public health

The HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial (HAMM) is located at 625 Cliffe Ave. in Courtenay. Photo supplied. On Dec. 29, B.C.’s Supreme Court blocked new provincial laws against public consumption of illegal substances. Imposing a temporary injunction until March 31, Chief Justice Christopher Hinkson halted the procedures, stating that “irreparable harm will be caused” if these laws come into effect. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward) The HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial (HAMM) is located at 625 Cliffe Ave. in Courtenay. Photo supplied.

Reactions to public drug injunction mixed as people avoid downtown Courtenay

Museum sees 46 per cent drop in visitors in the past year as fingers pointed at public consumption

 

Coun. Trish Mandewo of Coquitlam is the new president of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. Mandewo, who is the first Black president of UBCM in its history, assumes the office from past president Coun. Jen Ford of Whistler. (UBCM/Flickr)

Decriminalization, climate change and housing top issues at UBCM conference

New UBCM prez says organization is ready to work with province

 

B.C. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry steps away from the podium after speaking during a news conference in Vancouver, on Monday, January 30, 2023. British Columbia is introducing a policy of decriminalization on Tuesday as part of what it says is an overall plan to prevent overdose deaths from illicit drugs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Patience, Bonnie Henry tells B.C. leaders, arrests won’t solve addiction

Drug decriminalization, toxic drugs on the minds of many B.C. municipal leaders

 

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry will be discussing drug decriminalization and public drug use in the opening session of the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Bonnie Henry talks public drug use with B.C. mayors and councillors

Public health officer speaking as the Union of B.C. Municipalities conference opens

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry will be discussing drug decriminalization and public drug use in the opening session of the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention in Vancouver. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
COVID-19 virus (Black Press file photo).

COVID climbing in B.C. but no more new variant cases detected

Cases, test positivity, hospitalizations and deaths all up in recent weeks

COVID-19 virus (Black Press file photo).
A new survey says an alarming number of kids age 12 and older have been treated for drug overdoses in Canada. Paramedics debrief after responding to a drug overdose in Vancouver on Wednesday, June 23, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Kids overdosing is a public health emergency, Canadian pediatricians say

Overdoses leading cause of death of those between 10 and 18 years old in Western Canada

A new survey says an alarming number of kids age 12 and older have been treated for drug overdoses in Canada. Paramedics debrief after responding to a drug overdose in Vancouver on Wednesday, June 23, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
This photo shows a logo of a McDonald’s restaurant in Havertown, Pa., on April 26, 2022. Vancouver Coastal Health is warning of a possible Hepatitis A exposure at a Vancouver McDonald’s between April 19 and May 9. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Possible hepatitis A exposure at B.C. McDonald’s

Vancouver Coastal Health warns of exposure dates between April 19 and May 9

This photo shows a logo of a McDonald’s restaurant in Havertown, Pa., on April 26, 2022. Vancouver Coastal Health is warning of a possible Hepatitis A exposure at a Vancouver McDonald’s between April 19 and May 9. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Used medical masks overflow a waste bin at the University of Calgary Medical Clinics in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Rise and fall of Canada’s domestic PPE market blamed on government policy

‘We’ve got an industry that is just running on fumes’

Used medical masks overflow a waste bin at the University of Calgary Medical Clinics in Calgary, Alta., Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Statistics about the local health region Sicamous is in were shared by harm reduction coordinator Myanne Peacock and other representatives from Interior Health in a presentation to Sicamous council at the March 8 committee of the whole meeting. (Interior Health image)

Interior Health calls for pause on Sicamous bylaw prohibiting public use of illicit drugs

Doctor, harm reduction specialists urge 6-month evaluation of decriminalization

Statistics about the local health region Sicamous is in were shared by harm reduction coordinator Myanne Peacock and other representatives from Interior Health in a presentation to Sicamous council at the March 8 committee of the whole meeting. (Interior Health image)
Students in Mission middle schools and secondary schools are disrputing classrooms because of vaping. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. school district troubled by vaping students

Mission superintendent Angus Wilson says students leaving classes to vape is impacting their capacity to learn and focus

Students in Mission middle schools and secondary schools are disrputing classrooms because of vaping. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Victoria Hospitals Foundation removed a tweet about Dr. Bonnie Henry winning a public lottery prize after it received hateful online comments. Their Facebook post (pictured) remains up. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation/Facebook) The Victoria Hospitals Foundation removed a tweet about Dr. Bonnie Henry winning a public lottery prize after it received hateful online comments. Their Facebook post (pictured) remains up. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation/Facebook)

