Tag Archives: Bonnie Henry

No Longer an Official Emergency, COVID Remains a Crisis


Editor’s note: Between March 2020 and October 2022, there were 1,809 documented cases of COVID in the Greater Campbell River Health Area. There were fatalities in outlying areas like Cortes and Quadra Islands, as well as in the city. While the numbers have decreased, COVID is still a threat. According to the Government of Canada, 7,274 British Columbians have died of COVID as of August 3, 2024. Of course, these are just the documented cases. The actual numbers are undoubtedly higher.

By Michelle Gamage, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

British Columbia’s top doctor has ended the COVID-19 public health emergency, which began nearly 1,600 days ago on March 17, 2020. 

Declaring COVID-19 a public health emergency gave provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry the ability to issue mask mandates, travel and gathering restrictions and vaccination requirements for health-care workers to curb the spread of the virus. 

While experts The Tyee spoke with agree the  public health emergency may no longer be needed, they stressed that  COVID-19 still poses a serious and potentially deadly threat to the  general public. 

Continue reading No Longer an Official Emergency, COVID Remains a Crisis

Youth face barriers to overdose harm reduction, say front-line workers

Editor’s note: There were 47 drug related deaths in the Greater Campbell River Health Area during 2023. This is the third worst drug related death rate on Vancouver Island, only surpassed by Victoria (145) and Nanaimo (116). There were 31 drug related deaths in Greater Campbell River during 2022 and 26 in 2021

Greater Campbell River is a health area that stretches from the Oyster River to Sayward on the east coast of Vancouver Island, and includes Discovery Island communities like Cortes, Quadra and Read, but the epicentre of this public health emergency is the city of Campbell River.  According to BC emergency Health Services, paramedics responded to 681 drug overdose calls in Campbell River last year. The numbers have kept increasing every year since COVID arrived in March 2020 and did not decrease after the period of self distancing ended. There were 525 callouts in 2022, 404 in 2021 and 249 in 2020. In the four years prior to that, the call numbers fluctuated from a low of 152 in 2016 to a high of 230 in 2018.

By Alexandra Mehl, Ha-Shilth-Sa, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

With the toxic drug crisis as the leading cause of death for British Columbians aged 10 though 59, nearly 170 youth, aged 18 and under, have lost their lives since 2017. According to experts, not enough research and monitoring has been done to assess the impacts of the crisis on young people, who also face barriers when accessing harm reduction services.

Continue reading Youth face barriers to overdose harm reduction, say front-line workers

BC Cuts COVID Restrictions. Critics Say It’s Dangerous

By Moira Wyton, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

British Columbia will drop its major remaining COVID-19 protective measures Friday despite modelling suggesting a sixth wave could send 100  new people to hospital each day by mid-May.

Provincial health officer  Dr. Bonnie Henry also said today that second booster shots will be  available to older and vulnerable people to boost waning immunity.

Continue reading BC Cuts COVID Restrictions. Critics Say It’s Dangerous

BC Outlines Plan to Begin Lifting COVID-19 Restrictions

By Moira Wyton, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

British Columbia’s indoor mask mandate and vaccine card will remain in place as the province begins to ease pandemic public health orders on  Thursday and transition to a strategy focused on personal risk  management.

The Omicron variant, which  took hold amid loosened public health measures and drove the province’s  fifth wave of COVID-19, is waning enough to look at a less “restrictive”  means of pandemic management, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie  Henry said Tuesday.

Continue reading BC Outlines Plan to Begin Lifting COVID-19 Restrictions

Myth busted: Trudeau is not being sued for crimes against humanity

Upon entering a Cortes Island store recently, I was informed that Prime Minister Trudeau, the Pope, Queen of England and a number of other prominent world figures are being sued for crimes against humanity. 

“That’s something they don’t tell you,” said my informant, knowingly. “You don’t shut the world down because of a cold.”

She was misinformed on both counts.

Continue reading Myth busted: Trudeau is not being sued for crimes against humanity