Vancouver Island Mental Health Society

Campus of care proposed for Port Alberni could help mitigate doctor shortage - Port Alberni Valley News The proposed facility would be a unique approach to recruiting healthcare workers

#PortAlberni might be getting a first-of-its-kind solution to the province’s #healthcare woes with a campus of care facility. A group of three organizations has come up with a proposal that local governments are supporting #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia albernivalleynews.com/2026/02/13/c...

Nanaimo high school fundraiser offers donors soup and a bowl - Nanaimo News Bulletin NDSS council and pottery program to hold Empty Bowl event March 5

"The pottery program and student council at #Nanaimo District Secondary School are collaborating on the Empty Bowl Night fundraiser, benefiting Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank...[the] fundraiser begins at 5:30 p.m. on March 5." #VancouverIsland #BC nanaimobulletin.com/2026/02/15/n...

Victoria program offers online alternative to addiction treatment - Victoria News ‘Recovery shouldn’t depend on whether someone can afford to leave their life behind’

"A #Victoria #addiction #treatment program says it is reducing costs by as much as 70 per cent by treating clinical care online instead of in traditional #rehab centres" #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia vicnews.com/2026/02/14/v...

Stolen Sisters Memorial March brings hundreds to legislature The 17th-annual Stolen Sisters Memorial March saw a sea of participants wearing red and holding photos of lost loved ones.

"Hundreds marched down ­Government Street toward the legislature on Saturday morning in remembrance of missing and murdered #Indigenous people, the majority of whom are #women and #girls." #MMIWG #Victoria #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia #Canada www.timescolonist.com/local-news/s...

Co-founder of an initiative to arrange free pet care for people entering treatment, Priya Sharma spoke about some of the other barriers people can face when seeking help with addiction

Listen to the full interview
vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/frie...

@vimhs.bsky.social

YouTube video by CHEK Media Beauty Day: Stylists pitch in at Our Place for Valentine's Day glow-up

"If “look good, feel good” holds true, that might explain the energy on the second floor of Our Place Society." #Victoria #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia
youtu.be/AnorFwSS3GU?...

"Experts say #children may need extra support and reassurance from their parents after hearing about violent events in the news, such as Tuesday’s mass shooting in #TumblerRidge, #BritishColumbia" #stress #trauma #depression #withdrawal #aggression #BC www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/116681/news/...

Community prevailed in Tumbler Ridge at its vigil on Friday : My Comox Valley Now Get the latest Comox Valley & Courtenay news, events, weather updates, community contests, and live radio via 98.9 Jet FM on My Comox Valley Now—your go-to source for local happenings and information.

"The air in #TumblerRidge had a bite to it, but it was nothing compared with the #grief that has surrounded the #SouthPeace community... At a vigil in front of town hall, mourners gathered to honour the lives lost and support one another after the shootings." www.mycomoxvalleynow.com/116690/news/...

Community champions celebrated via annual Nanaimo WIN awards NANAIMO - The impact of women, non-binary and two-spirit people in community was celebrated this week.The annu...

"The impact of #women, #non-binary and #two-spirit people in community was celebrated this week [in #Nanaimo]. Women of Influence Awards...were held Wednesday, Feb. 11 at the #VancouverIsland Conference Centre, with a capacity crowd of around 700 in attendance" #BC nanaimonewsnow.com/2026/02/14/c...

ROAR hosting jazz concert to raise funds for LGBTQ refugees - Nanaimo News Bulletin Reaching Out Assisting Refugees sponsors and supports LGBTQ refugees

"A concert to raise money to support #LGBTQ #refugees will be held at Brechin United church...in #Nanaimo... Radical Acceptance...on Saturday, Feb. 21 from 2-5 pm" #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia #Canada nanaimobulletin.com/2026/02/14/r...

