On April 30, 2024, Northern Health (NH) bid a heartfelt farewell to one of its most dedicated and beloved team members, Cor van der Meulen, who retired after an extraordinary 51-year career in medical imaging (50 of those years spent with NH). As NH’s longest-standing employee in the Bulkley Valley, Cor’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring—a testament to quiet dedication, deep compassion, and unwavering service to his community.
Born in the Netherlands and raised in Smithers from the age of 12, Cor’s roots in the community run deep. After graduating from BCIT in Burnaby, he married his wife Judy and launched into his career as a medical radiation technologist (MRT) in Kamloops. However, it wasn’t long before Lynn Anderson, a former chief technologist at NH, recognized his potential and brought him back home to Smithers. That decision would shape the next five decades of health care in the region.
Cor started working for NH on April 16, 1974. From the early days of pushing a portable machine down the tilted wooden floors of the old hospital, to navigating the digital age with humility and humor, Cor has seen—and helped shape—the evolution of medical imaging in Smithers.
He worked full-time at the Bulkley Valley District Hospital (BVDH) for ten years until he joined his wife and brother working on the family dairy farm but continued with NH as a casual employee while also growing his family – he and his wife Judy raised three boys. Jesse, their oldest, lives in Lumby BC with his family and has a driving school in the area. Aaron, their middle son, lives on the farm with his family and works as an estimator for paving and construction. Cory, the youngest, and his family live in Smithers where he works for NH as an MRT in radiology and computerized tomography (CT).
“Each of our sons have three children, so that makes nine grandchildren who we love to spend a lot of time with.” Cor said.
Putting patients before promotions
Despite the length of his career, he never aspired to administrative roles; saying that his heart was always with the patients.
“Being able to help people—that’s why I went into this kind of work,” he said, recalling how a lack of empathy during his training in another region solidified his commitment to patient-centered care. “Smithers,” he noted, “has always been a patient-first community.”
Cor embodied that spirit - whether it was assisting local veterinarians by X-raying horses in the parking lot (back in the day) or being the calming presence ER nurses came to rely on, Cor’s steady hand and kind heart left a lasting impression.
His favorite memories are filled with warmth and humor—like standing over film in the darkroom (in the pre-digital days), hoping the images would turn out, or the confusion HR faced when his son Cory started working at the same hospital and began receiving his emails and paycheques by mistake.
Providing care wherever it was needed
Cor’s career wasn’t just confined to Smithers. As a casual tech, he brought his skills to remote communities across BC and the Yukon—Bella Coola, Port McNeill, Sechelt, Whitehorse, 100 Mile House, and Haida Gwaii—offering relief and support where it was needed most.
Throughout his journey, Cor was guided and supported by a close-knit team and memorable mentors like Lynn Anderson, Lois Wiley, Ken Huffman, Margaret McDonald, and Andrea Bradford. Their camaraderie and shared purpose helped shape a workplace culture rooted in respect and collaboration.
New adventures
As he stepped into retirement, Cor had no plans to slow down. He and his wife travelled to the Netherlands for five weeks of cycling and reconnecting with family. Back home, he continues tending the family’s farm (now a small beef farm) alongside his wife, while his brother enjoys a well-earned retirement. He has plans to continue travelling when he’s able.
When asked what advice he’d offer the next generation of medical imaging specialists, Cor’s words are simple but profound: “You have to be a people-person. Treat everyone with kindness, even if at the time you don’t feel like being kind.”
At a celebration marking his retirement, Cormac Hickish, NW Senior Operating Officer, captured the sentiment of the day perfectly:
“Today’s celebration of Cor’s 50-year career (with NH) and contributions to local health services was a profound, humbling, and uplifting event for the huge number of coworkers, physicians, friends, and family in attendance. His incredible commitment is a testament to his entire family and the community he serves.”
Thank you, Cor, for a lifetime of service, compassion, and quiet leadership. We wish you well in your retirement, knowing your legacy will continue to inspire for generations to come.
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