Honouring National Truth and Reconciliation Day and Happy Mid-Autumn Festival 🥮

Dear <<First Name>>,

Tomorrow is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR), a day dedicated to acknowledging the harm caused by residential schools, paying tribute to the children who never returned home, and recognizing the survivors of these schools and their families and communities.

This year, it's especially significant because it's the first time that NDTR has been officially recognized as a statutory holiday in British Columbia. Many people also know this day as Orange Shirt Day, which is a day when individuals wear orange shirts to show respect for the children who were taken away from their families and forced to attend residential schools.

Both Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Reconciliation Day fall on September 30th. Orange Shirt Day originated from the story of Phyllis Webstad, who was taken from her family at the age of six to attend a residential school. She had an orange shirt given to her by her grandmother, but when she arrived at the school, her clothes were taken away, and she was never allowed to wear her orange shirt again. September 30th was chosen for these observances because it's the time of year when children were historically separated from their families and compelled to attend residential schools.

On September 30th, we encourage everyone to wear orange as a way of honouring the thousands of survivors who endured the trauma of residential schools. It's a day to remember the past, support healing, and promote reconciliation.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival 🌕🏮!

As the full moon graces our night sky and people gather with family and friends, I wish everyone a season of warmth and togetherness filled with radiant love, laughter and prosperity.

I look forward to enjoying eating mooncake with my family!

Here are some things I'd like to share with you from the past week:

Expanded travel programs benefit patients needing cancer care

Patients around B.C., especially those living in rural and remote areas, will benefit from improved access to life-saving cancer care as the province provides $20 million to expand medical travel support.

Government is partnering with the Canadian Cancer Society and Hope Air to expand their existing programs in B.C. that aim to support all facets of cancer patient travel.

The Canadian Cancer Society will expand its three programs: the Travel Treatment Fund (TTF), the Wheels of Hope program, and its four lodges.

Hope Air will expand its services to increase support for patients and caregivers through increased ground transportation, overnight accommodations and meal vouchers for patients. They will also provide 2,500 flights for patients in B.C. travelling to receive cancer treatment by 2026.

New funding supports quality of life improvement, poverty reduction for B.C. First Nations

First Nations across B.C. will benefit from a $15-million investment from the province to the First Nation Well Being Fund.

The fund supports the development of community-led solutions for B.C. First Nations to develop a well-being plan or framework, and to consider how they might develop indicators that measure the progress of wellness within their communities.

Read more: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023SDPR0056-001502

Physician assistants are one step closer to joining B.C.’s health-care workforce

Physicians and patients may soon have another resource in health care as consultation begins on bylaw changes to enable physician assistants to work in emergency departments in British Columbia.

The proposed amended bylaw will allow physician assistants to practise in emergency departments under the direction and supervision of physicians and will require them to register with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia (CPSBC).

Physician assistants working in emergency departments will increase the workforce that provides emergency services and improve access to care for patients.

Provincial investment helps community organizations offer British Columbians healthy food

Food insecurity has increased because of inflation, supply-chain issues and climate emergencies that interrupt food supply and production.

People living on low incomes and struggling to put food on the table will have better access to nutritious food with a provincial investment of $14 million into the Critical Food Infrastructure Fund for local community organizations.

This investment addresses the diverse challenges faced by local community groups and First Nations, strengthening food security for all British Columbians.

Actions protect people, B.C. communities this respiratory illness season

The province and public-health officials are taking actions to continue protecting people, communities and the health-care system this fall.

When vaccines start to arrive in B.C. in early October, priority populations will be invited to book vaccine appointments.

Vaccines will be readily available in many participating pharmacies, health-authority clinics, and some primary-care providers’ offices throughout the province.

Upcoming events

I'm here for you

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about any provincial issue, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are here to help you.

My office can be reached at (604) 775-0565 or Anne.Kang.MLA@leg.bc.ca.

Sincerely,

Anne Kang, MLA
Burnaby-Deer Lake

Provincial Government Resources

Visit gov.bc.ca/getvaccinated for your influenza and COVID-19 vaccination info
Call 811 for free-of-charge provincial health information and advice.
Call 211 for free, confidential, multilingual service that links people to resources for help.

Burnaby Family Doctor Resources

To find a family doctor, click here
To find a clinic, click here.
For non-emergency health information and advice, click here.

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