Centenary Medal – Fin Gareau

My name is Fin and I am originally from Saskatchewan. I am indigenous, Trans and identify as Two-Spirit. I have extensive experience working with gender diverse and questioning adults, youth and families. I also have many years of experience as an outreach nurse working with people with severe mental health and substance use issues in Vancouver’s downtown Eastside. I recently completed my Master of Sciences in Nursing as a family nurse practitioner at UBC.

I have a strong passion for working with marginalized people and with people who are part of my own diverse communities. Recognizing the need to create more accessible and inclusive healthcare services I was one of the founding organizers of the Catherine White Holman wellness center, and all volunteer health and wellness centre for Trans and gender diverse people. I’ve also worked at Transcare BC on the steering committee for the development of the program and as a surgical care coordinator nurse. Currently, I am working at the Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association in Surrey BC at a new program called the Indigenous Primary Health and Wellness Home. This is a low barrier inter-disciplinary and team-based care clinic with the goal of providing accessible care to urban Indigenous people in a culturally competent and safe way. As a trans and Indigenous NP, I am acutely aware of and strongly advocate for the necessity of respectful, dignified, accessible and safe community care using social justice, harm reduction and trauma informed approaches in all areas of health service provision.