Coroner reports significant increase of fentanyl-detected overdose deaths in Castlegar, Nelson, Trail
Of the 55 fentanyl-detected overdose deaths recorded in the past two-and-a-quarter years in the Interior Region, two have been in Castlegar, one in Nelson, and one in Trail, according to a report released today by the BC Coroner Service (the data is from Jan.1, 2014 to April 30, 2016). In the two years prior, 2012 […]
Ministerial statement on medical assistance in dying
Health Minister Terry Lake and Attorney General Suzanne Anton released the following statement yesterday on medical assistance in dying: "As of June 6, 2016, assisted dying is no longer illegal in Canada and the requirement for court approval has been removed. As laid out in the Supreme Court of Canada's February 2015 ruling,...
Sunlight and Sunglasses -- Be Cool AND Smart
Summer weather is early this year, so, here is a reminder about sun exposure and what we really need to be careful about. In the past, sun was used in European clinics, using controlled amounts to cure diseases such as tuberculosis and heal wounds. Since the 60’s, we have been warned about sunbathing causing skin cancer, and...
TIME CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS BEGINNING
Tired of afternoons as dark as night in the fall, after the onset of Standard Time? Weary of having to force your body to adjust to a new time regime twice a year? There's hope on the horizon: the BC Chamber of Commerce passed a resolution at its AGM on May 31 to ask the BC government to work with other provincial and state...
High School Students Can Win Cash to Attend Selkirk College in Exam Competition
Exam Competition Could Mean Cash Toward Selkirk College Education It’s not every day that a student can make money taking a test. But later this month, high school students from around the region have a chance to earn funds to help them attend Selkirk College, in an annual competition. The Selkirk College Scholarship High ...
Patient voice at heart of website changes
Interior Health is looking for ways to make the final days in people's lives as calm as can be possible. During Tuesday Interior Health Board meeting in Kelowna, a presenation highlighted improvements to help people find resources when they need them most. The changes include revamped web pages and a new resource guide for ...
Column: From the Hill -- Bill C-14 and Access to Medically Assisted Dying
By Member Of Pariliament for South Okanagan- West Kootenay, Richard Cannings: Bill C-14, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts (medical assistance in dying) In March I wrote in this column about the ongoing debates in Parliament around medical aid in dying, brought on by the Supreme...
COLUMN: Feeding Humanity in a Warming World
Calculating farming’s contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is difficult, but experts agree that feeding the world’s people has tremendous climate and environmental impacts. Estimates of global emissions from farms range widely. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency puts them at 24 per cent, including deforestation,...
Mental health system could do more to ensure people can access specialized services
Auditor General of British Columbia Carol Bellringer issued her latest audit May 17: Access to Adult Tertiary Mental Health and Substance Use Services. Bellringer's team looked at how B.C.'s health system manages access to the highest level of mental health and substance use services. They found pockets of good practice, but...
City issues reminder about Burning Bylaw
People burn stuff illegally. Smoke billows up and drifts around the nieghbourhood, and other people complain-- especially people with asthma and other respiratory conditions. Smoke isn't good for anyone, but some of us suffer more immediate ill effects than most. Earlier this spring, a number of illegal fires were burning...
