A purple hue hits the legislative buildings in Victoria on March 26 for Purple Day, or epilepsy awareness day. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

Greater Victoria landmarks light up purple for epilepsy awareness

International Purple Day on March 26 rounds out month of raising awareness

A purple hue hits the legislative buildings in Victoria on March 26 for Purple Day, or epilepsy awareness day. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
A patient is attached to a ventilator in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at St. Paul’s hospital in downtown Vancouver, Tuesday, April 21, 2020. Canada’s race to procure ventilators for COVID-19 patients in the early days of the pandemic had researchers, scientists, industry and a notable astrophysicist working “night and day” to design machines that could be quickly manufactured domestically. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Canada’s stockpile of ventilators up from 500 to 27,000 after push to procure them

Public Services and Procurement Canada says total cost was more than $807 million

A patient is attached to a ventilator in the COVID-19 intensive care unit at St. Paul’s hospital in downtown Vancouver, Tuesday, April 21, 2020. Canada’s race to procure ventilators for COVID-19 patients in the early days of the pandemic had researchers, scientists, industry and a notable astrophysicist working “night and day” to design machines that could be quickly manufactured domestically. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A surgery is performed in the operating room at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Surgery wait times for cancer, joint replacement patients still lagging amid backlog

Pandemic created a backlog of surgical procedures providers still haven’t been able to catch up on

A surgery is performed in the operating room at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos speaks at a news conference in Montreal, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, during which he announced details for a national strategy for drugs for rare diseases. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Ottawa to spend $1.5 billion to improve access to drugs for rare diseases

Duclos wants to increase coverage for existing drugs, create list of new and emerging treatments

Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos speaks at a news conference in Montreal, Wednesday, March 22, 2023, during which he announced details for a national strategy for drugs for rare diseases. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the procurement process has started for a new long-term care facility to be built in Colwood, adding 306 new beds. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Construction on 306 new long-term care beds in Colwood to start in 2025

The $224M facility will be built in Royal Bay and will also include 37 child-care spaces

Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the procurement process has started for a new long-term care facility to be built in Colwood, adding 306 new beds. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Doug Whitney, center, eats breakfast with his family in Manson, Wash., on Nov. 5, 2022. Whitney inherited the same gene mutation that gave Alzheimer’s disease to his mother, brother and generations of other relatives by the unusually young age of 50. Doug is a healthy 73, his mind still sharp. Somehow, he escaped his genetic fate. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)

Science seeking Alzheimer’s clues from few who escape genetic fate

Researchers could uncover and mimic whatever protects those who escaped fate of their families

Doug Whitney, center, eats breakfast with his family in Manson, Wash., on Nov. 5, 2022. Whitney inherited the same gene mutation that gave Alzheimer’s disease to his mother, brother and generations of other relatives by the unusually young age of 50. Doug is a healthy 73, his mind still sharp. Somehow, he escaped his genetic fate. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)
FILE - Couples, whose weddings were cancelled or curtailed during the COVID-19 pandemic, participate in a symbolic multicultural ceremony at Damrosch Park, Sunday, July 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)

Pandemic 3 years later: Has the COVID-19 virus won?

Saturday marks three years since the World Health Organization first called the outbreak a pandemic

FILE - Couples, whose weddings were cancelled or curtailed during the COVID-19 pandemic, participate in a symbolic multicultural ceremony at Damrosch Park, Sunday, July 10, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)
Weighing five pounds, nine ounces, a baby boy was born in a minivan Feb. 28, en route to the hospital in Williams Lake. (Photo submitted)

Cariboo woman delivers baby in minivan en route to hospital

It was a third baby for Brittany Lee of Likely, B.C.

Weighing five pounds, nine ounces, a baby boy was born in a minivan Feb. 28, en route to the hospital in Williams Lake. (Photo submitted)
Eleven-year-old Ian Milos, shown in a family handout photo, was infected with COVID-19 two years ago and was diagnosed with long COVID by a pediatrician last fall. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Report says long COVID could impact economy and be ‘mass disabling event’ in Canada

It’s becoming clear COVID-19 raises risk of chronic diseases including diabetes and hypertension

Eleven-year-old Ian Milos, shown in a family handout photo, was infected with COVID-19 two years ago and was diagnosed with long COVID by a pediatrician last fall. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
B.C. Premier David Eby answers a question as Canada’s premiers hold a press conference following a meeting on health care in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. The British Columbia government has agreed in principle to a $27.47 billion deal for health-care funding from the federal government.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

