Recognized as one of BC's Top Employers (2025):
By Richard Yerema and Kristina Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Feb 11, 2025)
Here are some of the reasons why Provincial Health Services Authority / PHSA was selected as one of BC's Top Employers (2025):
- PHSA provides dedicated onboarding to help new employees integrate seamlessly and conducts surveys at regular intervals to capture feedback on their recruitment, pre-boarding, orientation and onboarding experience -- the organization also offers in-house career planning to help employees map out their long-term career trajectory
- PHSA fosters a culture of recognition through peer-nominated PHSA+ Awards for employees, volunteers, and teams -- the program was recently refreshed to incorporate Coast Salish teachings and North Star priorities, and award recipients are honoured at an annual gala to celebrate their achievements
- PHSA provides maternity and parental leave top-up for all new parents and offers the option to extend their leave into an unpaid leave of absence -- on-site childcare is also available at the Children’s and Women’s Campus (where the majority of clinical staff are located)
At PHSA, employees strive to spark joy and well-being
Sabrina Gill is passionate about her work at the BC Children's Hospital & BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre. “Our humanistic approach to care always keeps my heart here,” says Gill, practice leader, psychological health, and safety team. “The organization has created space for us to learn, grow and connect with each other.”
That organization is the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), which works with the B.C. Ministry of Health, the five regional health authorities and the First Nations Health Authority to bring health care closer to where B.C. residents live, to promote health, manage chronic conditions and reduce the burden of illness. Its role is to ensure that residents have access to a coordinated provincial network of high-quality, specialized health care services.
“We’ve spent time to refresh our purpose, vision and values which are now grounded in Coast Salish teachings,” says David Byres, president and CEO of PHSA. A Coast Salish Knowledge Keeper, Sulksun, Shane Pointe, has gifted six teachings to the organization. “The teachings offer guidance on how to do our best as human beings and show up in relation to one another,” says Byres.
Three of the organization’s six priorities are antiracism, sparking joy and well-being, and caring for the planet. “We’re building a culturally safe organization across the province – a workplace where every one of our employees can thrive,” says Byres.
One way the organization sparks joy is to commit to quality, safety and excellence. “Employees tell us one reason for our low staff turnover rate is the focus on excellent care,” says Byres. Engagement is also key for employees. They have opportunities to ask questions of leaders at organization-wide town hall meetings and Byres goes out to meet with staff and physicians to ask if they have what they need.
Gill recognizes PHSA's commitment to fostering a sense of belonging for everyone. Through programs such as Indigenous health, psychological health and safety, and diversity, equity and inclusion, she has participated in various educational sessions to enhance her self-awareness in how she presents herself. Gill is currently enrolled in the Simon Fraser University equity health care program, supported by PHSA.
Over her 22-year career, Gill has experienced change in the health system, leading with cultural humility. When she was a nursing student, education on trauma-informed care was not yet embedded in the curriculum. She first learned about these practices while working at BC Children’s Hospital (BCCH). There, she had the chance to help shape the Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine.
Gill was also able to create the Youth Advisory Committee. “By empowering youth voices, we truly believe in ‘nothing about us without us,’” she says. “It’s encouraging to see policies like patient-centred care in action.”
Four years ago, her team supported Gill to go back to school and get her master’s degree in health leadership and policy. “I felt there was an opportunity to do more,” she says.
In her new role in psychological health and safety, Gill has a chance to collaborate with people in other areas of PHSA. “It brings me joy to see a compassionate culture all across the organization,” she says. “I notice employees in every role are carrying these values together.”
As a member of the BCCH Centre for Mindfulness, Gill teaches mindfulness to health care providers. She believes that mindfulness allows providers to pause and respond more thoughtfully to patients, families and one another while also supporting their own well-being.
“It is a reflection of the Coast Salish teaching Eyhh slaxin, ‘Good medicine,’” says Gill. “As we provide good medicine to others, we also apply ‘Good medicine’ to caring for ourselves.”
