We’re partnering together to promote and bring awareness to the effects that stigma can have on people who use drugs and within the context of the overdose crisis. Stigma is having direct and negative impacts on health outcomes of people who use drugs. As provincial health leaders, our partnership aims to educate the population about the overdose crisis and stigma in order to improve the overall health of BC and improve individual health outcomes.

Visit LifeLabs’ patient service centres from August to October to learn more about the overdose crisis, stigma, and how you can make a positive difference. Also check out the BCCDC Foundation’s overdose crisis resource page for infographics and more information.

You can follow the BCCDC Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and LifeLabs on Facebook and Twitter for updates, information, and resources. Interested in how you can help? Check out our priorities page.

The post We’re proud to partner with LifeLabs appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

Just prior to the panel discussion, a traditional welcome was provided by Robert Williams of Culture Saves Lives. The panel itself included experts in front line care/medical workers and people with lived experience. Jonathan Deakin from BC EHS, Erica Thompson from Fraser Health, and Robert Williams (mentioned above) joined Drs Jane Buxton and Mark Tyndall of the BCCDC. Moderated by Donald MacPherson, Executive Director of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, the panel discussed what harm reduction efforts have been and what they can/should be, with regards to the ongoing overdose crisis. The audience had plenty of questions for the panelists.

After the discussion, there was time for break-out discussions that allowed the conversations to continue. “Harm Reduction 101” and “What’s Next” were well attended and provided attendees an opportunity to develop a better understanding of harm reduction strategies and actions needed, and encouraged dialogue around how to change the narrative and reduce stigma.

A number of community organizations had booths onsite providing additional information about what they’re doing to include harm reduction in their programming, including offering Naloxone training to anyone present who wanted to learn. Street Saviours, OPS (Overdose Prevention Society), RainCity Housing, Karmik, Pacific Association of First Nations’ Women, TORO (Tenant Overdose Response Organizers) and Moms Stop the Harm were some of the organizations in attendance.

The Foundation is pleased to continue our ongoing relationship with Science World to assist them in their goal of being a community hub where they can be a part of the response to issues facing our community. Stay tuned for future event announcements.

The post Important Conversations on Harm Reduction appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

The BCCDF Foundation for Public Health teamed up with Science World to host a murder mystery event for Halloween 2018!

Attendees were tasked with using science to solve the crime. they had just two hours to identify the killer, poison, how the poison was administered, and the motive.

“It is so much fun to see how enthusiastic attendees are to have access to our BCCDC folks and to use real science to solve a mystery, ” said Kristy Kerr, Executive Director of the BCCDC Foundation for Public Health. “I am thankful for our partnership with Science World and everyone who volunteers because it allows us to share that”

The event was set at a sci-fi fan convention and the BCCDC was there to warn attendees of something known as ConCrud, which is what happens when you pick up an infection or illness at a convention.

“Our partnership with Science World continues to produce rewarding and entertaining events, “said Dr. Mark Tyndall, Executive Medical Director of the BCCDC. “It is a great way to showcase the things that we do in a way that is easy to understand” These events provide unparalleled access to our science and the people who do the work. I am grateful to the BCCDC staff who participate and to the BCCDC Foundation for Public Health for their dedication to raising awareness about our work and public health.”

By participating in activities at the booths, participants could earn clues to help solve the mystery. Keenan Simmons, who attended the event with a group of about 10 friends, found it challenging. “You never know who [the killer] is, you’re not confident in your answer,” he said.

Julianne Beauchamp, another attendee and part o the same group as Simmons, was certain about the substance she identified as the poison. “It can kill you by injecting, touching or ingesting so there’s lots of ways he could have died,” she said.

About 1,200 people attended over the two-night event, held October 25 and 26. Some fans got right into the Halloween spirit and dressed up in costumes or as their favourite sci-fi characters.  “It was super fun I will come back next year,” said Beauchamp.

The post Murder Mystery Fun…and Educational! appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

On Thursday October 25 and Friday October 26th, the theme at the over-19 “Science World After Dark” events will be a murder mystery set at a Sci-Fi fan convention! The BCCDC is providing the expertise and science behind some of the clues and action, as well as program booths showcasing some of the great work done at BCCDC.

Tickets are available on the Science World website; hope to see you there!

The post BCCDC Foundation, BCCDC and Science World After Dark October fun events appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

BC is experiencing an overdose crisis and the public needs more information to dispel myths around drug addiction and who it affects. The BCCDC Foundation, BCCDC, and Science World teamed up to organize an event that had experts and health care workers share information as a public panel. Panelists included:

• Dr Mark Tyndall, BCCDC’s Executive Medical Director
• Sarah Blyth, Vancouver Overdose Prevention Society
• Sgt Mike Wheeler, VPD
• Erica Thomson, Fraser Health
• Patrick Smith (Four Bears, Culture Saves Lives
• Moderator: Don Shafer, Roundhouse Radio

A handout to provide basic information opioids, fentanyl, and the overdose emergency in BC was circulated for attendees. A downloadable copy for general use can be found on the BCCDC Resources page, with lots of other helpful information on the Toward The Heart website .

