The District of Kitimat has been recognized for its efforts to recruit and retain nurses and other health-care professionals.
Kitimat received the BC Nurses’ Union’s 2026 Health Care Champion award at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver last week.
The annual award recognizes local governments that are taking action to support nurses and strengthen health care in their communities.
BCNU President Adriane Gear says Kitimat has taken a practical approach to addressing the challenges facing health-care professionals.
“Kitimat has taken a thoughtful, practical approach to recruiting and retaining nurses and other health-care professionals. This active work includes listening and identifying the barriers and then investing in solutions that help make the community a place where health-care workers can live, work and stay.”
Kitimat launched its Healthcare Recruitment and Retention Program in 2025 after a study identified challenges facing local health-care professionals.
The program offers recruitment incentives of up to $20,000 for physicians, $14,000 for nurse practitioners and $7,500 for registered nurses, along with housing assistance, professional development support and retention incentives.
The district has also hired a dedicated Health Recruitment Coordinator to lead recruitment efforts and support health-care professionals moving to the community.
Kitimat Mayor Phil Germuth says he was proud to accept the award on behalf of the district and council.
“I was very proud on behalf of Kitimat, along with council, to receive the BC Nurses Union Award last week at UBCM on health-care recruitment and retention.”
Germuth says the program is also an example of what can be accomplished through partnerships.
“That’s great for Kitimat. It’s a great program and Cynthia Medeiros, who’s managing that for us, is doing a great job. And I think that’s another great example of partnership. You know, LNG Canada funded it, and we’re administering it, and clearly, it is a successful project that’s working to bring health-care professionals to our community.”
The district has also contributed $800,000 toward the purchase and installation of a CT scanner at Kitimat General Hospital, in partnership with the North West Regional Hospital District, Northern Health, LNG Canada and community donors.
Germuth says the award is an acknowledgement of the work being done to strengthen health care in Kitimat.
“It was great acknowledgement by the BC Nurses’ Union to give us that award, and I was very proud to be there with council to receive that.”
The BCNU established the Health Care Champion award in 2025. The inaugural award went to the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality.
