With an increase in measles, whooping cough, and other preventable diseases around the world the province says they are promoting this year's National Immunization Awareness Week. 

According to the federal government’s website, so far Canada has 50 active cases of measles and estimates a total of 60 cases have been reported so far this year.  

The government also estimates there is one case of rubella syndrome has been diagnosed in across Canada. 

Health minister Adrian Dix says this annual event helps people get the proper immunizations they need to lower the risk to themselves and reduce the impact on hospitals across the province. 

“Immunization plays a vital role in maintaining public health by reducing the burden of vaccine-preventable diseases,” Dix says. “It lowers the number of cases, hospitalizations, and fatalities associated with these diseases, thereby improving the quality of life.” 

The province says measles is highly contagious and everyone who has not got their shots should consider consulting their medical practitioner, especially babies and children. 

Dix says this is why the government has implemented a program to offer, and extend, protection for those who need it, crediting medical professionals for their hard work. 

“I want to thank the healthcare professionals who provide information to their patients about the benefits of immunizations, administer vaccines, and help people keep safe from the spread of diseases,” Dix says.  

The province says measles is quickly spread in schools, and children who are not immunized or fully immunized are offered a vaccine or excluded from school. 

The World Health Organization reported a 79 per cent increase in measles cases last year, compared to 2022. 

The last case of measles in BC was reported in 2019. 

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The provincial government says they plan to make significant investments to support the growth of local communities and economies across Vancouver Island. 

Minister of jobs, economic development, and innovation Brenda Bailey attended a media event at Ron Anderson and Sons in Chemainus today where she announced the government’s intention to provide close to f$5 million in funding towards six capital projects and four planning projects. 

According to Bailey the projects will help local manufacturers contribute to local supply chains, grow, and diversify their operations through new product lines, new equipment, and new technology while creating new jobs. 

Ron Anderson and Sons president and CEO Jack Downing says they’re excited to be receiving up to $2 million in funding and plan to use the money towards a project that will use automation and advanced manufacturing to diversify products.  

“We are more than excited to be a recipient of the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund,” he says. “By expanding and modernizing our facility in Chemainus, we’re not only creating new local jobs, but increasing supply and accelerating installation, of much-needed wood frame housing across B.C., efficiently and in a sustainable manner.” 

Along with Ron Anderson and Sons, GRT Holdings in Nanaimo will receive up to $735,000 and Aquila Cedar Products in Parksville will get up to $879,000. 

The province says the fund will help create more than 1,100 jobs and protect close to 2,000 existing manufacturing jobs in the province. 

Currently, the fund has committed up to $91 million to BC’s manufacturing sector, which the province says supports 81 organizations to expand and grow. 

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A conservative candidate for the North Island-Powell River riding will be part of a town hall tonight.

Aaron Gunn, candidate and filmmaker, will be in Port Hardy for the Common Sense town hall.

The hall, according to the North Island – Powell River conservative association, will focus on discussions about the issues most important to you and other members of the community.

Originally it was scheduled for 6:30 pm, but it has since been revised to 5:30.

You can catch it at the Fort Rupert Curling Club on Beaver Road.

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A drug poisoning overdose advisory is in effect for Mount Waddington.

That comes from Island Health which issued the advisory earlier this week.

They say overdoses are increasing in the area. For those who use opioids and stimulants, they face an increased risk from injection and inhalation.

In response to the rise in overdoses, Island Health has tips for safer drug use and overdoses.

They say if someone overdoses, stay with them and call 9-1-1, give them Naloxone, and to give 1 breath every 5 seconds.

If you are using drugs alone, you need to let someone know and ask if they can check in on you.

The health authority adds you should carry Naloxone, know your tolerance, use one substance at a time, take a small amount of it, and to get your drugs checked.

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BC Hydro is giving North Islanders a month to prepare for a planned power outage.

The district of Port Hardy says BC Hydro will perform a region-wide outage on the North Island so they can do maintenance work and replace end of life transmission structures.

Alongside Port Hardy, other communities including Woss, Alert Bay, Port McNeill and Port Alice will be out of power.

Hydro recommends you unplug all of your electronics and to turn off all lights, electric heaters, and major appliances.

The outage will last from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 26.

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A local doctor who has fought tirelessly for North Island communities was recognized nationally for his work last night.

The Society of Rural Physicians is holding its annual conference this weekend in Edmonton. Last night they held their awards gala, recognizing doctors across the country for their community efforts.

