At the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation, we understand that delivering exceptional patient care in the North Peace requires a dedicated and diverse team. Every staff member, whether working directly with patients or behind the scenes, plays a vital role in our healthcare system. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the FSJ Hospital Foundation is proud to offer an Education Fund, which supports the personal and professional development of all Northern Health Authority and facility staff. This fund provides grants for courses, workshops, and training opportunities that enhance job-related knowledge, skills, and qualifications.

By investing in the growth of our healthcare professionals, we are not only supporting individual career goals but also strengthening the quality of care provided to our community. These Educational Grants are made possible thanks to Shell Canada-Groundbirch and donations to the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation.

Fort St. John Hospital Foundation

2026 Education Grant Recipients

Corri Cooper

Corri works in the Recreation Therapy Department at Peace Villa, where she has been a valued member of the team since 2021. Her work focuses on supporting residents through meaningful recreation and activity programming that promotes connection, engagement, and quality of life.

Corri is continuing her professional development through Red Deer Polytechnic, completing an Activity Coordinator Certificate along with additional recreation and leadership training. Her education is helping her build the skills to create enriched, person-centred programming that supports the needs and interests of Peace Villa residents.

The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation’s Educational Grant is supporting Corri’s continued education and professional growth. By expanding her knowledge and skills, she hopes to bring new ideas and opportunities to the Recreation Therapy Department and make a lasting difference in the lives of the residents she serves.

Ashley Fell

Ashley is a Licensed Practical Nurse who has worked with Northern Health since 2010. A Fort St. John resident and mother of three, Ashley is continuing her education while working in healthcare and pursuing her goal of becoming a Registered Nurse.

Ashley is completing coursework through Northern Lights College and Thompson Rivers University as she advances her nursing education. She is passionate about building on her experience as an LPN and expanding the care she can provide to patients and families in the North.

The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation’s Educational Grant is helping Ashley continue her studies while balancing work and family. Her dedication to lifelong learning reflects her commitment to growing within the healthcare profession and continuing to serve the Fort St. John community.

Barbara Giroux

Barbara has worked in healthcare for more than 15 years and is passionate about making a difference in the lives of patients and giving back to her community. Inspired by her grandmother’s own career in healthcare, Barbara has built her career around the combination of science, compassion, and patient care.

She is currently continuing her education in ophthalmology, developing skills in areas including patient intake, visual acuity testing, diagnostic procedures, and assisting with minor eye procedures. Her long-term goal is to become a Certified Ophthalmic Technician and take on greater specialized responsibilities within the field.

The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation’s Educational Grant is helping Barbara focus on her studies while continuing to grow professionally. She hopes to use her expanded knowledge and skills to improve access to quality eye care and provide compassionate, high-quality care to patients in her community.

Dilna Joy

Dilna works with Northern Health in Fort St. John, where she began her healthcare career in 2021 as a Registration Clerk before transitioning to a Social Worker Assistant role. She is also pursuing her Return to Registered Nurse Practice program through Thompson Rivers University, with a goal of returning to nursing practice in Canada.

Balancing work, studies, and family responsibilities, Dilna is committed to continuing her professional growth and providing compassionate, evidence-based care to patients and families. She hopes to pursue specialized training in areas such as critical care and ICU nursing as her career develops.

The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation’s Educational Grant is helping ease the financial burden of her education and allowing her to focus more fully on her studies and clinical learning. Dilna looks forward to serving the Fort St. John community as a Registered Nurse and giving back to the healthcare system that has supported her journey.

Rattanjot Kaur

Rattanjot has been working with Northern Health as a Licensed Practical Nurse since 2018 and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing to become a Registered Nurse. Her experience as an LPN has strengthened her passion for nursing and inspired her to expand her knowledge and skills to provide more comprehensive care.

As a full-time nursing student, Rattanjot is committed to continuing her education while serving the community she calls home. Her goal is to become a Registered Nurse, gain experience across different areas of nursing, and eventually pursue graduate studies to become a Nurse Practitioner.

The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation’s Educational Grant is helping ease the financial burden of tuition and allowing Rattanjot to focus more fully on her education and clinical experiences. She hopes to use her growing knowledge and experience to provide compassionate, high-quality care and contribute to a stronger healthcare system in northern British Columbia.

