The Report

The Report: April 2010 vol.31 num.2 BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN SHEILA KERR DIDNT NEED the services of a career counsellor to choose her professional path. In fact, she never even had time to wonder what she wanted to be when she grew up. At the age of 14, her life experience led her to a volunteer position at the Living Positive...

The Report: April 2010 vol.31 num.2 THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT has settled on a disturbingly ironic tone in recent announcements. It began a few months ago, on December 1, which marks World AIDS Day. While local and national governments around the world recognized this date by reaffirming their commitment to continue the fight against HIV and AIDS, BCs government chose this...

The Report: February 2010 vol.31 num.1 BY CAROLE RIVIERE THE NUMBER OF HSA MEMBERS involved in political action around the province has increased exponentially over the last few years. HSA has supported more members than ever before to run for political office, work on election campaigns, and attend a range of different workshops to acquire the knowledge and skills to...

The Report: February 2010 vol.31 num.1 ON DECEMBER 1, as local and national governments around the world reaffirmed their commitment to continue the fight against HIV and AIDS, BCs government announced plans to do the opposite. Effective December 1 ... World AIDS Day ... BCs Ministry of Health imposed funding cuts to community- based HIV and AIDS service organizations, including...

The Report: February 2010 vol.31 num.1 BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN UP UNTIL HIS LAST YEAR OF UNIVERSITY, David Ko didnt have a clue what flow cytometry was. Now, five years later, this highly specialized laboratory technique is what he does every day at work... and he couldnt be happier. Ko works at the BC Cancer Agency where he provides flow cytometry...

The Report: February 2010 vol.31 num.1 BY LAURA BUSHEIKIN ASK YOUTH CARE COUNSELLOR CURTIS HINES what the best part of his job is and he can answer in one word: -Hope," he says. Hines counsels mentally ill youth who are in adolescent psychiatric wards, and provides support for their families. Witnessing young people caught in the suffering of mental illness...

The Report: February 2010 vol.31 num.1 AS THIS ISSUE OF THE REPORT GOES TO PRESS British Columbians are bracing for two very austere budgets from the provincial and federal governments. Both Gordon Campbell and Stephen Harper seem poised to use the financial crisis as a rationale for making deep cuts that will permanently damage our health care system. Sadly, weve...

The Report: December 2009 vol.30 num.5 HSA MEMBERS ARE PROTECTING CO-WORKERS FROM BULLYING IMAGINE A WORKPLACE where all employees feel valued and respected by an employer who cares about their wellbeing. An inclusive environment where ideas are openly expressed and differences honored. A world of teamwork, clear communication, and harmony. If that doesnt sound like your workplace, statistics say you...

The Report: December 2009 vol.30 num.5 THE BC GOVERNMENT SAYS TIMES ARE TOUGH; savings must be found and wages must be frozen so that every penny can be used to protect health care services for patients. Sounds nice, but it doesnt make any sense. The fact is that this government is cutting deeply into the health services they promised to...

The Report: December 2009 vol.30 num.5 SOCIAL WORKER DARWIN WREN BELIEVES IN GETTING INVOLVED by LAURA BUSHEIKIN FOR SUCH A BUSY MAN, HSA member Darwin Wren comes across as remarkably calm. Perhaps thats because hes very clear about what is at the heart of his many different activities. -Building community is what it is all about," he says. -I really...