Tag Archives: COVID 19

The BC Greens Are Coming for Adrian Dix’s MLA Seat

Editor’s note: A very disturbing report about BC’s health care system; one man’s attempt to address it politically.

By Michelle Gamage, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A former top B.C. pediatric heart surgeon who joined the BC Greens is running for MLA in Vancouver-Renfrew (formerly known as Vancouver-Kingsway), a seat currently held by NDP Health Minister Adrian Dix.

Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi left his career as a pediatric cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon at B.C. Children’s Hospital early this year after publishing critiques of hospitals and the Health Ministry’s response to COVID-19.

He joined the BC Greens as second deputy leader and announced his candidacy Thursday.

Continue reading The BC Greens Are Coming for Adrian Dix’s MLA Seat

Transparency, accountability at B.C.’s ambulance service has flatlined, audit review shows

An alarming trend to watch:

Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Vital signs on the performance and state of B.C.’s ambulance service remain an outstanding mystery, an update from the B.C. auditor general on Tuesday shows. 

BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and the Ministry of Health have failed to improve public transparency and accountability for ambulance services, or establish a co-ordinated approach so that patient care meets acceptable medical standards, indicates an extensive review of the province’s track record in response to 18 individual audits involving a wide range of agencies since 2019. 

Continue reading Transparency, accountability at B.C.’s ambulance service has flatlined, audit review shows

Opening of the Rainbow Ridge Trail System

Close to 200 people gathered in the Village Commons, in Mansons Landing, to celebrate the opening of the new Rainbow Ridge Trail System. There were 177 ticket stubs for the door prize and some people wandered in after that. As it was a hot summer’s day, most of them clung to shade beneath trees, awnings and the main tent. 

Rose and Brenda Hanson, from the Klahoose First Nation, opened the ceremony.

Continue reading Opening of the Rainbow Ridge Trail System

The Awakeneers: coming back to Cortes (July 28 & 29)

The Awakeners will be coming home to Cortes at the end of July. They will be playing at Gorge Hall on Friday July 28, and Mansons Hall the following day.

“We are excited that we’ll have a brand new album with us,” said Immanuel McKenty. 

“It was mostly recorded on Cortes Island and the majority of the songs were also written while we were on Cortes. The album will also be for sale at the Cortes Natural Food Co-op, as well as at our concerts,” added his brother Francis McKenty.

This is the beginning of a two part series about that ‘nomadic tribe of multi-instrumentalist songwriters (most of whom are siblings)’ called the Awakeners. We talk a great deal about their album and where most of the songs were written. In part two, which airs next week, we will go to their home in Willow Point, Campbell River. 

Continue reading The Awakeneers: coming back to Cortes (July 28 & 29)

Progress on 2 acres given to ICAN’s Growing Together Project

After COVID arrived in the Spring of 2020, someone gave the Quadra ICAN ‘Squash The Curve Project’ the use of 2 acres of land for a year. Local residents were provided with squash starts, or seedlings, and supportive tips from more experienced gardeners. The food they did not use was freely distributed to the wider community.  

This year ICAN was offered use of the property again, to be used by its Garden Share Program

Continue reading Progress on 2 acres given to ICAN’s Growing Together Project