Indigenous Liaison Nurses

Indigenous Liaison Nurses (ILNs) can advocate on your behalf, helping you access referrals, benefit information and more with ease.

Indigenous Liaison Nurses can help

  • access non-insured health benefits as needed
  • access to the All Nations' Healing Room in the Patient Care Centre
  • discharge planning and communication with community contacts
  • get a hardship parking pass for one family member 
  • refer you to community services 
  • refer you to Spiritual Health as requested
  • support for you and your family during a hospital stay 
  • understand health care issues 

As an Indigenous patient, you have a right to

  • ask questions about your health care
  • be acknowledged as an individual
  • be cared for in a respectful, dignified and culturally safe manner by health care professionals
  • be consulted and actively participate in decisions about your health care
  • freedom from verbal, physical and sexual abuse, or neglect
  • get a second opinion from another doctor
  • privacy and confidentiality of your health information
  • request access to the information in your health record
  • refuse to have students, residents and other training present during your appointment or examination
  • refuse treatment, unless you have a serious communicable disease that could harm other people such as TB or Syphilis

General Information on Indigenous Liaison Nurses

Referral Required?
Not required
Contact Us

North Island

Alert Bay 

Namgis Health Centre - 250-974-5556

Campbell River & District

Office phone: 250-286-7100 ext. 67305 
Fax: 250-286-7177

Nadine Kruger, Indigenous Liaison Nurse (ILN) Monday to Friday
Cell: 250-830-8865

Comox Valley Hospital

Office phone: 250-331-5900 ext. 65308

Laurel Anderson, ILN Monday to Friday
Cell: 250-650-5714
laurel.anderson@islandhealth.ca

Emily Mark, Weekend ILN
250-331-5900 ext. 65308
Cell: 250-527-0139
emily.mark@islandhealth.ca

Mt. Waddington

Port Hardy Hospital

Office phone: 250-702-5614
Fax: 250-902-6030

Violet Alfred, IPN Monday to Friday
violet.alfred@islandhealth.ca

Central Island

Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

Office phone: 250-755-7691 ext. 52095
Fax: 250-755-3361

Louise Dexter, ILN Friday to Sunday
Cell: 250-741-4234
louise.dexter@islandhealth.ca

Joanne van Engelsdorp ILN Monday to Thursday
Cell: 250-883-3010
Joanne.vanengelsdorp@islandhealth.ca

Miranda Borrelli, ILN, NRGH ED - On Leave
Miranda.borrelli@islandhealth.ca

Port Alberni

West Coast General Hospital

Office phone: 250-723-1390 ext. 48109
Fax: 250-731-1342

Deb Melvin, LPN /  ILN Monday to Thursday
Cell: 250-735-4319
Deb.Melvin@islandhealth.ca 

Linda Smith, LPN, Nurse Navigator Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
250-724-5757 ext. 280
Cell: 250-731-5392

Becki Nookemis, BA, Client Navigator Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
250-724-5757 ext. 264
Cell: 250-735-3033

Tofino General Hospital

Office phone: 250-725-4010 ext. 64143
Fax: 250-725-4012

Jessica Kozan, ILCTN Wednesday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Cell: 250-619-5161
Jessica.Kozan@islandhealth.ca

Cowichan District Hospital

Office phone: 250-727-2030 ext. 45682

Danny Pasichnyk, ILCTN, Thursday to Monday, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Cell: 250-589-8256
Danny.Pasichnyk@islandhealth.ca

South Island

Saanich Peninsula Hospital

Office phone: 250-652-7590
Fax: 250-652-7547
*no weekend or evening coverage

Jane Fox, RN BScN, ILN Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
jane.fox@islandhealth.ca

Lucia Bartleman, Indigenous Patient Navigator Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
250-217-6407
Lucia.Bartleman@islandhealth.ca

Victoria General Hospital

Office phone: 250-727-4543
Fax: 250-519-1524

Cody Kirkpatrick, ILN Saturday to Monday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Cody.Kirkpatrick@islandhealth.ca

Catherine Condy, RN, ILN Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Catherine.Condy@islandhealth.ca

Simi Ono, ILN Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Simi.Ono@islandhealth.ca

Laura Whitaker – VGH casual
Laura.Whitaker@islandhealth.ca

Royal Jubilee Hospital

Office phone: 250-370-8847
Fax: 250-519-1524
*no weekend or evening coverage

Sartu Ibro-Ali, RN, ILN Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Sartu.IbroAli@islandhealth.ca

Alexandra Copley – RJH Casual ILN
Alexandra.Copley@islandhealth.ca

Amber Louie, RN, MN, ILN Multi-site Coverage Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Amber.Luoie@islandhealth.ca

April Hautaluoma, RN, ILN Multi-site Coverage, Casual 
April.Hautaluoma@islandhealth.ca

Selina Bickle, ILN - On Leave
selina.bickle@islandhealth.ca

News & Events

Indigenous totem pole

Island Health introducing voluntary Indigenous self-identification program at all care facilities

As part of our commitment to providing safe, culturally appropriate care that is free of racism and discrimination for all patients, Island Health is implementing a voluntary Indigenous-self identification program (ISI) at all care facilities where patients are registered to receive services.

Read more

Noel and his father, Elder Gary Brown, watch the unveiling of Noel's commissioned art for NRGH

Noel Brown art unveiled at NRGH

Nanaimo Regional General Hospital has a beautiful new piece of Coast Salish art enhancing its main entrance to honour the partnership between Snuneymuxw First Nation and the hospital.

Read more

image of accord signing

Vancouver Island Partnership Accord Renews Commitment for First Nation’s Health Outcomes

A renewed commitment to improve the health and wellness outcomes of all First Nations people living in the Island Health region has been made.

Read more