While influenza seasons are notoriously difficult to predict, Dr Skowronski has given us all the latest information about the 25/26 influenza season. This includes a new variant of influenza A(H3N2) called subclade K and what we can do to keep our communities safe, and in the know.

Looking to the South for Clues about the Flu Season

Although many factors are involved when trying to understand how the Northern Hemisphere’s influenza season may play out, researchers consider which viruses have emerged during the Southern Hemisphere’s preceding season. This year during the Southern Hemisphere’s 2025 influenza season, the subclade K variant arose, and is projected to dominate during the Northern Hemisphere’s 25/26 season. For the 25/26 season in Northern America, the World Health Organization (WHO) had already chosen the vaccine, and this choice does not reflect the more recent subclade K variant, making the vaccine ‘mismatched.’

What does this mean? If vaccines are mismatched, they may not be as effective. Additionally, H3N2 epidemics are normally associated with worse influenza seasons, and vaccine effectiveness is typically lower for H3N2. Mismatched vaccines still provide some protection, especially from severe cases of influenza that require hospitalization. But, if the vaccine is less effective, subclade K may result in more severe events overall.

It is important to note that the influenza vaccine targets three influenza strains, including A(H1N1), influenza B, and influenza A(H3N2). Ultimately, despite the H3N2 mismatch, it is still important for people to receive their influenza vaccine, because it does still offer some protection. This is especially important for people at high risk, like older adults, or people with chronic medical conditions.

Surveillance is Key

The USA normally provides Canada with strong indicators about what the North American influenza season will look like, but the US Centers for Disease Control paused its standard weekly respiratory illness reporting as we entered the 25/26 season (although reporting has resumed now in the US). Dr Skowronski and her team continually monitored developments throughout the summer and early fall, enabling them to be among the first to alert about subclade K. The team also tracked data from the United Kingdom (UK) and Japan where the influenza season got off to an early and intense start — especially affecting children — with the H3N2 subclade K comprising 90% of flu samples. As of December 5, surveillance indicators show the seasonal influenza epidemic has also begun in Canada and BC, with a sharp rise in influenza activity over the past few weeks.

The Importance of Vaccine Effectiveness Monitoring

The influenza vaccine is still expected to provide cross-protection against mismatched variants. Knowing how much protection, however, requires real time measurement. Dr Skowronski’s Canadian Sentinel Practitioner Surveillance Network (SPSN) for Influenza Virus and Vaccine Effectiveness (VE) Monitoring (an initiative the Foundation is proud to support) is crucial to determine how much protection influenza vaccines provide each year. ‎This enhanced molecular and epidemiological surveillance is used to address gaps in knowledge on vaccine-virus relatedness and will provide valid and timely VE findings, to inform further communications and public health guidance. Ultimately, this information will arm public health leaders to mitigate the impact of influenza this season, and will help improve understanding about influenza vaccines and programs in the future.

Staying Healthy during this Influenza Season

The vaccine remains the most important way to protect yourself, your friends, and family from influenza.

In addition, you can reduce the risk of getting and spreading the flu by:

• Staying home when sick, especially if symptoms include fever, cough and/or sneezing
• Wearing a well-fitting respirator or mask if you have symptoms and must be around others, in a public setting, or seeking medical care
• Washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• If you can’t wash your hands, use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol and rub your hands together for 20 seconds or until dry
• Coughing and sneezing into a tissue or your elbow instead of your hand
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands
• Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects regularly that are often touched by others

We hope this information will help keep communities in our province, and beyond, healthy during this holiday season. To register yourself or someone else for a flu vaccine, book online or by phone through BC’s “Get Vaccinated” program.

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Vaccine effectiveness research directly impacts the health and wellness of our communities. Please donate to support vital work like this.

The post This Influenza Season Will Feel a Little Different appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

As the aging population grows, so too does the fear that our older family members may experience a fall, resulting in a serious injury from which they may never recover. Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults in Canada. One in three older adults in BC experience a fall every year, with 10 to 15 per cent of these falls resulting in serious injuries. Although the thought of our loved ones suffering a painful fall is scary, there are things we can do to help prevent this from happening.

