May 23, 2023
- Privacy breach by Eagle Park long-term care facility
- Arts & Music Festival at Saahtlam Park on the QB Waterfront – June 17
- AVICC Resolutions on Watershed Management on the Island
- Scene around Town – summertime’s a comin’
Privacy breach by Eagle Park long-term care facility
A reader brought to our attention that staff at Eagle Park, a long-term care facility in Qualicum Beach, apparently disclosed the private email addresses and names of family members, along with the names of the Eagle Park residents themselves.
B.C.’s privacy laws prohibit government organizations from disclosing personal information without permission.
The email from Rosanne Philbrook, identified as the Care Manager of Eagle Park Health Care Facility and Westhaven (a Port Alberni LTC facility), was broadcast on March 29, 2023.
The Supreme Court of Canada has determined that health care records belong to the patient or their appointed decision-makers, and that health care providers are merely the custodians of patient records.
Island Health’s privacy policy states that “Disclosure of client information for other than that purpose, or as authorized by the appropriate legislative Act (e.g. FOIPPA), without informed client consent is a breach of client privacy and confidentiality.” — LS
Arts & Music Festival at Saahtlam Park on the QB Waterfront – Saturday June 17
The St. Andrews Lodge Historical and Cultural Society is planning a day-long arts and music festival for Saturday, June 17.
The event will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Elizabeth Little, long-time owner/operator of St. Andrews Lodge.
Additionally, there will be a ceremony to dedicate the new name of the park in which the Lodge is located.
The name Saahtlam has been gifted to the Town by the Qualicum First Nation and the naming ceremony will be presided over by QFN Chief Michael Recalma.
The celebrations get under way at 10 a.m. with a show and sale featuring 23 artists and artisans. There will be live entertainment for all ages between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., including two shows for children.
The Qualicum Beach Museum will be present with historical information relating to the Lodge and the area, and the Arrowsmith Naturalists will conduct nature walks on the property and foreshore throughout the day. At 2 p.m. a plaque commemorating the Little family will be unveiled, followed by celebration cake.
The Knockananna Grill food truck and Flyte Specialty coffees will be on site all day. Admission to all day-time activities is free.
The day will wind up with the first of the Society’s 2023 Twilight Concerts featuring the Arrowsmith Big Band. Admission to the evening event is by donation. — submitted by Shirley Culpin
AVICC Resolutions on Watershed Management on the Island
At its 2023 annual meeting in Nanaimo in mid-April, the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities (AVICC) endorsed four resolutions related to watershed protection and management on the Island. These resolutions will now be forwarded to the annual Union of BC Municipalities convention.
From the Village of Cumberland (R3) – Watershed Security Strategy and Fund
Whereas achieving watershed security on eastern Vancouver Island is made even more complex by the historic land ownership context resulting from the 1884 Settlement Act which saw over 2 million acres of unceded land on south eastern Vancouver Island granted by the crown to private owners;
And whereas the legacy of this historic land grant means that rapidly growing communities on eastern Vancouver Island are responsible for providing safe, sustainable drinking water for our communities from privately owned lands, where active forestry is taking place, and over which we have no authority:
Therefore be it resolved that AVICC request that the Province of BC and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Management acknowledge this unique context and fund the critical work required to achieve watershed security on eastern Vancouver Island.
From our Nanaimo Regional District (R 4) E&N – Land Grant Biodiversity and Restoration
Whereas in 1883, 8,000 sq kilometers of south-east Vancouver Island representing 20% of the island land base was granted to Robert Dunsmuir in exchange for the construction of the E&N Railway, and the E&N Land Grant has impacted Indigenous rights and title, community drinking watersheds, and the ability to protect and conserve biodiversity and sensitive ecosystems;
And whereas the federal and provincial governments have committed to the protection of 30% of the land base by 2030 as part of the provincial, national and international commitments to protect biodiversity:
Therefore be it resolved that on this 140th anniversary of the E&N Land Grant, the AVICC call upon the Governments of Canada and British Columbia to identify areas within the E&N Land Grant as a priority for the protection and conservation of biodiversity for their 2030 targets, and engage with impacted First Nations, local governments and land owners in a process to protect and restore the biodiversity of the southeast region of Vancouver Island with a focus on community watershed catchment areas, riparian areas along fish-bearing rivers and streams, sensitive ecosystems and habitats, and culturally significant areas.
From the Village of Cumberland (R13) – Managed Forest Council Representation
Whereas local governments are required to provide drinking water services to their communities;
And whereas many community watersheds are included in or affected by forest management activities occurring on private managed forests:
Therefore be it resolved that the Private Managed Forest Land Act be amended such that the Managed Forest Council must include one member that is knowledgeable in matters relating to source protection of local government drinking water systems.
From our Regional District of Nanaimo (R29) – Regional Water Supply Strategies
Whereas in the face of climate change and a rapidly increasing population; fresh water for human consumption, agriculture, industry, and ecological needs has become a precious commodity on Vancouver Island and across British Columbia;
And whereas there are many different purveyors involved in the supply of drinking water including governments and private companies, as well as many agencies responsible for development planning for the growing population;
Therefore be it resolved that AVICC and UBCM advocate to the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship to provide leadership and functional involvement in the creation and management of consistent regional water supply strategies following the watershed map of the province and divided by regional district, with the aim of ensuring that resilient and sustainable drinking water supplies are in place now and for the future. — GS
Scene around Town – summertime’s a comin’