Donate to Supporting families affected in Tumbler Ridge, organized by Tumbler Ridge PAC Supporting Families Impacted by the Recent Tragedy in Tumbler Ridge … Tumbler Ridge PAC needs your support for Supporting families affected in Tumbler Ridge

The Tumbler Ridge PAC is raising funds to support families affected by this week's tragedy. As of posting, they're 86% towards their goal of $600k.

On Valentines eve, families renew calls for help for MMIWG A lack of stable funding for MMIWG means promises made at high-level meetings are not leading to results on the ground.

On Valentine’s Eve, families gather alone, as governments promise progress on MMIWG www.aptnnews.ca?p=283792

Friends found group offering free pet care for those in treatment Recovery Tails Society co-founders Kayleigh Busch and Priya Sharma in conversation

A Vancouver Island duo founded a group to support people needing pet care while entering addictions treatment.

People First Radio spoke with the pair behind Recovery Tails Society

Listen:
vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/frie...

@vimhs.bsky.social

People First Radio - February 12, 2026 A pair of island shows address themes of mental health and disability

The broadcast version of this week's program is online and can be found here:

vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/peop...

@vimhs.bsky.social

Manna Homeless Society asked to vacate Salvation Army property in Parksville - Parksville Qualicum News Mobile outreach services will continue in Parksville Qualicum Beach area

"Manna Homeless Society will take its outreach services on the road after being asked to vacate the Salvation Army Mt. Arrowsmith Church parking lot on the Alberni Highway in #Parksville." #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia pqbnews.com/2026/02/11/m...

Coldest Night of the Year returns to Cowichan on Feb. 28 - Chemainus Valley Courier CMHA-CVB has set an ambitious goal of $100,000 to go towards securing a new permanent youth centre

"The Canadian Mental Health Association #CowichanValley Branch is uniting Cowichan Valley residents once again to brave the elements &briefly feel what the #unhoused population face all year" #mentalhealth #homelessness #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia chemainusvalleycourier.ca/2026/02/10/c...

Concerns raised over locations of unhoused encampments in North Cowichan - Ladysmith Chronicle Island Health, social groups say some sites hard to access and wet

"Cowichan Tribes & other groups have sent letters to the Municipality of #NorthCowichan raising concerns around the displacement of more than 75 #unhoused people to a number of other sites in the municipality" #homelessness #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia ladysmithchronicle.com/2026/02/10/c...

Victoria police chief says funding needed to tackle rising street disorder - Vancouver Island Free Daily Increase of 12 officers over a decade not enough, says VicPD chief

"The main thing downtown #Victoria businesses can do to support VicPD is back the police agency’s latest budget request, the chief told a chamber [of commerce] gathering" #streetdisorder #publicsafety #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia vancouverislandfreedaily.com/2026/02/10/v...

BC announces $475M in funding for children and youth with disabilities The BC government has announced a massive investment to support families of children and youth with disabilities.

"Throughout 2026 and 2027, the #BC #Children and #Youth #Disability Benefit will launch, providing between $6,500 and $17,000 per year to families of children with significant disabilities, based on their individual needs" #BritishColumbia #Canada victoriabuzz.com/2026/02/bc-a...

The Hub, providing homeless services in Nanaimo, nearing closure With less than two months before The Hub, which provides services to the homeless, closes, the city says it can't find another location.

"After hearing a host of complaints from the community related to an increase in visible #homelessness, open #druguse, traumatic behaviours, and #socialdisorder #Nanaimo council voted last summer to close the Hub at the end of March" #VancouverIsland #BC cheknews.ca/the-hub-prov...

'First of its kind' model could attract doctors to Port Alberni The Campus of Care would include a clinic for doctors, a pharmacy, a daycare and housing for the new doctors and members of the community.

"The plan is to build a “campus of care” [with] a clinic for general practitioners and specialists, a pharmacy, daycare and housing...an all-in-one model that would satisfy the needs and wants of younger #healthcare professionals entering the field today" #PortAlberni #BC cheknews.ca/first-of-its...

