Tchadas Leo

In an open letter to Premier David Eby, Mayor of North Cowichan Rob Douglas is urging the province to meet with local leaders and take immediate action on what he describes as a growing homelessness, addictions and mental health crisis in the region. “We feel like we’re at a breaking point as a municipality,” Douglas said.

A growing community-led initiative on Vancouver Island is helping Indigenous families reclaim traditional birth and parenting practices. The initiative’s founder, Jace Poirier Lacerte, is working to establish a permanent legacy centre to expand culturally grounded support services. Since January, Lacerte has co-ordinated a team of approximately 20 volunteers from a variety of medical and support backgrounds.

Construction of the new Quw’utsun Valley Hospital has reached a major milestone, with the massive healthcare facility now 90 per cent complete and on track to welcome its first patients next year. At more than 600,000 square feet, the facility is roughly three times the size of the current Cowichan District Hospital and will feature 204 patient rooms, expanded emergency services, additional operating rooms and specialized mental health facilities.