Rural Coordination Centre of BC honours the Nisga’a Valley Health Authority, Campbell River/Tsay Keh Dene/Kwadacha’s Dr. Jeff Beselt, Osoyoos’s Dr. Garnett Tarr, Sechelt’s Dr. Karen Forgie and Duncan/Powell River’s Dr. Bruce Hobson. Chetwynd’s Dr. Yonabeth Nava de Escalante is honoured with the Resident Leadership Award. 

PRINCE GEORGE/UNCEDED LAND OF THE LHEIDLI T’ENNEH—Compassionate rural physicians who have dedicated their lives to caring for rural people, community partners who have expanded access to healthcare in an isolated northern territory and a resident doctor who is making waves while immersed in rural practice—these are the stories of the 2025 Rural Health Award winners.

The Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc) presents the BC Rural Health Awards each spring to recognize and honour rural health heroes. This year, the presentation ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 7, in Prince George, the traditional and unceded lands of the Lheidli T’enneh. The award presentations will take place at Exploration Place.

Dr. Danette Dawkin, RCCbc’s physician lead for the awards program, says it is a significant honour to be able to recognize her peers for their immense contributions.

“We don’t often have a chance to pause and show our gratitude to the people who make a difference in rural medicine,” she says. “I am deeply grateful we can highlight the remarkable work of these five dedicated physicians as well as our innovative and inspiring community partners who elevate rural healthcare in BC. Congratulations to this year’s winners!”

The Award of Excellence in Rural Medicine, Lifetime Achievement, honours doctors for their exceptional contribution to the health of people in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities across BC. Winners this year include Dr. Jeff Beselt, Dr. Karen Forgie, Dr. Bruce Hobson, and Dr. Garnett Tarr.

Recipients of the Rural BC Community Award are selected for developing innovative and collaborative solutions to local healthcare challenges.

The Nisga’a Valley Health Authority was named as the Rural BC Community Award winner. In addition, we also recognize the five other nominated communities this year including Duncan, Creston, The Discovery Islands, Stellat’en First Nation and North Vancouver Island Region—including Kwakiutl, ʼNa̱mǥis, Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw and Quatsino First Nations, Port Alice, Alert Bay, Port McNeill and Port Hardy.

The Resident Leadership Award recognizes a Medical Resident in good academic standing who has demonstrated a sustained interest in rural and remote medicine in BC. Dr. Yonabeth Nava de Escalante has been named the 2025 winner.

See the Media Backgrounder for more details about each winner.

Contact:
Heiko Decosas, Communications Lead, Rural Coordination Centre of BC

T: 778-558-6192 (direct) E: [email protected]

Rebecca Connop Price, Communications Officer, Rural Coordination Centre of BC

T: 604-558-7650 (direct)  E: [email protected]

About the Rural Coordination Centre of BC

Led by rural doctors, the Rural Coordination Centre of BC (RCCbc) is a network that works to improve the health of people and their communities in rural BC. Funded primarily by the Joint Standing Committee on Rural Issues, our network partners include healthcare providers and administrators, community members, policymakers, educators, researchers, and non-profit and business leaders. We serve all rural, remote and Indigenous communities in BC covered by the Rural Practice Subsidiary Agreement.