Interior Health (IH) is reminding parents about the importance of childhood immunizations while making it easier for families to get caught up, as many children are unimmunized or under-immunized. Interior Health data shows declining immunization rates for children. While the majority of parents believe that childhood vaccines are safe and effective**, there are many reasons […]

On January 22, the 2024 Mining for Miracles campaign was launched at the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) Roundup conference, with the Honourable David Eby, M.L.A. Premier of British Columbia, in support of the Precision Health Initiative (PHI) at BC Children’s Hospital. In 2023, the campaign had an exceptional year, raising over $2.1 million and […]

The B.C. Wildlife Branch reports that cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) have been confirmed in two deer in the Kootenay region, south of Cranbrook. These are the first known cases of CWD in British Columbia. “We have been watching CWD spread province to province, state to state for at least 20 years, so this […]

Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, has released the following statement regarding the BC Coroners Service year-end report on illicit drug toxicity deaths: “Today, as we reflect on the year behind us, our hearts are heavy with the loss of 2,511 people in British Columbia to toxic drugs. Each of these lives was […]

People in B.C. will have improved access to cervical cancer screening as a provincewide cervix self-screening program launches, including the option to screen at home, a first in Canada. “It’s not every day that a province can set an achievable goal of eliminating a deadly cancer, but today’s launch of the first at-home self-screening program […]

A trio of parents in Interior Health region took turns welcoming newborn babies on New Year Day 2024. At Kootenay Lake Hospital, Ali Israel Dalwampo was born at 8:26 a.m. to Kristyl Banaag and Syjay Dalwampo. Mother and baby are doing just fine according to Kristyl Banaag, who was quick to give kudos to the […]

By Stuart Phillips, Professor, McMaster University, Ontario Everyone can agree that exercise is healthy. Among its many benefits, exercise improves heart and brain function, aids in controlling weight, slows the effects of aging and helps lower the risks of several chronic diseases.  For too long, though, one way of keeping fit, aerobic exercise, has been […]

B.C. is experiencing elevated influenza and RSV activity, similar to levels experienced before the COVID-19 pandemic. In children, influenza activity is at the highest levels since the start of this respiratory season, serving as a reminder for families to take proactive steps to reduce their risk of serious illness. The BC Centre for Disease and Control (BCCDC) […]

While the warm and wet conditions in British Columbia continue to wreak havoc for skiers, boarders and snow goers, it was a dream day for participants in the annual Kootenay Co-op Radio and Friends of Kootenay Lake Stewardship Society Polar Bear Dip Monday at Rotary Lakeside Park. The wind was minimal; snow that covered Lakeside […]

British Columbia parents have spoken and for the second year in a row, Noah is the front-runner for the most popular name for babies born in the province. Noah is followed by Oliver, Olivia, Theodore, Liam, Jack, Emma, Sophia, Ethan and Leo, according to the Vital Statistics Agency’s preliminary figures for 2023. In 2022, the […]