Tag Archives: BC Coroners Service

Health

BC’s Toxic Drug Crisis Hits a Grim 10-Year Anniversary

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By Michelle Gamage, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It’s been four and a half years since Jane McCormick’s son, Jeff, was killed by unregulated drugs. Were he alive, he would have just celebrated his 40th birthday with his two kids.

McCormick said that for the first three years she was filled with sadness. And then she started to get mad.

She’s mad because Jeff’s death, just like the more than 18,179 British Columbians killed by unregulated drugs since April 14, 2016, was preventable.

Continue reading BC’s Toxic Drug Crisis Hits a Grim 10-Year Anniversary →
Cost of Climate Change, Housing, Politics

New Westminster aims to protect tenants from extreme heat

Editor’s note: Will any other municipalities or regions follow this example?

By Theresa McManus, Freshet News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

New Westminster tenants aren’t allowed to freeze to death in their apartments — nor should they be allowed to succumb to heat in their homes.

That’s the motivation behind bylaws that will require New Westminster landlords to maintain safe temperatures in at least one living space in rental units occupied by a tenant. City council unanimously supported three readings to business bylaws at its March 30 meeting. 

“This is a very exciting piece of work that the city is taking on,” said Coun. Nadine Nakagawa. “To the best of my knowledge, we are the first municipality in Canada to take this move to protect renters against extreme heat.”

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Health

BC’s Drug Response Isn’t Following the Evidence, Former Chief Coroner says


By Michelle Gamage, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Former chief coroner Lisa Lapointe recently criticized B.C.’s drug policies, saying the province’s approach to the ongoing toxic drug crisis is not evidence based. 

Lapointe, who was B.C.’s longest-standing chief coroner and held the position for 13 years before retiring in 2024, was speaking as part of a new, ongoing webinar series, “Perspectives on 10 Years in Crisis,” hosted by the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition. 

Continue reading BC’s Drug Response Isn’t Following the Evidence, Former Chief Coroner says →
Health

Greater Campbell River Continues To Be Among BC’s worst Local Health Areas For Toxic Drug Deaths

Greater Campbell River continues to be one of the worst Local Health Areas in the province for unregulated drug deaths, according to the BC Coroner’s Service. Vancouver-Centre North, Terrace, Prince George and Grand Forks were also named.   

So far this year, 1,925 British Columbians have lost their lives because of unregulated drug use. 155 of them died in October. 

These numbers come on the heels of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s recently released State of Mental Health in Canada 2024, which reported that “32% of all apparent drug-related deaths in Canada occurred in British Columbia. This province is ground zero in the drug toxicity crisis. The high rates of housing insecurity and unaffordability, core housing need and poverty all contribute to these drug-related harms.” 

Continue reading Greater Campbell River Continues To Be Among BC’s worst Local Health Areas For Toxic Drug Deaths →
Health

Medical detox coming to Campbell River

Greater Campbell River has one of highest rates of drug related deaths in BC.

The first community-based medical detox north of Nanaimo will be opening in Campbell River this Fall. Island Health secured a location at 731 Nicholas Road near the North Island Hospital – Campbell River campus. 

“This is a really exciting addition to Campbell River.  When people living with addiction reach out and make that brave choice of getting the services that they need, we’d need to be able to meet them where they are and with the services that they need right away. This is a new six bed medical detox that the community has been asking  for,” explained  Michele Babchuk, MLA for North Island and a resident of Campbell River. 

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