B.C. and Ottawa reach $27 billion health funding agreement

The British Columbia government has agreed in principle to a $27.47 billion…

B.C. Premier David Eby answers a question as Canada’s premiers hold a press conference following a meeting on health care in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2023. The British Columbia government has agreed in principle to a $27.47 billion deal for health-care funding from the federal government.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Dr. Zahinoor Ismail, seen in an undated handout photo, is a neuropsychiatrist and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary. Researchers at the University of Calgary are starting a national project to try to get more insight into the brain as people age. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Calgary, Riley Brandt, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Calgary researchers to look at aging brain as study says vitamin D prevents dementia

10-year study shows those taking vitamin D developed dementia at a 40 per cent lower rate

Dr. Zahinoor Ismail, seen in an undated handout photo, is a neuropsychiatrist and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary. Researchers at the University of Calgary are starting a national project to try to get more insight into the brain as people age. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-University of Calgary, Riley Brandt, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
The province will invest $440 million over 10 years to improve all aspects of cancer care in B.C. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. announces $440 million towards a ‘cancer-free future’

One in two British Columbians will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime

The province will invest $440 million over 10 years to improve all aspects of cancer care in B.C. (Black Press Media file photo)
BC Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie presents to senior citizens and local residents during a Town Hall at the Senior Centre in Cranbrook. Trevor Crawley photo.

Seniors advocate says B.C. should eliminate home support fees

‘The world has not fallen apart in Alberta or Ontario, where they do not charge for this’

BC Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie presents to senior citizens and local residents during a Town Hall at the Senior Centre in Cranbrook. Trevor Crawley photo.
Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos speaks with reporters as he makes his way to caucus, on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

5 provinces sign health deal but specific targets, timelines still to come

All five provinces must still come up with specific plans showing how they will spend it

Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos speaks with reporters as he makes his way to caucus, on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside steps away from the podium after speaking during a news conference in Vancouver, on Monday, January 30, 2023. Nurse practitioners in British Columbia now have expanded authority to assess people in crisis for involuntary admission to a treatment facility under the Mental Health Act. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Nurse practitioners in B.C. can now assess crisis patients for involuntary admissions

Province expects move will reduce pressures on ERs, help people get faster treatment

B.C. Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jennifer Whiteside steps away from the podium after speaking during a news conference in Vancouver, on Monday, January 30, 2023. Nurse practitioners in British Columbia now have expanded authority to assess people in crisis for involuntary admission to a treatment facility under the Mental Health Act. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
(Black Press Media Creative)

Former Theranos exec seeks to avoid lengthy prison sentence

Former Theranos executive Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani returned to federal court Friday in…

(Black Press Media Creative)
Coachman Apartments tenant Vivian Wright shows black mould covering the ceiling of her shower. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/terrace Standard)

Mould endangers 60 tenants of rundown B.C. building: BCCDC report

BC Centre for Disease Control finds dilapidated northwest B.C. building unsafe to live in

Coachman Apartments tenant Vivian Wright shows black mould covering the ceiling of her shower. (Michael Bramadat-Willcock/terrace Standard)
A pediatrician involved in creating new treatment guidelines for obese children in Canada says an “alarming” rise in obesity has led to a greater need for surgery as an intervention for teens whose mental and physical suffering typically worsens into adulthood. A close-up of a beam scale in New York, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Patrick Sison

Ahead of new childhood obesity guidelines, doctors say surgery is an important option

Earlier intervention recommended with medication or surgery after failed efforts at behaviour change

A pediatrician involved in creating new treatment guidelines for obese children in Canada says an “alarming” rise in obesity has led to a greater need for surgery as an intervention for teens whose mental and physical suffering typically worsens into adulthood. A close-up of a beam scale in New York, Tuesday, April 3, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Patrick Sison
Ontario Premier Doug Ford tours a laboratory in Brampton, Ont., on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

Premiers urge Trudeau to agree to regular health funding reviews

Ottawa has offered more than $46 billion to augment the Canada Health Transfer

Ontario Premier Doug Ford tours a laboratory in Brampton, Ont., on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov
Vancouver Island University student and Nanaimo musician Mikaila Tombe is gathering data to explore the effects of various music styles on study participants and whether future research could lead to music-based learning aids and therapies. (Photo courtesy Doug Tombe/Tailgate Video)

Getting in tune: Island student researching music’s cognitive and healing effects

VIU’s Mikaila Tombe working on pilot study testing subjects’ responses to different types of music

Vancouver Island University student and Nanaimo musician Mikaila Tombe is gathering data to explore the effects of various music styles on study participants and whether future research could lead to music-based learning aids and therapies. (Photo courtesy Doug Tombe/Tailgate Video)