Category Archives: Health

Education, Health, Housing

‘Tis the season for promises ahead of this weekend’s BC election

By Sidney Coles, Capital Daily, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Come election season, politicians seeking reelection or office for the first time make a lot of promises. Some we know they’ll keep. Others? It depends. Politicians make promises because they will impact voters’ beliefs about the policies they will implement if elected and serve as an indicator of their capabilities to govern. Incumbents have the advantage of the rearview mirror. They can ask voters to look at past performance. Even freshmen candidates for an incumbent  party seeking to prove their mettle to constituents can bank on that party’s record, in part or in whole—but that also means being accountable for the promises it has broken. In all cases, promises are a kind of promissory note in exchange for representation.

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Community, Health, Spirituality

Heather Deeth: Hollyhock’s new Interim Executive Director

As of this morning, Heather Deeth has been the Interim Executive Director of Hollyhock for 19 days. Cortes Currents caught up with her on Sunday to talk about the changes in her life, as well as what’s happening in one of the most dynamic retreat centres on the West Coast. 

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Health

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. 

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Health, Indigenous Nations History

Dedication of the Tsakwa’luten Healing Centre

It began with sacred songs, drumming and dancers.  Executive Director Kristie Lamirande would later tell Cortes Currents that while many healing centres have Indigenous spiritual components, as far as she knows none of them possess the 50/50 blend of Indigenous and Western healing methodology that the new Tsakwa’luten Healing Centre will offer. Some will remember this property as the Tsa Kwa Luten Lodge, on the southern tip of Quadra Island. There will be 42 beds for people struggling with addiction. 20 of them should be ready when the Centre opens this Fall. Jennifer Whiteside, the province’s Minister for Health and Addictions, MLA Michele Babchuk, Councillor Susan Savoy of the K’omoks First Nation and a number of leaders from the health community joined the We Wai Kai First Nation for the dedication on Tuesday July 16, 2024.       

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