By investing in prevention measures we can help to keep our aging loved ones healthy, in their communities, for years to come. With this in mind, the Foundation provided funding to the Northern Health Authority (NH) region, to give Falls Prevention and Healthy Aging grants of up to $10,000 each to communities and organizations that assist in preventing falls and promoting healthy aging for adults 55 years and older.

13 grants were awarded to various groups, who were not only given funding, but also guidance and support from NH’s regional nursing lead for injury prevention. This provided an opportunity for the injury prevention team to foster stronger connections to the community, and learn more about their needs.

With their funding, grant recipients completed various projects, such as:

• The town of Stewart created a lending library for the community to have access to mobility aids and other falls prevention tools
• The District of Tumbler Ridge installed handrails in their local arena
• The Chetwynd Seniors Centre installed new handrails and stairs, and repaired a ramp
• The Tsay Key health centre conducted a falls assessment, installed home modifications, provided Elders with falls prevention resources like walking aids and lighting for the home, and hosted a community dinner to share education and resources for falls prevention.

These projects all took an “upstream” approach to injury prevention, ensuring their communities are equipped with the infrastructure necessary to reduce fall risks. In the spirit of upstream prevention, here are some great tips provided by the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit on how older adults can take steps to protect themselves from falls:

• Exercise to improve mobility, increase muscle strength and balance: Participation in a safe exercise program designed to improve strength and balance is the single most effective fall prevention intervention.
• Annual eye examinations: Good vision can reduce the risk of falling, while multifocal glasses may pose an added risk for falls, by impairing depth perception or distance contrast sensitivity.
• Annual medication review with a doctor or pharmacist: Taking multiple medications is linked to falls. Moreover, some medications can increase the risk of falling, while some increase the odds of a serious outcome if a fall occurs.
• Remove tripping hazards in the home and install supports, as needed: Tripping hazards, such as cords, loose rugs, and piles of magazines and books are often overlooked but easy to fix. Physical supports can help avoid falls, such as grab bars in the bathroom.

The Foundation is proud to invest in projects in local communities that have an immediate and measurable impact on the health of populations in BC. Please donate to help continue this important work, that helps to protect friends, family, and community members from pain and injury.

The post Investing in the Health of BC’s Aging Population appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

Kílala Lelum has been open since 2019 and serves over 2,000 members, offering various programs and services, including primary care, social work, mental health counselling, cultural and food security programming, outreach, and chronic pain management. Central to this work are Elders and Knowledge Holders who support members in affirming and reclaiming their cultural identity alongside opportunities to engage with Indigenous teachings, traditional medicines, and Sharing Circles.

Thanks to support from our generous donor Julie Glover, the Foundation provided some of the funding to Kílala Lelum to expand on their important work with the opening of a new wellness and resource hub, Doris Fox Lelum. This hub will provide low-barrier access to cultural, medical, and harm reduction services for Indigenous people who use drugs (IPWUD) and Kílala Lelum members living with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). The hub aims to reduce harm by providing accessible drop-in programming and services in a less medical setting. The team hopes to provide clinical services like nursing, peer support, and systems navigation, as well as opportunities to connect with Elders, Knowledge Holders, cultural programming, and the Social Navigation team. It will be staffed by people with lived/living experience of substance use (peers), healthcare workers, counsellors, Elders and Knowledge Holders. This work honours the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s call to action 22, which calls upon those who can effect change to recognize the value of Indigenous healing practices and use them in the treatment of Indigenous patients, in collaboration with healers and Elders. Our Foundation recognizes that we are in a privileged position to effect change, and we are proud to support programs that centre around Elder support and Indigenous healing.

By supporting programs like Kílala Lelum and Doris Fox Lelum, you’re helping create a future where every person has access to compassionate, culturally grounded care rooted in community and respect.

The post Supporting Indigenous Communities in the Downtown Eastside appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

That’s right folks, norovirus spreads when food comes into contact with human feces or vomit before being consumed.

