Jan 29 - Should cities create their own medical clinics to fight the shortage?

Good morning !

In recent years we’ve had a lot of coverage of the loss of family doctors and walk-in clinics in the region. Now, at least one one municipality is looking at taking matters into its own hands to try to reverse that trend. Read on below.

— Cam

Today’s approx. read time: 4 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 13 / 10

Tuesday: 🌦️ 12 / 10

Wednesday: 🌧️ 12 / 5

7-day forecast

NEWS

Colwood looks at opening its own medical clinic

The Island’s ongoing healthcare crisis has left Colwood without any family practices following the closure of the Colwood Medical Treatment Centre walk-in in April 2022. That clinic is supposed to re-open this spring, but still lacks doctors.

With demand increasing but facilities and staff still low, council voted unanimously last week to look at opening a new non-profit medical centre in Royal Bay. The city is eyeing at a public-private collaboration to open the Pure Medical Clinic as a walk-in clinic. 

“Here we are with 22,000 [citizens] and we have zero family doctors,” said Mayor Doug Kobayashi. “Zero.” 

The difficulty of bringing in and keeping those doctors is a major factor in the loss of multiple local clinics in recent years. It’s a challenge that a municipal clinic would also face. 

But there are ways the municipality can help get, and keep, a clinic running; options discussed at Jan. 22’s meeting included taking over tasks such as payroll admin and HR. 

Read the full story at The Westshore.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Victoria council to tackle 2024 budget today, as well as 2024-28 Financial Plan. [Agenda / begins 9am]
Last month Mayor Alto asked staff to look at ways to rework the budget for more savings; read more on that here.

This week’s forecast: Not a ton of sun in Victoria, but fairly warm at around 10 degrees.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

FOOD & DRINK

A dry January need not be a dull one:
Inventive mocktails from Victoria bars

January is drawing to a close, and anyone whose New Year's resolution is to avoid alcohol has now hit 4 weeks. If you’re partaking in Dry January, or if you just want something tasty to sip, here are some options to make the month's end exciting. 

Tasting Victoria has rounded up the most innovative mocktails being stirred, mixed, and shaken across the city.  

Who knows, maybe these mocktails will be tasty enough to inspire a Dry February.

Check them out here.

NEWS

South Island First Nations question the true cost of shipping in Salish Sea

Do the economic benefits of BC shipping balance out its costs to the sea?

Local First Nations reps say the time to ask that question is now, with shipping slated to soon increase in the stretch between Vancouver and the Island.

That’s due to the upcoming completions of the Trans Mountain’s Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby and the Port of Vancouver’s new Roberts Banks terminal. The federal government approved the Banks project, but its report noted that that would damage habitat for southern resident killer whales and the chinook salmon they eat, while increasing underwater noise pollution and the risk of vessels hitting whales.

Tsawout First Nation councillor John Paul Etzel said that pollution in the sea is already affecting his people, with black soot turning up in the traps they use to collect food in their territorial waters around the peninsula. 

Etzel was one of the attendees at a symposium last week that looked at the future health and prosperity of the Salish Sea. 

Read more on what he and the others tackled.

SPONSORED BY BELFRY THEATRE

As Above premieres at the Belfry next week

Commissioned by the Belfry and written by Christine Quintana (a Jessie and Dora Award-winning BC playwright) As Above appeals to the hope in all of us.

Set in Victoria, As Above centres on Jo, eight years sober, and attempting to rebuild the life she destroyed. Once a prominent botanical researcher, she now lectures at a horticultural centre, while embarking on a new relationship with Rick, who may be too good to be true.

A mysterious phone call sends her on an urgent quest to find Ada, her estranged daughter, as her research bleeds into her complicated personal life in rich, unexpected, and life-changing ways.

The Belfry offers pay-what-you-want tickets to all performances.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🧣 Warm gear & clothing drive for North Park: Weds 6-8pm at 1025 Mason. Thurs. 9am-noon at 932 Balmoral. [More info]

🚗 Keep your license. The experienced lawyers at Acumen Law Corporation will give you the strongest legal defense to keep you in the driver’s seat.*

🌺 Photos of hummingbirds in Parksville enjoying the warmer weather. [Facebook]

🐑 Telling the wool story: Chemainus author’s new nonfiction book looks at fleece, fibre, and other textile work being done in the Island region. [Profile via Vancouver Sun] 

*Sponsored Listing

🗞️ In Other News

BC Aviation Museum raising money for WWII bomber
To fund repairs for the Lancaster bomber it bought seven years ago the museum will premiere a documentary on the plane at an upcoming gala. It hopes to display the repaired plane publicly and take tours inside. [CHEK]

Westshore Rebels coach hired to lead York University team
Grey Cup winner Dexter Janke heads to Ontario after one year as full head coach and assistant GM. In 2023 he had the Rebels undefeated in the conference (12-0), took them to the national championship game, and won the CJFL’s top coach award.

Colwood cat found after three months in woods
Sophie the tabby would tour near Royal Roads in a carrier, until she was spooked out of it by a dog and disappeared. But a neighbour donated trail cams that later spotted her. [CTV]

Snuneymuxw get back 80 hectares after 170 years
Parcels near Nanaimo Parkway and Hwy 19 were returned yesterday after decades of effort that were often thwarted by federal governments. The land has been used by the Department of National Defence, and, painfully, the Nanaimo Indian Hospital. [Nanaimo News Now]

🤝 Now Hiring

Thinking of making your next career move? Let us help!

• Operations coordinator at Sprout Family Health

• Facility Management Assistant at Jawl Properties

• Senior Marketing Officer at Victoria Hospitals Foundation

• Early Childhood Educator (ECE) at Fernwood NRG

• Adventure Park Manager at WildPlay Elements Park

Looking for more openings? See 40+ jobs open now on YYJobs.

Hiring? Post your job to have it featured here, and fill your opening fast!

🗓️ Things to do

🩰 Dance Victoria Dance Days: Celebrate dance at local dance studios with free classes, workshops, and performances. Until Feb. 4.  

🎥 Godzilla Minus One: The acclaimed new Takashi Yamazaki Godzilla film will be shown at The Vic Theatre. Today at 7:30pm, and again on Wed.

📚 Indoor family storytime / stay & play programming is now running at GVPL library branches. [Locations and times here]

👀 In Case You Missed It

The Blue Jay from Victoria: How life took Michael Saunders from Gordon Head Little League to Baseball Canada’s prestigious Wall of Excellence. [Capital Daily]

Wildlife Photographer of the Year will soon return to town. Here’s a gallery of past winners. 

Hellooo Victoria! Stonehenge will soon descend on the Capital. Plus: Victoria named best in Canada for vegans. [Sun. newsletter]

Saanich sportsfield renamed to honour prominent volunteer couple, including man who died last month. [Saanich News]

That’s it!

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