In a media release Monday, the Province said it is taking steps to build safer workplaces for health-care workers and patients by introducing a new security model across all health authorities, hiring more protection services employees and expanding funding to SWITCH BC, a new organization focused on addressing workplace...

This year, about 4,000 Canadians will die by suicide. That’s 4,000 families, friendship circles, workplaces, and schools – all left behind to pick up the pieces, to struggle with the why’s and the how’s and to grieve their immeasurable loss.  We know that grief all too well. For Corey, it was the 2018 suicide of his girlfriend,...

Due to several recent drug poisoning events in the region, Interior Health is urging people to use available drug checking services in order to stay safer. A region-wide drug alert remains in place following these toxic drug poisonings. Interior Health has expanded drug checking services in response to the toxic drug crisis....

In order to protect the province's most vulnerable and the overall health-care system, COVID-19 vaccination requirements for health-care system workers continue to be in place. Consistent with current provincial health officer orders, health-care system workers will continue to be required to be vaccinated with a primary...

In a media release Thursday, Interior Heath issued a DRUG ALERT for Nelson, Trail and Castlegar after confirmatory drug checking results on a sample were found to contain Fentanyl, Fluorofentanyl (Fentanyl analogue), and Bromazolam (Benzodiazepine). Interior Health said that the Fluorofentanyl potency is not well understood...

An International Overdose Awareness Day event and vigil took place at Cottonwood Falls in Nelson on Wednesday,  August 31st. The annual event is to honour loved ones who have died due to drug overdose and to raise awareness about the provincial overdose crisis. More than 70 people attended. People came in good spirits ...

I was recently looking at the website of Moms Stop the Harm, a local advocacy group that is heavily involved in organizing Overdose Awareness Day events. I was reflecting on the last few years; the increasing drug toxicity deaths we’re seeing, the tremendous challenges first responders and care providers face, and the loss ...

Health authority contracts with for-profit surgical and diagnostic imaging clinics topped $393 million between 2015/16 and 2020/21 – with total annual payments increasing by 57 per cent over that period. That’s according to a new report from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - BC Office and BC Health Coalition...

Environment Canada issued a Special Air Quality Statement for the Southern Interior of BC, including the West Kootenay, Kootenay Lake and Arrow Lakes — Slocan Lakes Regions due to wildfire smoke in the area. Environment Canada said that smoke is causing poor air quality and reducing visibility. Other regions impacted include,...

At least 1,095 British Columbians are believed to have been lost to the toxic drug supply between January and June 2022, according to preliminary data released by the BC Coroners Service. “The ever-increasing toxicity of the unregulated, illicit drug market is taking a heart-breaking toll on the lives and well-being of members...