Dr. Prean Armogam from Port McNeill was nominated for the Rural Service Award. He’s served Port McNeill and the North Island for 18 years, and worked tirelessly to bring attention to the doctor shortage in the region. He has always spoken up about the critical importance of keeping physicians in rural communities.

He wasn’t selected as the winner but another Island doctor was — Dr. Donald Curtis, a family physician with a practice in Courtenay, received the award. Dr. Jane Bishop from Sechelt was also nominated.

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North Island College finances are back in the black after several years of pandemic aftershocks.  

The college’s Board of Governors approved the budget at its Thursday meeting.  

The college’s strategic plan targeted 2024 for a balanced budget, and board chair Patricia Trasolini says it’s good news for the college and its students that they were able to make it happen.  

She credited the finance team for their work through times of financial uncertainty.  

During the pandemic the college had to dip into net assets to cover losses. Now, it will start rebuilding that portfolio to pre-pandemic levels.  

The college’s strategic plan focuses on individualized learning to meet the unique needs of Vancouver Islanders. It serves more than 9,000 students through four campuses.  

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Students in Zeballos today are going to learn what it’s like to live through a massive earthquake.  

The BC Earthquake Alliance is in the community this afternoon with its ‘Quake Cottage,’ a simulator which lets people experience the force of a magnitude 8 earthquake for 30 seconds. Mounted on a trailer and operated with hydraulic pistons, it’s the only one of its kind in Canada.  

The Quake Cottage will be at the school from 2-3 pm, and then will go to the Ehatis Village tsunami muster site west of Zeballos. It will be open for the public to experience from 3-5 pm today.  

If you can’t make it in person, visit the MotionSafe website for a video of the Quake Cottage in action.

Zeballos is also hosting its 'High Ground Hike' event for Tsunami Preparedness Week today. Read our related story for more information, and safety tips.

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In just a couple of weeks, you can do some spring cleaning for free in Port Hardy.

The district has announced that for Spring Clean-Up Week, you can drop off several items at the Tacan Site on 5590 Steel Road, free of charge.

They will accept furniture, residential wood waste, washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, carpets, rugs, mattresses, empty propane tanks with valves removed, scrap metal, barbecues, toys, bicycles, child car seats, strollers, batteries, televisions and computer monitors.

Along with all those items, food waste will be accepted but at the regular cost. They ask you to not bring any styrofoam, fluorescent tube lights, hot tubs, tires, chemicals, drywall, ceiling tiles, contractor or commercial waste as those will not be accepted.

If you are a senior or have disabilities, the district says you may register for free curbside pick-up from April 29 to May 3. You are encouraged to call the public works yard at 250-949-7779 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Spring clean-up will start on May 7, and wrap up by May 11.

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Healthcare advocates across Vancouver Island say the current system is out of proportion when it comes to ease of access for residents north of the Malahat. 

FairCare Alliance issued a report outlining what they call the current healthcare reality on Central and North Vancouver Island saying approximately 460,000 residents currently don’t have access to treatment for lifesaving medical care. 

Donna Hais says with an aging population and 80 per cent of the Island’s First Nations living in the region the  need for care is escalating.  

“If you have a heart attack, the Canadian standard of care for access to a cath-lab is 90 minutes,” Hais says. “There are two cath-labs in Victoria and none north of the Malahat. 

“If there was one in Nanaimo, we would be able to meet that standard of care. We’re the largest population in Canada without access to that standard.” 

The greater Nanaimo area is expected to grow by 13.4 per cent to 134,504 by 2028 and Hais says adding additional services would mean the mortality rate for cardiac care would dramatically increase and would provide increased access to care for those living in rural settings. 

“Our survival rate would be much greater,” she says. “Only 45 per cent of the patients on Vancouver Island have access to proper heart health. If we were to have a cath-lab, and a full cardiac program out of Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, we’d be able to service 90 per cent of the population.” 

In a report issued by the Vancouver Island Health Authority, it calls the state of care at NRGH inadequate and outdated because of the age and the limited capacity of beds the facility can accommodate.  

Hais adds to accommodate the region's growth, the province needs to upgrade and provide more services to meet the demands of the city, region, and the island North of the Malahat. 

“We need a commitment from the province on a new 600-bed tower,” she says. “Currently our bed count is 346 beds, and we are well over 400 patients every single day. 

“With the tower people would be able to stay in their homes and their area, rather than travel for healthcare.”

According to the report, there were over 3,300 new cancer diagnoses in 2023 north of the Malahat, with 3,215 in the south along with 2,472 people living with cancer versus 2,192 in Victoria with no oncologists at NRGH to support these patients. 

For more information on healthcare, and how you can help visit their website.

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