DR. JOHN MILLAR started his medical career as a McGill graduated internist with a pilot’s licence, joining a team of Zambian Flying Doctors (although he was flown – not piloting himself – to the villages he supported) in the 1970s. In his next position as Chief Medical Officer in Papua New Guinea, where he served impoverished communities, John focused on obstetrics and trauma surgery, both of which were more applicable to the needs there. In the mid-’80s, he returned to his native Vancouver and retrained in public health, which then became his life focus and passion.
As the first Provincial Health Officer in BC, he set up health goals for the province.
“I like data and collecting evidence, and then translating evidence into policy,” says the avid downhill and back-mountain skier and long-distance sailor.
Ultimately, John retired from his position as Executive Director of Population Health in BC, but he continues in his role as Clinical Professor Emeritus at UBC, mentoring and advocating for the idea of a guaranteed basic income with the goal of eliminating many poverty-related health and crime issues.
“I’m all about prevention,” he says, “I want to see change. Everyone has the human right to have housing and food in our rich province.”
JANA RAYNE MACDONALD says she has been painting all her life, but sometimes “life gets in the way of dreams.” After 30 years as a Costume Supervisor with Vancouver’s film industry, including working on Hollywood blockbusters (The Revenant, Bad Times, Warcraft), Jana says her career taught her the discipline she now – after raising two daughters – applies to painting full time.
“It’s my language into the human condition and into asking the questions,” says the sociology and urban-planning educated native of Nova Scotia, whose artistic expression is realism.
“Costumers create characters with clothing, and I use clothing in my paintings to represent people,” she says, mentioning that Vancouver’s Ian Tan Gallery is now carrying her work.
As a member of THRIVE Vancouver, a collective of women artists, Jana found a balance to her solitary creative work, plus an environment with other artists that sustains her.
“My husband supports me in taking some weekend time off,” she says. “If he didn’t, I’d just carry on painting.”
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