The panel answered questions about how we got here, how is the VPD responding to the overdose crisis, what are the social and environmental issues that need to be addressed, what can be done about a toxic drug supply and more. The panelists were able to provide diverse perspectives but shared a common voice in saying that a secure, safe drug supply is required, it is a time for bravery around drug policy, that key social supports are vital and that we must listen to and value the knowledge of those with lived experience.

Some of the many pieces of information shared can be found by searching the discussions on twitter, as the Foundation @bccdcfoundation ‘live-tweeted’ the event, along with others in the audience; read the hashtags #overdosecrisis and #overdosecrisisSW

The post Public Education Event on Overdose Crisis a Success appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

Want to better understand drug addiction and the overdose crisis? join us for an important event where you will hear from experts and health care workers and discuss some of the myths around what drug addiction is and who it affects.

Confirmed panelists for the public education session will include BC Centre for Disease Control’s Executive Medical Director, Dr Mark Tyndall, Sarah Blythe of the Overdose Prevention Society and Sergeant Michael Wheeler of the Vancouver Police Department; stay tuned for others.

If you are interested in attending, please click here to register. (link disabled once event ended)

The post Public Awareness Event on Overdose Crisis appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

As the CEO of the Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC), Kelly Pollack is a Canadian leader in strategic initiatives to support the employer recruitment and development of internationally trained talent. She has a keen understanding of the economic and demographic drivers associated with global talent shortages, having worked at the intersection of immigration, labour markets and the economy for more than 20 years.

Kelly is an expert on employer best practices for hiring and retaining immigrant talent. Her leadership and consultation with hundreds of employers has enabled her organization, IEC-BC, to develop innovative online and practical tools for organizations to tap into international talent.

Kelly has worked with most major industry sectors in BC, including construction, hospitality and tourism, mining, LNG, manufacturing, oil and gas, post-secondary education, public administration and technology. She advises on the implications of how international mobility, migration and talent development have become a top human capital concern for most sectors and occupations.

We are excited to have Kelly’s passion and skill added to our team. For more information on our Board of Directors, please visit our website.

The post Welcome New Board Member! appeared first on Pacific Public Health Foundation.

Workshop

Dr. Naveed Janjua and team have been awarded funds for “CDPC National Knowledge Exchange and Consultation on Supervised Consumption Services”, that together with funding from other sources, will facilitate a 2-day meeting to accelerate local efforts in BC to put together integrated supervised consumption services plans and facilitate a better understanding of the application process given the barriers posed by the Respect for Communities Act. The meeting will also enable a greater understanding of actual issues that arise when operating a supervised consumption site by featuring the direct experience of Vancouver’s Insite and Dr. Peter Centre. All of this will result in the development of a policy brief written by the CDPC and the Legal Network, with the primary goal to directly impact the rate at which SCS applications are being processed by Health Canada.

Blue Sky

Dr. Victoria Cook and team have been awarded funds for “Engaging clients in the field: WelTel Outreach” that, together with funding from CIHR, will use a digital health platform to improve communication between members of the outreach team and their clients. The goal is to enhance continuity of care and client documentation for electronic patient charts.

Dr. Jennifer Gardy and team will be working on “Genomic Epidemiology of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial Infection in Cystic Fibrosis”.  The project will provide a better understanding of the modes of acquisition of drug-sensitive and drug-resistant NTM infection in CF patients in BC and will help inform infection control practices in CF clinics.

Dr. Linda Hoang and team have been awarded funds for “Tracking plasmids in carbapenemase-producing organisms in British Columbia“. The aim of the project is to evaluate an alternative method of obtaining unambiguous plasmid sequencing data for CPOs to assist in tracking drug resistance in DNA to better inform infection control and prevention. These funds are for a small section of a much larger study that was awarded funds from Genome BC.

Dr. Natalie Prystajecky and team have been awarded funds for “Improving Food Safety in BC with Enhanced Surveillance of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) via Whole Genome Sequencing“.  Together with funds from multiple sources, the goal is that the food safety threat and it’s significant burden to the healthcare system, agri/food industry and economy can be reduced by implementing an enhanced surveillance program that utilizes routine whole genome sequencing for cluster identification and source attribution.

BCCDC Faculty interested in applying for funding, be sure to watch your email inboxes in February; the next round of applications will be reviewed in April 2017. To see some of our past research successes, click through to our main research page on our website.

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