‘Disappointing’: mental health lead remains unstaffed in Qualicum School District - Parksville Qualicum News Island Health looks to reinstate position in 5 school districts

"The program lead position in the #Qualicum School District’s Integrated Child and Youth team has yet to be filled... the provincially funded ICY teams connect #children, #youth and #families to #mentalhealth and #addiction services." #VancouverIsland #Parksville #BC pqbnews.com/2026/02/09/d...

Sexpo from VIU Students’ Union breaks down sexual health barriers — CHLY 101.7FM: Listener Supported in Nanaimo BC. For many people, sexual health was only something taught to them in high school. Vancouver Island University Students’ Union wants to go further in breaking down stigma and opening up conversion aroun...

"For many people, sexual health was only something taught to them in high school. #VancouverIsland University Students’ Union wants to go further in breaking down #stigma and opening up conversion around #sexualhealth and #consent" @ #Nanaimo #BC #BritishColumbia @chly.ca www.chly.ca/local-news/2...

49% of Canadian new moms struggle with mental health postpartum, data shows - National | Globalnews.ca The 2024 Parental Experiences Survey found that 20 per cent of those surveyed reported that they 'needed mental health care but did not receive it.'

"Just under half of Canadian mothers and birthing parents say they struggled with their #mentalhealth #postpartum, according to Statistics #Canada." globalnews.ca/news/1165568...

Employment summit focusing on youth with disabilities entering Nanaimo workforce NANAIMO - Breaking down barriers and ensuring smooth transition into the workforce for all are the driving for...

"Inclusion #BC will host a one-day Youth Employment Summit on Monday Feb. 9 from 1 pm to 6 pm at Beban Park Social Centre, bringing together employers from a wide range of sectors to meet with & discuss employment options with local youth" #Nanaimo #VancouverIsland nanaimonewsnow.com/2026/02/08/e...

Businesses, RCMP talk crime and prevention at Alberni Valley chamber meeting - Port Alberni Valley News Officers urged business owners to report crime, seek deterrents where possible

"Business operators who have been victims of crimes should always call RCMP: even if the crime is minor and officers aren’t able to investigate right away, it will help build their database of reported incidents" #publicsafety #PortAlberni #AlberniValley #BC albernivalleynews.com/2026/02/09/b...

Victoria to consider program to help people get out of supportive housing The goal is to help people move up the housing ladder, so those living on the streets or in shelters can take their place.

"The City of #Victoria will look into developing a program to free up space in #supportivehousing by helping people move up the #housing ladder, so those living on the streets or in shelters can take their place" #VancouverIsland #BC #BritishColumbia #Canada www.timescolonist.com/local-news/v...

A visit to 1030 Old Victoria Road Staff and residents share experiences at new supportive housing site

ICYMI

The program paid a visit to a supportive housing site in Nanaimo, opened via the province's HEART & HEARTH Program

Listen:
vancouverislandmentalhealthsociety.org/podcast/a-vi...

@vimhs.bsky.social

Defining affordability as Nanaimo pre-zones for social housing, a North Cowichan Co-op's road to reality — CHLY 101.7FM: Listener Supported in Nanaimo BC. Nanaimo is looking at new rules to encourage more affordable housing in the community. The city is in the process of pre-zoning certain corridors for social housing. Plus, a new cooperative housing de...

#Nanaimo is looking at new rules to encourage more #affordablehousing in the community...pre-zoning...for #socialhousing...and a new #cooperativehousing development in #NorthCowichan is expected to bring 92 affordable apartments to the community @chf.bc.ca @chly.ca #BC www.chly.ca/midcoastmorn...

Construction underway for affordable housing building in Port Alberni - Port Alberni Valley News The M’akola Housing building is set to be completed in 2027

"M’akola Housing Society is an #Indigenous #affordablehousing provider in #BC serving more than 5,000 people. The organization has a variety of #housing suites including apartments and townhouses." #PortAlberni @makolahousing.bsky.social #BritishColumbia albernivalleynews.com/2026/02/06/c...