Victoria charity receives backlash, removes tweet after Dr. Bonnie Henry wins e-bikes

Henry won the bikes in a randomly-selected public lottery fundraiser

The Victoria Hospitals Foundation removed a tweet about Dr. Bonnie Henry winning a public lottery prize after it received hateful online comments. Their Facebook post (pictured) remains up. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation/Facebook) The Victoria Hospitals Foundation removed a tweet about Dr. Bonnie Henry winning a public lottery prize after it received hateful online comments. Their Facebook post (pictured) remains up. (Victoria Hospitals Foundation/Facebook)
Donations of menstrual products will be accepted at the Victoria Youth Council organized Let it Flow event at the Esquimalt High parking lot this Saturday (May 28). (Stock photo)

Let it Flow donation drive aims to raise awareness about period poverty in Victoria

Menstrual product donations accepted May 28 at Esquimalt High

Donations of menstrual products will be accepted at the Victoria Youth Council organized Let it Flow event at the Esquimalt High parking lot this Saturday (May 28). (Stock photo)
Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam speaks during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Monkeypox poses low risk, but everyone susceptible: Tam

Susceptibility is high because routine vaccination against smallpox ended decades ago

Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam speaks during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Greater Victoria residents can have their personal documents shredded at the Juan de Duca Recreation Centre from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on April 9. (Black Press File Photo)

Get your personal documents shredded at Juan de Fuca Centre this Saturday

The Crime Stoppers “shred-a-thon” will raise money for their cash-for-tips program

Greater Victoria residents can have their personal documents shredded at the Juan de Duca Recreation Centre from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on April 9. (Black Press File Photo)
A woman wears a protective face mask to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as she walks past a billboard from the Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver Thursday, April 8, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Legacy and language around masks will be debated long after pandemic recedes: experts

Experts agree the message around mask wearing could have been better communicated

A woman wears a protective face mask to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as she walks past a billboard from the Vancouver General Hospital in Vancouver Thursday, April 8, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam speaks during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. Tang says governments should be prepared to recall public health measures in case of another serious variant of COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Public health mandates could return, Tam warns, but favours lighter touch in future

Top doc hopes Canada is past the pandemic crisis, uncertain what the coronavirus will do next

Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam speaks during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. Tang says governments should be prepared to recall public health measures in case of another serious variant of COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
The Currie family, (from left) Aidan, Mila, Camille and Shawn, will soon be without a family physician after their View Royal doctor announced they were leaving to operate out of the U.S. Camille and Shawn Currie are petitioning the province to take action on B.C.’s doctor shortage. (Photo courtesy of Camille Currie)

Greater Victoria family petitions government for solution to B.C. doctor shortage

Impending loss of GP will have life-altering effects on immunocompromised family members

The Currie family, (from left) Aidan, Mila, Camille and Shawn, will soon be without a family physician after their View Royal doctor announced they were leaving to operate out of the U.S. Camille and Shawn Currie are petitioning the province to take action on B.C.’s doctor shortage. (Photo courtesy of Camille Currie)
Dr. Richard Stanwick spoke with press at the Royal Jubilee Hospital’s Begbie Hall regarding his retirement on Jan. 27. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Indoor smoking ban, pristine drinking water in Greater Victoria among top doc’s achievements

Dr. Richard Stanwick, Island Health’s chief medical health officer, officially retires this week

Dr. Richard Stanwick spoke with press at the Royal Jubilee Hospital’s Begbie Hall regarding his retirement on Jan. 27. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
North Island NDP MLA Michele Babchuk. (Photo supplied)

Personal attacks part of ‘dangerous trend’ says North Island MLA

Protests part of the job, but MLA’s family did not sign up for that job

North Island NDP MLA Michele Babchuk. (Photo supplied)
Dr. Bonnie Henry credited high vaccination rate among the University of Victoria community for mitigating the effects of a spike in COVID-19 cases associated with the school. (Photo courtesy of UVic)

High vaccination rate helped mitigate UVic COVID-19 spike: Dr. Bonnie Henry

Case uptick hasn’t translated into severe illness in university community, Henry says

Dr. Bonnie Henry credited high vaccination rate among the University of Victoria community for mitigating the effects of a spike in COVID-19 cases associated with the school. (Photo courtesy of UVic)