Millie’s Story

Originally from the Philippines, Millie and her family moved to British Columbia in 2019. They chose the interior of BC for its beautiful landscapes, easy access to the outdoors, and opportunities to raise a family.

Millie’s professional experience includes working as a nurse for 10 years in Saudi Arabia. Now in BC, she has found employment at a surgical unit with Interior Health, where she supports patients who have acute and complex conditions. Even though there were initial challenges and cultural barriers, Millie eventually grew accustomed to the working culture in Canada. She shares that her workplace “Gives a lot of opportunities to learn, and it’s a continuous process. My team values and respects me as an employee.”

Millie also appreciates the work/life balance afforded to her, which allows her to spend more time with her children and family. Many of her days off include exploring the outdoors and participating in events through her church and community.

Throughout the process of moving to Canada and becoming registered as a nurse, Millie credited Health Match BC as a huge help. “The whole process for me was very smooth. They are very accommodating, especially with bursary help, and the turnaround time to hear back is fast,” says Millie.

When asked about long term plans, Millie has a goal of further advancing her education and becoming a clinical instructor. She has already reached out to Health Match BC to discuss options. She and her husband also may look at moving to another region of BC to be closer to family, but the interior currently feels very much like home.

For future nurses who want to relocate to BC, Millie suggests connecting with new people, finding a support group, and trying to build a local community. She shares that moving to a new country is not easy, but it will be worth it.