Irene Kirigo

Irene is a Registered Nurse who has called Fort St. John home since 2018. Over the past eight years, she has served the community in a variety of roles, including long-term care case management, home care nursing, and as a community liaison in the FSJ Hospital Emergency Department. She recently began a new role as a Clinical Nurse Educator.

Inspired by her grandmother, Irene chose nursing out of a genuine desire to serve others and make a positive difference in their lives. She is continuing her advanced education while developing her skills as an educator and mentor, with a focus on supporting nurses and creating positive learning environments.

The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation’s Educational Grant is helping ease the financial demands of balancing work, family, and advanced education. Irene hopes to use her experience and education to mentor new nurses, strengthen clinical education, and support the next generation of healthcare professionals in the Peace Region.

Amisha Salhotra

Amisha is a Licensed Practical Nurse working in the Fort St. John Home Care department. After gaining experience as a travel nurse serving remote northern communities across British Columbia and Manitoba, Amisha was inspired to further her education in psychiatric nursing.

She is currently completing the Psychiatric Nursing program through Stenberg College, with a goal of becoming a specialized Psychiatric Nurse serving Fort St. John and surrounding northern communities. Amisha is passionate about providing holistic mental health care and helping improve access to specialized support in the North.

The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation’s Educational Grant is helping Amisha balance her full-time work with her studies and move closer to her goal of strengthening mental health care in the Peace Region.

Marlon Timoteo

Marlon is an MRI Technologist who joined Northern Health in 2020 after moving to Fort St. John from the Middle East in 2021. With more than 16 years of experience in medical imaging across the Philippines, United Arab Emirates, and Canada, Marlon is passionate about using technology and clinical expertise to make a meaningful difference in patient care.

Marlon recently completed his CT X-ray certification and continues to expand his skills across X-ray, CT, and MRI. He is committed to supporting his colleagues, mentoring newer staff and helping ensure patients receive timely, high-quality imaging services.

The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation’s Educational Grant is supporting Marlon’s continued education while he balances full-time work and family responsibilities. He hopes to continue growing professionally and serving the Fort St. John community through medical imaging for many years to come.

Kateryna Tushkova

Kateryna is a Mental Health Clinician with Northern Health, where she supports individuals living with mental health and addiction through the Day Treatment Program in Fort St. John. Originally from Ukraine, Kateryna has built a diverse educational background, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Health Science from York University and a Master of Occupational Therapy from the University of Sydney.

Kateryna is pursuing a career in social work, driven by a commitment to supporting people facing complex mental health and substance use challenges. She hopes to become a licensed clinical social worker specializing in mental health and substance use treatment, with a long-term goal of contributing to program development and integrated care.

The Fort St. John Hospital Foundation’s Educational Grant is helping reduce the financial stress of her education and giving Kateryna more time to focus on her coursework. She hopes to give back by mentoring healthcare providers and helping enhance mental health services in the community.

How To Apply:

Candidates must be employed by NHA and working in the North Peace Region (full-time, permanent part-time or casual) for at least one full year prior to the application deadline.
Plan to remain working in the community for at least one (1) year upon completing the course.
The course or conference must directly relate to health care delivery or advance job knowledge that will contribute to excellence in patient care; either in your current role, or a future position to which you aspire.
Successful applicant are only eligible for a lifetime to a maximum of (3) grants per lifetime, and not more than one (1) per fiscal year.
A letter of support from a supervisor or manager for your application is required.

The maximum value of an Education Grant is $5000.
The number and value of scholarships awarded each year will be at the discretion of the FSJ Hospital Foundation Board of Directors with recommendations from the FSJ Hospital Foundation executive team and Education Committee and will be reviewed each year.

Applications must be received at the FSJ Hospital Foundation office by the first Monday in May each year.
Successful candidates will be contacted by the Foundation after the review process has been completed.

An Education Committee will be appointed by the FSJ Hospital Foundation and the Committee will make recommendations to the FSJ Hospital Foundation Board of Directors for final selection approval.
Candidates will be evaluated against a pre-designed scoring format as approved by the Education Committee.

Successful candidates will be contacted and invited to have their photo taken for the purpose of the sharing their individual success and with the public in general.
Successful candidates will be ask to submit a statement of what this Educational Grant means to you that may be utilized by the FSJ Hospital Foundation to further enhance the program.