PHABC applauds vital investments in housing, healthcare, childcare, safety, environmental health and food security.
PHABC also supports the Province’s strengthened advancements towards sexual and reproductive health.
As the secretariat for the BC Chapter of the Coalition for Health School Food, PHABC is thrilled to see $214 million investment to expand school food programs.
PHABC also applauds the Province’s continued investments in advancing climate resilience, which is also a UN priority.
Victoria, B.C., Wednesday, March 1, 2023 –The Public Health Association of BC (PHABC) acknowledges that the BC Budget 2023 is a compassionate and dignified response to the immense public health constraints and challenges that British Columbians face.
“We welcome the vital investments in housing, healthcare, childcare, safety, environmental health and food security,” said Shannon Turner, PHABC’s Executive Director. “These are areas of great concern for British Columbians, particularly as we continue to face economic pressures from inflation and housing. We are pleased to share that these areas of interest also reflect PHABC’s core identified priorities.”
PHABC recognizes the urgent need to address and support individuals experiencing challenges regarding shelter, mental health and addictions. Moreover, the budget’s acknowledgement of fiscal concerns experienced by people living with disabilities is an important first step in creating more equitable living conditions.
“We are also highly supportive of the Province’s strengthened focus on reproductive and sexual health,” Turner highlighted. “Preventing unwanted pregnancy should not be dependent on a person’s financial circumstances; access to safe, accessible and equitable contraception is a determinant of sexual health.”
The budget also revealed $214 million over three years to expand existing school food programs and increase capacity to address student hunger.
“As the secretariat for the BC Chapter of in the Coalition for Healthy School Food, we are thrilled to see stable funding for healthy and nourishing school food,” Turner elaborated. “Healthy eating is essential for learning. Food insecurity is an urgent public health challenge, affecting 1.15 million youth in Canada.”
PHABC also applauds the Province’s continued investments in advancing climate resilience, as a healthy environment is essential for public health for all. The UN 2021 report Making Peace with Nature identified climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution as a “triple crisis” that threatens our well-being.
“The increased advancements in wildfire prevention will also ensure improvements in air quality, which is fundamental to protect human health and forestry resources,” said Turner.
PHABC’s mission is to promote health, well-being and equity for all British Columbians through leadership in public health, and we are appreciative of the budget’s clear values in enhancing public health for all.
Angie Todd-Dennis is Nak’azdli First Nation (Dene), a Carrier woman, mother, grandmother and teacher. The PHABC team wishes her an incredible 80th birthday filled with love, and community.
PHABC is honoured that Angie has served as our Elder-in-Residence for over five years. Her wisdom, insights and generosity are deeply respected and appreciated.
Angie was born into the Frog clan of the Nak’azdli of the Dene Nations. After she attended convent and residential schools, she received degrees from UBC (BEd) and University of Hawaii-Manoa (MPH).
Her career spanned decades primarily in the teaching and health fields in program development, community engagement and as an educator, bridging the gap between indigenous communities and public institutions. Angie helped to establish the UBC First Nation’s Health Care Professions program which has generated a legacy of caring by Indigenous clinicians across Canada.
At BC Women’s Health Centre and Hospital, Angie’s provincial role was to improve Indigenous women and girls’ health. Her community volunteer service has included sitting on many Vancouver boards including the Friendship Centre, Luma Native Housing, Vi Fine day Shelter and Circle of Eagles transition house. As well she was the founding president of (now) Pacific Association of First Nations’ Women and Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services.
The Public Health Association of BC is grateful for her service and leadership. Happy Birthday Angie!!
We are thrilled to announce PHABC’s 2022 recipients of our public health awards:
Dr. Theresa Healy is honoured with the President’s Award for outstanding service and capacity building for public health. (Theresa is absent from photo shown above.)
Dr. Brian Emerson is awarded the Healthy Public Policy Award in Honour of Dr. Richard Stanwick (BSc, MD, MSc) for significant contributions to healthy public policy in the province and beyond.
Colin Dring is the recipient of the Scholar in Residence Award in Honuor of Dr. Lorna Medd (BSc, BSc Med, MD, FRCPS) for supporting equitable and inclusive change across local food systems in British Columbia.
BUNYAAD Public Affairs is prized with the Healthy Corporate Citizen Award for committing to health promotion efforts, especially in the area of substance abuse.
Download the document to learn more about the award winners!
On behalf of the Board of the Public Health Association of BC (PHABC), we would like to offer our congratulations and welcome as the province’s new Premier.
PHABC is excited to work with our new Premier on enhancing upstream investments in public health and public health infrastructure, which will only serve to promote equity for all British Columbians.
We recognize that the NDP government and you are committed to public health advancements that align with our organization’s mandates. In particular, PHABC’s work on poverty reduction, homelessness, the overdose crisis, violence prevention, health infrastructure and food insecurity are core points of collaboration.
PHABC values the continued investments in knowledge mobilization and support for our provincial immunization programs through Immunize BC, the expansion of our Farm to School BC program, and the efforts towards feeding every child through the BC Chapter of the Coalition for Healthy School Food.
To quote your powerful speech during your swearing-in ceremony: “These are massive challenges, and if the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that we can’t solve these problems alone; we need to solve them together.”
PHABC welcomes the strength of true collaborative effort. Our doors are open to you for dialogue and action.
Sincerely
Shannon Turner, BA, BSc, MSc, PhD(c)
Executive Director
The Public Health Association of BC
On behalf of the Board of the Public Health Association of BC (PHABC), we would like to recognize and thank you for your service. During your five-year term as the province’s 36th Premier, you made significant contributions and impacts transforming the lives of all British Columbians.
Your strength, support and recognition of multiple public health issues made a positive difference to our province’s experiences of COVID-19 and beyond. Even before you were Premier, you were an active advocate for the safety and health of all, and notably supported PHABC’s efforts towards violence prevention in British Columbia.
We applaud your government’s social programs to address poverty, inequality and food insecurity. In particular, we appreciated your support for our outstanding programs: Farm to School BC; the BC Chapter for the Coalition for Health School Food; and Immunize BC, whose Kids Boost Immunity program was a finalist for the Premier’s Award. Your enthusiasm for the people of this province and commitments to sustaining health systems through upstream investments in prevention demonstrates your deep understanding of healthy people, communities and policies.
From every perspective, you have been an extraordinary public servant, and PHABC wishes you happiness as you retire from this role. On behalf of the Board of PHABC, I would like to graciously thank you, John, for your committed service to our province.
Sincerely
Shannon Turner, BA, BSc, MSc, PhD(c)
Executive Director
The Public Health Association of BC
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