Not only is this unappetizing to think about, but more importantly, it is a threat to public health, food security, and the economy in BC. Although rarely life-threatening, norovirus causes diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, stomach pain, and general misery for those afflicted. Consumption of shellfish contaminated with fecal pathogens has caused significant illness to consumers in BC, and the closures of contaminated oyster harvesting sites have both cultural and economic consequences.

Why Shellfish?

Norovirus isn’t the only pathogen that can end up in shellfish. Other harmful microbes, such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Salmonella, can also be found in marine waters when contaminated with fecal materials. This fecal material can enter waterways in many ways — from wastewater, boats, failing septic tanks and animals. Because shellfish like oysters pump large volumes of seawater each day to feed, they can efficiently concentrate viruses and bacteria present in contaminated water.­­ Cooking shellfish can reduce this risk, but many people enjoy them raw – and that’s where problems can arise.

When contamination occurs and/or an outbreak is declared and traced to a specific harvesting area, the site is shut down from shellfish harvesting. However, these closures rarely identify how or why the outbreak/contamination occurred (i.e. the specific source of the fecal contamination). And without finding the source, contamination can continue, leaving the possibility of future illnesses.

How Can We Fix This Problem?

The Foundation helped fund a project, conducted by environmental public health experts at BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), in partnership with Genome BC, that is evaluating whether contamination sources of marine shellfish harvest sites can be identified. The Genomic Ecological Microbial Source Tracking for Oceans Nature and the Environment (GEMSTONE) project uses Microbial Source Tracking (MST) tools to detect and identify the species and potential source of the contamination (i.e., the old adage, ‘who pooped in the water?’) This work will also strengthen decision makers’ ability to develop long-term interventions and protocols to prevent contamination in the future. By providing a clearer understanding of how contamination occurs, this information will empower industry partners to identify and address contamination sources within their own operations. In this way, knowledge becomes power—equipping both regulators and industry with the insight needed to take proactive, evidence-based actions that protect public health and prevent future contamination events.

Ultimately, this research will help develop tools that can be used to ensure that our marine waters are cleaner, and the food we harvest and consume in BC is safer. It will help reduce the amount of food-borne illness in our communities, and making our winter cold and flu season a little bit easier.

The GEMSTONE project is just one in a series of projects the Foundation supports to improve environmental and food safety in our province. Please donate to support work that helps keep our communities safe.

The post Keeping our Food Sources and Marine Waters Safe appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

Taking a Chance on a New Career

Devon began working at BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) when she completed her master’s degree, and was looking for a sign to see if she should continue in academia, or find a job. A friend suggested she take over her position while the friend went to nursing school.

“And so, she couldn’t finish her contract, so she asked if I would take it over. It was two days a week for three months. That was in 2004, and I’m still here (laughs).”

Devon found her niche working in what is now known as Clinical Prevention Services, a program focused on tuberculosis (TB), sexually transmitted infections (STI), HIV, hepatitis B and C (HBV, HCV), epidemiology and surveillance. As a project manager specializing in digital health, she is responsible for supporting the development, implementation and evaluation of innovative public health services using digital technologies, like online sexual health services.

With her academic background, Devon quickly found her groove in this new career by working as a translator of sorts between a data surveillance team and a clinical team, emphasizing the importance of both teams coming together to create meaningful tools to help clients. This led to her working as a project manager and subject matter expert, helping to create important digital-based programs that provide access to information and care, as well as Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infection (STBBI) testing for people across the province.

“I’ve always been really sex positive, and focused on being inclusive. Working in sexual health offered me more opportunities to broaden my learning and understanding. Sex and sexual health is still so stigmatized, and I wanted to change that. I was passionate about normalizing the conversation.”

Helping Others Access Care and Treatment

This passion for helping the clients she serves is what led to her greatest career achievement: creating and implementing the Get Checked Online program under the guidance of Dr Mark Gilbert. This digital platform is a free and confidential STBBI testing service where users can create an account, give samples at a lab, and receive their results without having to see a doctor. Testing is anonymous, and users do not need to show a piece of ID or have a BC Care Card. If there is a positive STI test, users are guided to care and treatment options.

