Dr. Charles Helm, who helps organize the Tumbler Ridge Medical Conference, recently sent a letter, asking the District for $10,000 in sponsorship for the 2026 Tumbler Ridge Medical Conference.
Instead, the District has chosen to fund the conference for the next three years—$10,000 this year and $15,000 for the next two years.
The Tumbler Ridge Medical Conference has become one of Northern BC’s most impactful events for rural healthcare education, recruitment, and retention, says Dr. Helm. “Building on last year’s success—with 92 healthcare professionals and nearly 200 family members attending—we are planning an even more dynamic event for this year.”
The event is a collaboration between the Rural Continuing Medical Education and the South Peace Division of Family Practice, bringing together physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals, First Nations Health Authority, Northern Health, and their families.
“It is a family-centered event that focuses on the benefits of practicing in a rural community under the theme ‘Celebrating the Joys of Rurality,’ says Helm.
“Participants enjoy not only high-quality medical education but also the unique attractions of Tumbler Ridge—dinosaur tracks, hiking and biking trails, the Museum, and the Geopark—making this event a powerful recruitment and retention tool.”
Earlier this year, 28 medical residents attended the conference. Helm says that bringing these people into the community will hopefully help entice them back here to work when they are done their scooling.
This year’s conference conference will focus on Emergency Medicine and the role of the Emergency Department. “We are honoured that the President of Doctors of BC has agreed to attend and present,” says Helm.
“Thank you for considering this request and for your past support.”
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
