The Power of touch…
Today, I was listening to Senior Rabbi, Baroness Julia Neuberger on the radio. She spoke for a few minutes as part of the regular program that accompanies me through my days at home.
Island Voices – Island Talk
Trump Dangerous to Valley’s Economy.
Catalyst Paper facing countervailing duties of 6.1 per cent on U.S. shipments No matter what one thinks of Donald Trump, the tentacles of the controversial American president reach even into the Cowichan Valley. Trump has always said he would toughen up international trade deals in favour of the U.S. if he was elected president, so…
Facing the challenges of dementia.
Is the Person You Care for at Risk of Wandering or Getting Lost? Joe and his wife made a wonderful life for each other on a small farm in Sooke. When Joe’s wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, a degenerative disease, Joe was determined to care for her in the familiar surroundings of their family home….
Chronic pain patients need services beyond just opioids: B.C. advocate
People who live with chronic pain need options beyond prescription opioids, and it’s up to the British Columbia government to provide more services such as physiotherapy, says the head of a group that supports patients and their families. “There has really been a lack of any appropriate response to chronic pain in our province and…
B.C. ends grizzly bear hunt, calls it ‘no longer socially acceptable’
Hunting grizzly bears has been banned in British Columbia, a move guides complain will put them out of business while environmentalists say is long overdue. B.C. Forests Minister Doug Donaldson said public consultations have made it clear that killing grizzlies cannot be allowed, with the exception of First Nations who hunt for treaty rights or…
B.C. to cover cost of abortion pill Mifegymiso
Starting Jan. 15, B.C. will join five other Canadian provinces in offering the pregnancy termination drug Mifegymiso for free. According to a B.C. health ministry press release, universal, no-cost coverage for the drug, which is also known as RU-486, will be available to patients with a valid prescription at pharmacies around the province. Mifegymiso is an alternative to surgical abortion…
Religions important to a healthy society
If any one religious congregation disappeared from your city, would your community and city be better or worse off? There are Canadians who think it would be better if they did disappear, like old relics that have become burdensome, even embarrassing. The think tank Cardus published the results of research that examined the question through…
Blood supply donors and privateers.
I get a regular phone call that I won’t answer. I know what the caller wants and I’m not willing to get into a discussion about why I don’t want to talk to them. The caller? Canadian Blood Service (CBS), an organization whose sole mission is to collect blood donations to meet the health needs…
Seniors Advocate releases third annual Monitoring Seniors’ Services Report
Victoria – The Office of the Seniors Advocate (OSA) released its third annual Monitoring Seniors’ Services report today. The report looks at over 25 programs and services offered to seniors in B.C. and measures performance on a year over year basis. “This is now the third year my office has published this report and we…
Woodwynn Farms the victim of a self-serving elitist decision by Central Saanich council.
Central Saanich has posted “no occupancy” notices on some of the buildings and recreational vehicles at Woodwynn Farms addiction treatment centre, a move that operator Richard Leblanc says could effectively put the site’s six residents on the street. He said the notices will not be complied with, and the outcome could be a legal battle with…