This type of anonymous access to STI testing and care is a safe and non-judgmental way for people to get the medical treatment they need without shame, fear, or stigma. This program was the first of its kind in BC, so Devon had to learn on-the-go to ensure the program would be beneficial and successful.

 “There was so much learning that I had to do and, you know, chairing a technical committee — they’re all database specialists, and virtual server specialists. And every week, I would go back and (search) all these different terms that I had no idea what they were talking about. So that was hard and it was scary. But it felt really good. And I’ll always be proud of getting to the finish line there.”

Caring for Future Generations

Devon’s career has given her professional fulfilment, as well as an opportunity to broaden her knowledge about many public health-related topics. She is particularly interested in Indigenous rights, and has been on a learning journey to find out more about the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (what we now call Canada). She has learned about their history and struggles, and how the public health system can build trust, and benefit from Indigenous ways of knowing and being. She believes so strongly in this work that she has arranged to leave a legacy gift to the Foundation, geared toward supporting Indigenous wellness programs.

“I’ve had so much privilege in my life — good family, education, health, inherited wealth which so many Indigenous people don’t have because it was taken from them. So I really thought I should give whatever is in the estate to a Foundation that has already shown it supports Indigenous health initiatives, Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour (IBPOC) initiatives, and a whole other range of more grassroots public health projects, to make sure that money is held for Indigenous-led work. We have a moral and ethical responsibility to right what has been wronged for so many years.”

Devon’s generosity will help support Indigenous wellness programs in the years to come, and the Foundation is so grateful for her thoughtful planning and caring for others.

The Best is Yet to Come

Although Devon is moving on to the next phase of her career and leaving BCCDC, she is not closing the door on her public health work, and is in fact planning to continue helping others in her retirement. She hopes to carry on with her Indigenous learnings, and work in some capacity with Dr Mark Gilbert and the Chee Mamuk team, to help increase access to STI testing in rural and remote communities. “I would love to stay involved in whatever aspect I can. There’s so much more to do so I think having that connection and that spark of light is going to make that transition easier.”

Although she did not plan on a career in public health, Devon Haag’s hard work over the years has made an impact on the lives of so many people seeking care in their most vulnerable times. Her dedication to personal growth has made her a role model to her peers and will leave a legacy of compassion and caring at BCCDC.

She has modeled the spirit of the Coast Salish Teachings — Eyhh Slaxin, “Good Medicine” — using her unique talents and experience to be good medicine to those she encounters. Her friends and colleagues will miss her, but can’t wait to see what she achieves in this next chapter of her life. Thank you, Devon, and enjoy your well-earned retirement!

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If you would like to follow in Devon’s footsteps and leave a legacy of health, please consider donating to the Foundation.

The post Looking Back on a Career with Purpose appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

The Recipients

With 20 per cent of the population of NH identifying as Indigenous — the highest proportion in BC —grants were awarded to organizations like The Prince George Métis Society, who emphasized land-based learning, connecting students with Indigenous culture and nature. This cultural awareness is so important because of the history of Residential Schools, where Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their homes and denied access to their land, language, and culture. This generational trauma remains, and is even a part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, asking the federal government to develop, with Indigenous communities, culturally appropriate curricula.

Some grant recipients used the funds to enhance their programming to better serve youth mental wellness, like the South Peace Arts Society, who redefined their teaching philosophy to prioritize emotional well-being, fostering emotional resilience through art.

Other programs were there to provide essential programming for youth, like Houston Link to Learning, who delivered accessible mental health programming and nutrition support to vulnerable teens. Because of the grant provided, Houston Link to Learning was able to operate for the entire school year, instead of just 10 weeks, as it had previously run in early 2024.

What these programs all have in common is that they are giving youth that important sense of connection and belonging, and a safe space to express themselves.

