The Sparking Joy Award celebrates those who bring joy and positivity into the workplace. This year, it has been awarded to Kris Gustavson and Saba Yassemi, the PHSA Accreditation & Patient-Centred Measurement team, for their dedication to fostering a joyful workplace culture. Their work not only sets a high standard of excellence at PHSA but also fosters an incredible sense of unity and teamwork among colleagues, reminding us of the
nuts a maht (we are one) teaching.
Kris and Saba consistently infuse the workplace with optimism and warmth. This dynamic duo uses creativity, kindness and relational approaches to build trust and get things done. Meetings under their leadership are more than just professional informational gatherings; they are innovative opportunities for staff and leaders to connect, share experiences, and learn in a light-hearted yet productive space.
Each day, Kris and Saba practice the
tee ma thit (do your best) and
eyhh slaxin (good medicine) Coast Salish teachings to enhance joy and engagement in the workplace. This is demonstrated in their commitment to elevating daily experiences, wherein standard procedures are transformed into opportunities for collective achievement and recognition. It is also shown through how they turn the accreditation process into a joy-infused, inclusive, celebrated event.
Their contributions embody PHSA's purpose, vision, and values, as well as the Coast Salish teachings. For instance, their work around the new BC Cultural Safety and Humility (BC CSH) accreditation standard, along with their work in
"What matters to you?" conversations with Health Quality BC, demonstrates their commitment to cultural safety. By championing culturally safe practices and inclusive policies that resonate across the organization, the duo ensures that people feel safe and respected, regardless of their cultural background.
With their commitment to redefining collaboration and engagement through innovative, culturally safe practices, this amazing team truly brings joy and positivity to the workplace.
"Winning this award is incredibly meaningful to us, as it reflects not only what we do but how we do it and who we do it with," says Saba Yassemi. "This recognition has brought visibility to our small team of two, but our impact and success are far from individual efforts. We are fortunate to work alongside and learn from the diverse, talented teams and individuals across PHSA. It's a privilege to collaborate and build connections that amplify our shared purpose and values, while creating positive outcomes. This award reaffirms our commitment to fostering positivity and togetherness (kwun'atul) in our workplace, and we're deeply grateful to be part of such an inspiring community."
Congratulations to Kris and Saba on their Sparking Joy PHSA+ Award!
The PHSA+ Awards are part of an internal recognition program that celebrates teams and individuals who bring our purpose, vision, values and Coast Salish teachings to life in the workplace. They go above and beyond to serve patients and families across B.C.
