them get better—and bringing life into the world—sounds so amazing.”

Discover Day in Health Care also highlighted careers that often operate behind the scenes. Megan Hatori, Lab Student Coordinator, emphasized the importance of introducing students to professions they may not be aware of. “Laboratory is one of those hidden, invisible jobs that people don’t necessarily know about,” she explained. “Almost everybody interacts with Lab, but many people don’t realize it. This is a fantastic way to still be involved in health care—contributing to patient care without necessarily being patient-facing.”

Students described Discover Day as “a great opportunity to learn about different career options” and a chance to hear directly from professionals about their experiences and pathways. For many, the day helped clarify not only what they might want to pursue—but also what they may not.

At the end of the day, students gathered to reflect and hear final words of encouragement from health-care leaders. Sarah Lauman from Interior Health offered a powerful reminder of the role students will play in the future of health care. “Health care needs you—they need your brains, your energy, and your new ideas,” she shared. “Start exploring your options now so you feel more prepared when you finish high school.”

Discover Day in Health Care reflects the SD73’s Career Development strategic priority by giving students meaningful opportunities to explore who they are, what interests them, and who they may want to become. Through hands-on experiences, goal-setting conversations, and direct connections with post-secondary partners and health-care professionals, students expanded their understanding of career pathways and gained clarity to support informed decisions about graduation, further education, and future work. By partnering with TRU, Interior Health, and community organizations, the district continues to support all learners—especially those exploring diverse and evolving career options—to graduate with confidence, flexibility, and a plan for their future.