The Importance of Knowing Someone Cares

Feedback from the participants showcase the impact of these programs:

“It means I get something to do instead of lay in bed it gives me a reason to leave the house. ” — Participant 1

“It means time with your friends and to have some fun and to be yourself. This drop-in is a place where you can get to know people better and find new interests. I hope this drop in happens next year.” — Participant 2

And importantly for teens, these programs gave them something near and dear to their hearts…Food!

“Talking and getting good advice. Being able to express myself. Snacks!!” — Participant 3

“Teen drop-in means a lot to me. It gives me the time to spend with my friends and so I can get to know more of others. I’m very thankful for the time and the plaza’s snacks, I love food. Thank you JJ and Ben for everything.” —  Participant 4

Positive well-being in adolescence leads to healthier adulthood, and early-life interventions can promote better quality of life. Our youth are tomorrow’s leaders, who will advance social change and address crises such as toxic drug poisonings and the impacts of climate change. By offering our support now — through initiatives like grants given to youth organizations in the community — we are creating a healthier and more equitable future not only for our younger generations, but for us all. Supporting youth mental wellness is public health in action. Please join us in supporting this work by donating to the Foundation.

The post Providing Mental Health Support for Youth in Northern BC appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

Call to action seven asks that educational and employment gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians be eliminated. This employment gap means that many industries miss out on the unique knowledge Indigenous Peoples have collected since time immemorial. This knowledge is particularly important in the public health realm, where more and more we see the One Health approach — where we recognize the health of people as closely connected to the health of animals and the environment — as essential for the future of healthy communities. This is what inspired our support of an internship program that places Indigenous students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields, where Indigenous representation is disproportionately low.

The seed2STEM research program for Indigenous youth not only provides paid summer internships for Indigenous youth, it also helps build self-esteem and mental well-being, and allows for the opportunity to solve some of our province’s most pressing public health concerns. We helped fund this program for the second summer in a row, and this year, we worked with our donor, Acuitas Therapeutics, to place five students at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), who worked on a variety of interesting and impactful public-health related research projects.

Engaging Mentorship

Mentors like Dr Sofia Bartlett, interim scientific director for Clinical Prevention Services, and Dr Hind Sbihi, director of Data Science & Innovation for Data & Analytic Services, guided the students in their work, and accompanied them on field trips to scientific and cultural places of interest. The students were given opportunities to explore working in real STEM environments, with hands-on learning, and honed their public speaking skills by sharing their projects at a poster presentation at the end of the term.

Dylan, who is Nisg̱a’a and a recent high school graduate, was initially surprised to be placed at BCCDC, because his interests lie mainly in computer science. He was happy to learn through his work this summer that computers can be used to help study diseases as well. His project centred around the study of stigma and misinformation on social media platforms, and the harm this can cause to mental and physical health.

“I didn’t really expect to be put in public health I guess because my application was computer science focused. I definitely expressed interest in that. I’m like huh, the (BCCDC), I never really expected but there’s tons stuff to do here relating to computer science and I would say just be open to whatever your placement is because the organizers do know what they’re doing.”

Nicola, a member of the Nlaka’pamux Nation, used quantitative analysis to study the success of the Test, Link, Call program, a project that provides cell phones and peer support to equity-deserving people at risk for, or living with, Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBI). Her research revealed a gender gap in the care continuum. She also noted that overall treatment enrollment has grown rapidly — with nearly half of all Test, Link, Call clients joining in the past 15 months — highlighting the ongoing need for accessible care solutions. “The Test, Link, Call project shows that providing mobile phones, combined with ongoing peer support, helps clients overcome barriers to accessing STBBI care.”

Nicola’s colleague Siena — of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg heritage and a recent high school graduate — studied testimonials from Test, Link, Call healthcare providers, peer health mentors, and program participants, to understand the barriers of using the apps that are pre-loaded on the phones and what can be done to facilitate easier use. “The phones are given to people with STBBIs — to people who don’t already have phones. They have lots of different apps on them, to access healthcare better. It can also help with reminders to take medications and other stuff. Lots of variety.”

