Aug 7 - Private donors, clinics reshaping our health care

Good morning !

Our top story involves health care and how huge influxes of donation money is making a difference—although not always as you may assume—in how that care gets delivered.

We also talk about Victoria’s most successful sports team that could probably use a little more love from the folks who run the city it proudly calls home.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: ☀️ 24 / 13 

Tomorrow: 🌤️ 26 / 14

Friday: 🌤️ 26 / 14

7-day forecast

NEWS

Private donors and private clinics re-shaping the health-care landscape in Victoria

Private donors and clinics are reshaping BC’s health-care landscape amidst systemic changes.

Philanthropy, or social giving, a long-standing part of Canadian health care, is gaining momentum. Notable donations include Peter Gilgan’s record $105 million to a Mississauga hospital and an anonymous donation of $33.8 million to advance MS research in BC.

These funds significantly impact the health-care system and in the case of the recent Imaging is Power campaign, local hospitals, too. A $1 million donation pushed the project past its $11 million goal. The sizable contribution will enhance diagnostic equipment at Victoria General Hospital and Royal Jubilee hospitals.

While private funding supports vital health improvements and reduces wait times, it also raises concerns about potential influence over funding priorities.

Private clinics, including Telus Health's expansion and the new Care2Talk clinic in Victoria, offer alternative care options but may exacerbate disparities for those unable to afford out-of-pocket expenses or lacking digital access. The rise of private and virtual care options underscores a recent and growing shift towards hybrid models of health delivery in the CRD.

Care2Talk CEO Jordan Schley argues that his gig model helps reduce wait times and gives nurses a far better work environment.

So, as the health-care system evolves, balancing private contributions with equitable public access will remain a critical issue.

Read Sidney Coles’ full story here.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Keating Cross overpass closed tonight (10pm‐6am). [Info / detour]

Find parkade spots in real time with Victoria's parking tracker.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

HarbourCats make playoffs—but feel jilted by city

The ‘Cats once again fielded a competitive team this summer, making it to the championship playdowns for the sixth time in seven years. But Victorians won't get to see the ‘Cats’ latest postseason run.

The CFL’s BC Lions are moving into Royal Athletic Park (RAP) for an Aug. 31 regular season game with the Ottawa Redblacks.

As we wrote in Capital Daily in May, the stadium’s primary tenants have been told to vacate the premises well in advance of the end-of-Aug. football game, so renovations can be made and seats added to host the 14K expected.

“The city clearly told us that this was what was happening, and whatever the BC Lions and the CFL want they are getting at that park—and that is hard to stomach,” Jim Swanson, the team’s managing partner tells Capital Daily.

“We are long-term, local, proven sports entity that is always thinking community first and we don’t think we’ve been treated with due respect here.”

The loss of the home dates is going to cost the HarbourCats revenue. In May, Swanson told Capital Daily losing home playoff dates could value the equivalent of 15-20% of the team’s annual budget.

When asked in May whether the city would compensate the ball club for any lost revenues, a city spokesperson responded: “The City hasn't been presented with evidence that this will result in financial losses for the HarbourCats.”

Swanson said that’s not true. “And just on a common sense level, how anyone could suggest that there wouldn't be losses or additional costs because of this is baffling.”

The city wasn’t able to respond in time yesterday to several questions from Capital Daily, including whether it planned to allow the BC Lions to use RAP for the full summer in 2026—when the Lions will have to vacate BC Place Stadium to make way for soccer’s World Cup matches.

So, tonight’s regular-season finale is your last chance to see the ‘Cats live at home until next summer.

“It's obvious that we need a new user group agreement because this can’t happen again,” Swanson said.

“And we are expecting the city to make this right.”

