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A Kelowna woman has received national recognition for her outstanding service to seniors.
Every year, Home Instead Senior Care (HISC) recognizes one person as the Canadian Caregiver of the Year.
This year, it’s been awarded to Kelowna’s very own Susan Boyko.
Boyko has been with HISC since 2011, but has more than six decades of experience as a caregiver.
Coming from a large family with seven siblings, caregiving was a natural fit for her as she looked after and felt responsible for her younger sisters.
After moving from Manitoba to the Okanagan in 2010, Boyko cared for her husband’s blind father, taking him to appointments, preparing meals and assisting with household chores.
She also read to him, allowing the former avid reader to experience something he dearly missed from his ‘seeing’ years.
The experience with her father-in-law inspired her to work in caregiving and join the HISC team.
“Everybody is memorable. Everybody is unique. Everybody is interesting,” says Boyko. “I learned something different from each one of my clients.”
Janine Karlsen, owner of HISC in the Okanagan, believes people like Boyko can inspire others to join the growing caregiving field.
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