Lessons in STEM and in Life

Adeline (Addy) studied the infection rate of congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV), using the ELISA method, to help detect CMV in pregnant people, which can cause developmental issues in newborns. Addy was so inspired by her work that she created a Claymation video. Addy’s internship left her with a newfound confidence and belief in herself. “Seeing the world in a different lens while proving that I could do something that usually people think, okay, that’s way out of my league and I’ll never be able to do that. But I can prove to myself that I can do these hard things. Almost anything is possible. You can do anything (if you) put your mind to it.”

Deia, a Métis student going into grade 10, focused on something we are all familiar with since COVID-19 became part of our lives: face masks! She studied whether wearing a standard surgical mask for a prolonged amount of time can lower its efficacy, and concluded that this type of mask can be worn safely for up to 120 minutes.

This important work will continue at the BCCDC, with senior researchers applying the knowledge gathered by their student interns to continue working toward solving these public health issues. Perhaps these interns will return one day as colleagues, continuing their STEM careers. Whatever path they choose, we are grateful they spent the summer at the BCCDC learning from some of public health’s greatest minds, and impacting the health of our communities for the better. These types of innovative, equity-based programs are only made possible by our generous donors, and we are so appreciative of their support. If you would like to donate to support programs like this, that solve public health problems with new and unique perspectives, donate today.

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More about our donor: Acuitas Therapeutics’ mission is to advance human health through innovation. The team at Acuitas invited the students on a tour of their lab, where they create best-in-class lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems. Their LNP technology enables the COVID-19 vaccine COMIRNATY®, which has protected billions of people in more than 180 countries worldwide. Their accomplished employees shared advice on STEM careers with the interns, telling them that not only can they be successful in their careers, but their work can also help solve real-world public health problems, like the need for vaccines for new and emerging illnesses.

The post The Interns are Back for Another Summer of STEM Learning at BCCDC appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

• The 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, PREVNAR 20, has been added to BC’s immunization program. This inclusion, which began in July 2025, will be added to the routine immunizations of both young children and older adults, as well as those considered high-risk. This vaccine will help protect people from pneumococcal disease, which can cause infections like pneumonia. According to the BC Lung Foundation, pneumonia is a leading cause of death and hospitalization among seniors and in people with chronic diseases, so this single-dose vaccine will not only prevent deaths, but will help ease the strain on our healthcare system by helping to prevent hospitalizations.

• Another public health win worth celebrating is the government of BC’s decision to broaden access to the free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and simplify the immunization schedule, helping to protect even more people in our province from HPV-related cancers, as HPV is responsible for nearly 100% of cervical cancers, and can cause vaginal, vulvar, penile, throat, anal cancer, and anogenital warts.

“Vaccines are one of the most effective and cost-saving interventions, and have saved millions of lives world-wide. Ensuring BC has improved, expanded access to HPV and pneumococcal vaccines will help protect more British Columbians against severe illnesses.” — Dr Jia Hu, Public Health Physician and Medical Lead of the Prevention and Health Promotion team at BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).

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Not sure of you and your family’s vaccine status? Your can access, download, and check availability for vaccines through the BC Health Gateway.

Learn more about vaccine effectiveness and the work we promote that ensures vaccine safety in BC, and around the world.

The post Illness Prevention gets a boost in British Columbia appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

Having good vision — or the glasses and corrective procedures needed to improve vision or diagnose eye problems — is something that many of us take for granted. But it is essential for everyday learning, safety, and quality of life. This is why the Foundation funded a pilot project through Interior Health, run by the BC Doctors of Optometry (BCDO) and Central Okanagan Public Schools, to provide kindergarten students with eye exams, and prescription glasses, at no cost to their families.

Thanks to this program, kindergarten students at multiple Central Okanagan elementary schools are receiving one-on-one, comprehensive vision exams while at school. After students receive their exam, they are provided a written copy of their results to bring home. If the optometrist finds a child has vision problems, they will contact the family directly to follow up, and the students who require glasses are provided a pair — courtesy of the BCDO, and our Foundation.

