Tag Archives: Kathy MacNeil

 The Dark Side Of VIHA (Vancouver Island Health Authority)

(Editor’s note: The following open letter mentions matters of concern to residents of the entire Greater Campbell River Health Area, which includes Cortes, Quadra and other Discovery Islands.)

An open letter to the Honourable Adrian Dix, Minister of Health for B.C. from Lois Jarvis, Richard Hagensen and Joanne Banks on Behalf of Citizens for Quality Health Care.

17 years ago, 6 people from the Comox Valley and 4 from Campbell River formed Citizens for Quality Health Care (CFQHC) to lobby for 2 acute care fully functional hospitals as all previous studies indicated were needed for the largest geographical area of Vancouver Island. VIHA had planned to downsize the Campbell River Hospital to a triage centre and replace both hospitals with one hospital located 40+ km south of Campbell River which would have been disastrous for all the people of the North Island and the Campbell River economy. 

Continue reading  The Dark Side Of VIHA (Vancouver Island Health Authority)

Workers tackling anti-Indigenous racism: scapegoating and ‘backlash’ at Island Health

By Odette Auger, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, also Lindsay Sample and Emilee Gilpin, the Discourse

Several current and former staff at Island Health are raising concerns after what they say has been a dismantling of the Indigenous Health department’s cultural safety facilitation team.

The staff allege that during the province’s 2020 investigation into Indigenous-specific racism in the health care system detrimental changes were made to their team. This included the firing of long-time cultural safety facilitator and then-Acting South Island Manager of Indigenous Health, Yvette Ringham-Cowan.

Continue reading Workers tackling anti-Indigenous racism: scapegoating and ‘backlash’ at Island Health

anti-Indigenous racism in BC’s healthcare system

the Discourse, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Friends, family and allies are calling for significant reform to B.C.’s healthcare system. Connor Sutton, a 23-year-old Indigenous man from T’Sou-ke Nation, received what they say was racist treatment and inappropriate care at two Vancouver Island hospitals.

Continue reading anti-Indigenous racism in BC’s healthcare system