Nestled between the Selkirk, Purcell, and Rocky Mountains, the Town of Golden is a vibrant community of around 7,000 residents, including the town proper and its surrounding rural area. Known for its spectacular landscapes, thriving tourism, and close-knit spirit, Golden represents both the beauty and the complexity of rural life in British Columbia.
Despite its postcard setting, Golden faces the same healthcare challenges shared by many small communities: long distances to care, limited local services, and the high cost of travel for patients needing specialized treatment. Yet through strong leadership, collaboration, and deep community spirit, Golden continues to find ways to bridge these gaps.
Strong Leadership, Shared Values
Mayor Ron Oszust has served Golden for many years as a mayor, paramedic, and lifelong volunteer. His deep understanding of rural health challenges comes not only from governance but also from firsthand experience responding to medical emergencies as a BC Ambulance paramedic for over three decades.
“We’re fortunate,” Oszust says. “Golden has a full complement of 16 doctors, which is rare for a community our size. But we still face major challenges. Transportation remains the single biggest barrier to equitable healthcare. Our nearest CT or MRI is two and a half hours away in Cranbrook. That’s a six-hour round trip for a seven-minute scan, and sometimes patients are left stranded because the ambulance cannot bring them home.”
This reality underscores a larger issue across rural BC: the hidden costs of care. Patients often face out-of-pocket expenses for accommodation, fuel, and meals, and programs like the provincial Travel Assistance Program rarely meet the true need. “Healthcare should be based on a person’s need, not their postal code or ability to pay,” Oszust emphasizes.
Lived Experience and Local Advocacy
Few people embody rural advocacy like Councillor Chris Hambruch, a long-serving council member and president of the Golden Seniors Centre. Living with multiple sclerosis and now residing in long-term care, Chris brings lived experience and deep empathy to every conversation about equity and inclusion.
“I’ve been on council since 1996,” Hambruch reflects. “Transportation has always been a challenge. People here sometimes travel to Kamloops, Trail, or Kelowna for dialysis or treatment, four to five hours each way. Some just give up and don’t go, and that costs lives.”
Hambruch’s commitment goes far beyond meetings. He surveys residents about services, helps seniors navigate programs, and even lends his wheelchair-accessible van to families in need of medical travel. “There’s no accessible taxi here,” his wife Terri adds. “When someone cannot get to the hospital, we help however we can.”
Their approach is simple but powerful: connection. Chris and Terri make sure no one in their community feels invisible. “Sometimes it’s as small as handing someone a pamphlet about a service they didn’t know existed,” he says. “That might change their life.”
Building Community Connections
Golden’s strength lies in its ability to work together. The municipality collaborates closely with Interior Health, BC Ambulance’s Community Paramedic Program, and Better at Home to promote healthy living and support seniors’ independence. One standout initiative is the indoor seniors’ walking program, held in a municipal gymnasium each winter. The program keeps residents active during long winters while providing vital social interaction and on-site health checks from community paramedics.
These efforts demonstrate what local action can achieve even when resources are stretched thin. As Oszust puts it, “It takes everyone being open-minded and innovative. No one entity can do it all, but if everyone does a little, a lot can get done.”
Infrastructure and the Road Ahead
Golden’s new Community Care Centre, currently under construction and expected to open in early 2026, represents a major step forward. The facility will relocate several community health services from the aging hospital, easing congestion and improving patient flow. Yet as both the Mayor and Councillor note, infrastructure alone is not enough. Rural communities need sustainable staffing, long-term care capacity, and reliable connectivity.
Hambruch points out that even virtual care, often cited as a solution, faces barriers. “Some seniors don’t trust it or don’t know how to use technology,” he says. “We’re offering free iPad classes through the seniors’ centre to help people feel comfortable. It’s a start.”
A Message for Decision Makers
Both leaders agree on one thing: equity in healthcare must mean more than equal taxation. “We all pay the same taxes, whether we live in downtown Vancouver or in beautiful Golden,” says Hambruch. Those taxes are in part to uphold BC’s responsibilities under the Canada Health Act and providing reasonable access to care for all residents and that access must be provided without financial barrier or other burdens, this is a right for all residents. The cost-of-service delivery in rural BC will always be higher per capita than in urban populations but the responsibility of the Province is to ensure everyone can reach the services they need. “So equity should mean we all get the same access to services, one way or another.”
Mayor Oszust echoes that sentiment. “Decision makers need a fuller understanding of what it’s like to live hours from care. These are not numbers; they’re lives. Rural residents deserve dignity, timely treatment, and the ability to age in place.”
Golden’s Spirit: Service Above Self
Golden’s story is one of perseverance, compassion, and quiet determination. Both Oszust and Hambruch are Rotarians, guided by the principle of service above self. As Chris says, “I can’t always give back physically, but I can make connections, and when I see someone doing better because of it, that’s what makes me proud.”
Golden’s example reminds us that while the road to care may be long, the strength of rural communities lies in the people who refuse to stop driving forward, together.
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