These little learners will now have the best chance of success at life, by starting out with a clear view of the world around them. This type of public health initiative, one that promotes good health, and helps prevent disease and learning difficulties, is one that we are proud to support.

If you would like to contribute to the success of programs like this, please donate today.

The post Making Public Health Visible (Literally): Providing Vision Screening for Children in Central Okanagan appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

He was recognized for his leadership in making a positive impact in his community with a TD Scholarship for Community Leadership in 2022, which provides recipients up to $70,000 for post-secondary tuition and living expenses as well as opportunities for paid summer employment. He is now a full-time psychology student at the University of British Columbia, and through his scholarship, Ervin was awarded an internship at the BCCDC’s Clinical Prevention Services, where he is working this summer with Dr Sofia Bartlett on the Test, Link, Call initiative — a program that TD Bank Group has also generously donated funds to support.

His previous experience interning with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) gave him the opportunity to do peer outreach, where he saw first-hand the challenges of working within a traditional healthcare setting. “I found a lot of my time at the CMHA, while it was amazing, was trying to work around the limitations within the system.” These limitations included things as simple as a lack of pamphlets in multiple languages for those who do not speak English, or waitlists for access to culturally-appropriate care. These barriers to care often disproportionately impact equity-deserving groups, such as those who are unhoused or have precarious housing, older adults, newcomers to Canada, Indigenous peoples, and those who have experienced criminalization.

This is why the public health system exists, to fill those gaps in care within the traditional healthcare system. “I thought, I’m sure there’s a better way to effect change… and I didn’t really know how that could happen until I joined the BCCDC for my internship here and started to learn about public health.”

One such program that fills a gap in traditional care is the Test, Link, Call program, which our Foundation has supported since its inception in 2021.  This is a joint initiative between the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS), BC Hepatitis Network, and Unlocking the Gates (UTG) Services Society. The aim of the program is to support individuals at risk for, or diagnosed with, Hepatitis C (HCV), Hepatitis B (HBV), HIV, or syphilis. The key populations served are from equity-deserving populations, such as people who experience criminalization, people who use drugs, people who are unstably housed, and Indigenous peoples. The program introduces a new model of community care that addresses inequities exacerbated by technology, demonstrating that something as simple as a phone can open up opportunities for people to access the care and services they need. Test, Link, Call provides participants with a free cell phone with a six-month calling and texting plan, as well as connection to a peer navigator. The program’s incredible success is due in part to the peer navigator support provided, and the trust developed with participants when providing them with the tools needed to support their personal health and wellness journey.

As of February 2025, 562 people have been given cell phones through the program, and 90% of participants are remaining in treatment. Approximately 57% of participants enrolled for HCV care have initiated curative treatment, compared to 52% among people who currently or previously use drugs in the 2020 BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort. This shows that the Test, Link, Call program is helping more people start curative treatment, compared to standard care. Participants of the program also note the additional benefit of having a cell phone include increased social connection, and an elevated sense of personal value.

“Test, Link, Call is an amazing way to break through the barriers, working directly with the community and vulnerable populations whose voices might not be valued as much within academia.”

Ervin is researching similar programs in other parts of Canada, to learn different methods to make the program even more impactful. From finding new ways to teach a diverse group of participants how to use the cell phones, to looking at other funding streams, and finding metrics to evaluate the benefits of the program. Ervin and his colleagues are looking to the future of Test, Link, Call — how it can help even more people, and potentially be expanded to support the treatment of those living with, or at risk for other diseases.

With research, clinical care, policy work, and many other career opportunities available in the public health system, Ervin hopes to one day apply his learnings to change mental health services in the province for the better. His contributions to his community have already made him a public health rock star, and with his continued hard work and caring, he already has what it takes to make his dreams a reality.

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Donate today to bring up the next generation of inspiring public health professionals, who help important public health initiatives like the Test, Link, Call program succeed.

The post The Test, Link, Call program Inspires an Up-And-Coming Public Health Professional appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.