Cindy Osip’s love for Quesnel and dedication to helping people make her a true hometown hero. Post-retirement, Osip has found her dream job at the Quesnel Tillicum Society Native Friendship Centre. After a career as a nurse and program manager with RCMP Victim Services, she now enjoys answering phones and helping people access services. “It took me 40 years to find the job I really love,” she says, “This is it.”

Osip has spent decades helping people. She moved to Quesnel 20 years ago and has worked as a nurse. Osip believes that one of the greatest joys in life comes from helping deliver babies and there is a deeper meaning in comforting patients on their deathbed while they pass away. She views being with someone during their final moments as a profound privilege.

Cindy spent 15 years working with Quesnel’s victim services and helped create programs like the Healthy Relationship program to address abuse, something she still occasionally runs when needed. Her role also involved supporting victims of crime and their families through grief counselling and funeral arrangements.

Osip is deeply committed to working in an industry dedicated to helping people because she believes that assisting others is her true calling. Post-retirement, Osip was invited to fill in and answer phones at the Quesnel Tillicum Society Native Friendship Centre. She mentioned that being retired and not having work pressure has made her current job very enjoyable as she gets to work with people she deeply respects.

Osip enjoys seeing people she helped throughout her career, knowing she made their lives easier. However, the work took a toll on her, and it took a year to stop reacting to sirens, which once meant she had to deliver bad news to someone.

She considers moving to Quesnel as one of her best decisions and loves everything about the city, finding endless activities for her family and joking that it’s impossible to be bored. She appreciates the good groups and camaraderie in Quesnel.

Source: Quesnel Cariboo Observer