Smoking ban in public outdoor places for Castlegar?
A presentation to city council from the Kootenay Tobacco Free Coalition has left at least one councillor undecided on the merit of the coalition’s proposed bylaw outlawing smoking in outdoor public places such as plazas, trails, beaches, parks, recreation facilities and patios at restaurants/bars. Councillor Dan Rye said he...
Community welcomes new medical trainees
Members of the Health and Hospital Committee of the LCCDTS were just some of the community members on hand to welcome seven new medical trainees to the Lower Columbia recently. The medical students and residents are part of two growing programs that are expected to have a positive, long term impact on recruiting new doctors...
New Guidebook for Managing Bats in Buildings
Summer is the season when property owners notice bats in their buildings. They may find guano on the deck, hear bats in the walls, or smell a build-up of guano. The Kootenay Community Bat Project, funded by the Columbia Basin Trust, has received numerous calls with these issues. In many cases, landowners are happy to leave ...
Medical Training in Rural Areas: An "Exciting New Development" says Dr. Hume
New programs are introducing medical students and young doctors to the joys and challenges of practicing medicine in rural areas. The advantages go both ways: the medical students and new doctors get training in managing real-life situations with the facilities and support available in small communities; and the communities...
Castlegar men gather to overcome trauma and barriers to employment
The Transitions for Men program, first developed in Nelson in 2013, will be offering a free group in Castlegar for the first time, beginning on July 20.The group provides support and tools for men who are seeking fulfilling employment by addressing some of the challenges of living with trauma.In the context of the Transitions...
OUT OF LEFT FIELD: So, so, so proud of Castlegar and Kate McEachern
They say to have compassion for someone, you must walk a mile in their shoes. Castlegar will go you one better. They’ll walk five kilometres in your boots, in 30+degree heat, and suffer right along beside you … and, I hope, still understand that their journey is shorter than yours, and the emotional/mental burden you’re...
Taking it to the streets: HEU stages rally against privatization of hospital laundry services
By Zaynab Mohammed, The Nelson Daily A crowd of more than 50 people marched down Baker Street in support Hospital Employee Union laundry workers at Kootenay Lake Hospital Saturday morning in Nelson. The march, which paraded through the Nelson downtown core, concluded at City Hall Courtyard where friends and family joined the...
Health Authority laundry costs skyrocket in Lower Mainland says HEU
The Hospital Employees’ Union issued a press release Thursday saying current laundry costs in the Lower Mainland should be raising red flags to the Interior Health Authority in its bid to privatization services at interior hospitals. Financial statements obtained by the HEU show payments for private laundry contracts made by...
Release: IHA announces president/CAO's resignation
Interior Health’s board chair Erwin Malzer today announced that president and CEO Dr. Robert Halpenny has informed the board of directors of his decision to resign in the fall of 2015 in order to pursue other opportunities. “In his tenure as president and CEO, Dr. Halpenny has been a passionate leader, working tirelessly to...
BC home support network near breaking point, says report
It is now harder than ever for BC seniors to access the basic home support services they need to remain at home, despite the BC Ministry of Health's goal to support seniors to stay independent at home for as long as possible, says a report released today by the Integrated Care Advocacy Group (ICA) and the BC Health Coalition...