By David Wiwchar

Island Health invests in Port Alberni re

Island Health invests in Port Alberni recruitment

Dec 15, 2023 | 9:40 AM

Island Health is advocating for Port Alberni through a series of billboards and bus ads across Canada.

A $340,000 ad campaign was launched across Canada showing the natural beauty of the Alberni Valley, and an accompanying recruitment video has local doctors talking about the wonderful community as well as outdoor adventures.

Island Health VP of clinical services James Hanson, said competition is fierce for medical professionals in rural locations across Canada, and they’re looking to overstaff West Coast General Hospital so they have a buffer for years to come.

“What we’re trying to do is attract people to a location not a job and that actually really has worked for us in some parts of the so we’re very hopeful that this will attract some folks to the Port Alberni region who want to live and work in that region for sometime,” he said.

He says data is collected from social media ads, allowing Island Health to pinpoint places where people are most interested in moving to Port Alberni, which is then followed by targetted recruitment campaigns

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Billboards promoting Port Alberni have been spotted at Calgary Airport and outside Toronto Pearson, as well as on buses in Edmonton and in magazines.

The ads show the natural beauty of the Alberni Valley, and an accompanying recruitment video has local doctors talking about the wonderful community as well as outdoor adventures.

Hanson said they launched a regional campaign last year to attract doctors and nurses to North Island hospitals, but this is the first time they’ve done such a far-reaching campaign.