Category Archives: Health

Health

Communities across Canada organize to challenge far-right rhetoric of ‘freedom convoy’

By Natasha Bulowski, Canada’s National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The streets of downtown Ottawa are no longer blocked with trucks and peppered with hate symbols, but residents are not ready to rest while the extreme rhetoric of the so-called “freedom convoy” permeates Canadian politics and society.

“This will emerge again,” said Andrea Harden, an Ottawa resident who participated in many counter-protests against the month-long occupation. “The question for me is when and where?”

Continue reading Communities across Canada organize to challenge far-right rhetoric of ‘freedom convoy’ →
Health, Justice

Updated: Missing man found

Update 8:30 AM, Monday, May 9: Quadra Island RCMP say Leyland David Dowling-Ryerson has been found alive and well. They cannot give any more details due to privacy reasons.

Quadra Island RCMP no longer need the public’s assistance in locating Leyland David Dowling-Ryerson. He has been found.

Prior to that he was last seen on Cortes Island a week ago. He was last heard from early yesterday morning (May 7) and may have driven to North Vancouver in a black 2002 Volkswagen Golf with BC license plate JN803G.

Continue reading Updated: Missing man found →
Health

 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) →
Family, Health

More than ever, parents need to be advocates for sexual health education, expert says

CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

On February 25 of this year, the Cortes Community Health Association provided a free online workshop entitled “How to talk to your kids about…” The workshop was led by certified sexual health educator Kerri Isham who trains professionals, parents and caregivers in three main areas: creating a culture of child protection, sexual health education for children and youth and information regarding the long-term impacts of pornography.

Continue reading More than ever, parents need to be advocates for sexual health education, expert says →
Health

Province-wide doctors shortage in BC reaches Cortes Island

By Greg Osoba, CKTZ News, through an LJI grant from Canada-info.ca

A shortage of family doctors in British Columbia is not only affecting cities, but has spread to rural areas. Nearly a million people are without a family doctor in the province, according to a BC Family Doctors press release April 20.

The Cortes Island Community Health Association operates a clinic—open on weekdays—providing the island’s 1,000 year round residents and visitors with primary health care. So far, there has only been one week this spring when a physician wasn’t on duty.

Continue reading Province-wide doctors shortage in BC reaches Cortes Island →