On May 31 and June 1, 2026, Futures in Focus travelled to Yaqan Nukiy School, the Lower Kootenay Band school in the Creston Valley, for our first event in British Columbia. Over two days, 88 students from Kindergarten to Grade 7 received free vision screening alongside hands-on STEAM stations.
Medical students from the University of Calgary and UBC ran the screening stations under the supervision of UBC ophthalmologists Dr. Sonia Yeung and Dr. Jane Gardiner, joined by UBC ophthalmology residents Dr. Amar Khaira, Dr. Sabrina Yu, Dr. Abed Baiad, and Dr. Mahraz Parvand. Childhood vision problems often go unnoticed until they are harder to treat, and school-wide screening is one of the most reliable ways to catch them early.
Every student flagged during screening is being connected with a local optometrist for follow-up care, keeping the path from screening to treatment close to home. It is the same principle that has guided the program since Fort McKay: a screening only matters if it leads somewhere.
Between screenings, STEAM stations filled the classrooms: bubble chemistry, hands-on experiments, and activities connecting science to health and community. We are grateful to the students, staff, and the Lower Kootenay Band for welcoming us, and we hope this visit is the first of many.