⭐️ Capital Picks

🏊 Fall recreation registration: City of Victoria. [Opens Aug. 19]

⚾ Final HarbourCats home game is tonight. Fan Appreciation Night. [Info]

🐸🐸 Two frogs hanging out in Nanaimo waters. [Photos]

🗞️ In Other News

VicPD to spend $80K in OT for Ellice, Pandora safety plan
The strategy comes after a paramedic was assaulted while responding to a medical event last month on Pandora, which led first responder unions to declare their workers would wait for police escorts before answering calls in that section of the city. The police plan involves a dedicated team of foot patrol officers in the area, the enforcement of daytime sheltering bans, and the removal of the unhoused encampment, to be replaced with temporary housing. [CHEK]

Island Health hunts down $15M from non-Canadian patients
According to figures released by the health authority, the region’s hospitals have billed more than $25M to non-residents over the last two years. Island Health did not specify where the visiting patients originated, or how many were covered by insurance. On average, it can cost between $3K and $5,700 a day to stay in a Canadian hospital. Hospitals offer payment plans and unpaid bills are sent to a collection agency. [Times Colonist]

Victorian among dozen appointed to Order of BC
Victoria’s Don Mattrick was bestowed the honour “for transforming BC’s tech landscape from a basement startup to global leadership.” Now CEO of Prometheus Ventures, Mattrick was on the ground floor of the province’s digital arts and gaming industry. This is the 35th year awarding the province’s highest civilian honour. Upon induction by Lt. Gov. Janet Austin next month, there will be 515 recipients. [BC gov’t]

🗓️ Things to do

🎞️ A Bullet Pulling Thread. A documentary about the killing of a homeless man in Lytton, BC, and the butterfly effect it had on the community in an unlikely intersection of homelessness advocacy, police violence — and quilting. Cinecenta at UVic. Aug. 13 & 14. [Trailer] [Info]

🍕 Pagliacci’s 45th Anniversary Street Party: Celebrate this community gem with live music and dancing in the street. Pagliacci’s. Aug 24. [Free]  [Info]

🎤 Sarah Stevenson Quartet. Join the 2x Downbeat award-winning jazz vocalist for her classic jazz night. Hermann's Jazz Club. Tonight. 7-9pm. Doors at 5:30pm. [Info]

📽️🐉 Summer Outdoor Movies: Raya & the Last Dragon. Also a weekly food truck and Kid Zone hosted by EF International starting at 8pm. Bullen Park in Esquimalt. 8:45pm. [Info]

🎥 More Summer Outdoor Movies. Free B-Films. Park. Blankets. Popcorn under the stars. Fri.: Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla. Sat.: Breakfast Club. (Hey, hey, hey, hey!) Cameron Bandshell. Beacon Hill Park. 9pm. [Info]

🐍 Slithery, Slimy & Scaly. Snakes, reptiles, amphibians. Join CRD Regional Parks naturalists and special guest organizations for exhibits, displays, and activities all about some of our sssslithery, sssslimy, and sssscaly friends. Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park. Tomorrow. 10am-1pm. [Info]

🎵 Music Bingo. A fundraiser for the Victoria Fringe Festival. We will have hot-off-the-press Fringe guides there, so you can grab yours and start planning your Fringe adventure. Fernwood Inn. Tomorrow. 7-9pm. [Info] 

🎙️ Emily Braden. The Harlem-based vocalist, songwriter, and lyricist effortlessly blends jazz and soul to elevate the tradition and win the hearts of audiences. Hermann’s. Tomorrow. 7-9pm. Doors at 5:30pm. [Info] 

💸Quadra Night Market. Not your average market. This one is also a fundraiser. All proceeds raised will be donated and split between the Mental Health Recovery Partners South Island (MHRP SI) and the Quadra Village Community Centre (QVCC). The field at 950 Kings. Tomorrow. 3-8pm. [Info]

Want more events? Subscribe to This Week In Vic and get our weekly events newsletter every Tue.

👀 In Case You Missed It

Monday’s headlines: Islander is world's best hammer-thrower; Shamrocks make history; Heat hit poorest hardest, new study says; And more. [Aug. 5]

Tuesday headlines: BC Day turns 50; Future Olympians advance to rowing worlds; Basketball quarterfinal evokes Nash clash with France; And more. [Aug. 6]

245 Islanders lost to toxic drugs this year; on pace for record high. [Capital Daily Newsletter]

Local student gets bronze in the International Economics Olympiad. [The Westshore]

A few spots for cheap eats in town. [Tasting Victoria]

Beautiful green Little Tribune Bay on Hornby.

Jellies dying on the shore to restart their life cycle.

That’s it!

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