Publications Mail Agreement No. 391275
51st Year No. 07
February 17, 2016
G
NORTH ISLAND
www.northislandgazette.com
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•PORT ALICE...
A workshop provided entrepreneurial support to new business owners. Page 6
• CENOTAPH...
Proponents apply for new funding to rebuild Cenotaph. Page 14
Into the Ocean
Kathy O’Reilly-Taylor Photo
Participants took part in a cleansing spirit bath in the chilly ocean Friday as part of a Community Winter Wellness Challenge hosted by the Sacred Wolf Friendship Centre in partnership with Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Child and Family Services, Vancouver Island Health Authority Mental Health and Addictions, Quatsino Health, and School District #85. The bath included washing with a hemlock branch and saying a prayer and dipping in four directions. The Challenge then moved to the Tsakis Bighouse in Fort Rupert where events included a K’atla’lith’a - a purifying cedar smoke cleansing ceremony that symbolizes a new start in life.
•TIED FOR 1ST...
Tri-Port Wild Bantam/ Midget team win three to tie for first. Page 15 OPINION Page 4 LETTERS Page 5 SPORTS Page 15-17 CLASSIFIEDS Page 18-19
Hardy clinic open Saturdays Gazette staff The community of Port Hardy now has increased access to non-emergency medical care. Starting Feb. 13, the Port Hardy Primary Health Care Centre is now open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. People in need of prescriptions, test results and treatment of non-emergency medical issues will be able to get same-day appointments with a family physician or nurse practitioner. It is anticipated that this pilot project will be of real benefit to people who have difficulty seeing their doctor on week days and may otherwise seek care at a local emergency department. The project will be assessed in the future to ■ ■ ■ ■
determine if it is well-used and warrants continuation. “We’re very happy to continue improving access to primary medical care for families in our community,” said Dr. Prean Armogan, medical director for the Mount Waddington/Strathcona region. “The people who work during the day are the same people you will see after hours in emergency,” he added. “It is easy for people to think that it doesn’t matter if they occasionally come in after-hours for non-emergency situations, but you want staff to be as fresh and rested as possible.” Between August, 2015 and January, 2016
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the staff of Port Hardy Hospital redirected 233 patients from the emergency department to community clinics for treatment of non-urgent conditions. The expanded hours will make it easier for patients to get the care they need in the appropriate setting. Patients can call 250-902-6008 to request an appointment with the next available doctor or nurse practitioner at the health centre. Anyone experiencing chest pain, difficulty breathing or severe bleeding, or anyone who feels they need urgent medical attention, should not hesitate to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
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