Tag Archives: Tahsis

Housing

Affordable rental crisis responsible for homelessness, says advocate

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CKTZ News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Campbell River’s recent homeless count lists 116 people, a 43 percent increase over the 2018 tally, but is only one aspect of  the Strathcona Regional District’s rental affordability crisis.

“People who are paying 40, 50 or 60 percent of their income for a place to live, are usually a few paycheques away from joining the 116 people that we counted,” explained Sue Moen, the Salvation Army’s representative in the Campbell River & District Coalition to End Homelessness.

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Health

Cortes Island and rural coastal communities to receive more paramedics

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CKTZ News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Earlier this month, BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) initiated a staffing model designed to ensure that small rural communities like Cortes Island have four scheduled on-call (SOC) paramedics.

“The SOC model means shifts can be fully scheduled without waiting for availability of on-call paramedics. SOC shifts are, in general, 8 hours at work, and 16 hours on-call for 3 day rotations,” Sarah Morris, BCEHS media relations, said in an email to CKTZ News. “These additional positions were posted the week of Aug 6, and BCEHS is following the recruitment process as per the collective agreement with the paramedics’ union.”

Local on-call staff will be recruited as required to provide relief coverage for leaves and vacations.

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Health

Better pay for paramedics in rural communities

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Cortes Currents exclusive

BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) is trying to ensure that there are sufficient paramedics in rural communities throughout the province. 

In a leaked memo from Chief Ambulance Officer Leanne Heppell and Troy Clifford, Provincial President of the Ambulance Paramedics of BC, dated August 6th, BCEHS notified its employees and Local 873 members of two changes of great importance to Cortes Island, Sayward, Tahsis and Zeballos.

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Community, Disaster

The need for a better ambulance service

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CKTZ News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Green party MLA Adam Olsen has been listening to calls for a better ambulance service since he was first elected 2017. The need became even more apparent after 808 people died during the last five days of June. 75% of them are believed to have perished because of the heat wave that stuck the province. A large number were allegedly waiting for ambulances that arrived too late.

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Health

75% cut to Cortes Island Ambulance Service

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Cortes Currents exclusive

As of Sunday, August 1st, there will be a 75% cutback in the number of paramedics available to the Cortes Island Ambulance Service. 

In fact, there won’t be any paramedics available on August 1st, or for 24 of the 62 shifts that month.

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