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. Mother and baby are doing just fine according to Kristyl Banaag, who was quick to give kudos to the staff and nurses at Kootenay Lake […]

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) […]

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 […]

While the holiday season is a time for celebrations, it can also be a time of year when people may feel lonely, stressed or triggered. The past few years have been difficult for people due to global unrest, the lasting impacts of natural disasters and the pandemic. On top of this, people in B.C. continue […]

The deaths of at least 342 people experiencing homelessness were reported to the BC Coroners Service in 2022, continuing an increase in deaths among the unhoused population of 138% in the past two years. During the period studied (2015-22), there were 1,464 deaths involving individuals identified as experiencing homelessness in British Columbia, equating to an […]

Keeping warm during winter will have a lower effect on air quality in B.C. as more incentives and education on replacing wood stoves with cleaner, healthier heating options roll out. “Burning wood is one of the largest air-pollution sources affecting B.C. communities, and switching to healthier, clean-heat sources can save people money by heating homes […]

In response to a recent increase in deaths caused by toxic drugs, the BC Coroners Service is issuing a public safety warning to anyone using substances purchased from the illicit market. In its October 2023 update, the coroners service revealed that the province is expected to record an unprecedented number of unregulated drug-related deaths in […]