News

BC Alliance for Healthy Living Society – Executive Director

Posted on January 11, 2018

 

Executive Director

Vancouver, BC

 

Employment: Contract position to March 31 2019 with option for renewal.

Hours: Flexible 3 – 4 days / week if preferred

Location: #310 – 1212 West Broadway, Vancouver

 

About the BC Alliance for Healthy Living Society (BCAHL)

 

The BC Alliance for Healthy Living is a registered not‐for‐profit society that first came together  in 2003 with a vison to improve the health of British Columbians. BCAHL’s mission is “to  improve the health of all British Columbians through leadership and collaboration to address  the risk factors and health inequities that contribute significantly to chronic disease.”

The BC Alliance for Healthy Living is an alliance in the truest sense – the leaders of some of the  province’s largest and most influential health organizations make up the representatives that  govern BCAHL and determine strategic priorities and directions.  The membership includes: BC  Healthy Communities Society, BC Lung Association, BC Pediatric Society, BC Recreation and  Parks Association, Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon Division; Canadian Mental Health  Association, BC Division; Diabetes Canada, Dietitians of Canada, BC Region, Heart and Stroke  Foundation of Canada, BC & Yukon; Public Health Association of BC, Union of BC Municipalities,  and YMCA of Greater Vancouver.

BCAHL advances health promoting policies, programs and environments that support the
physical and mental well‐being of British Columbians.  Since 2005, BCAHL has provided  oversight for over $35M in health promotion programming. These initiatives have affected tens  of thousands of British Columbians reaching across BC– from the far north Daylu Dena Council  near Lower Post to Sooke in the southwest to Sparwood in the southeast of the province. As an  advocacy group, we work with government and hold them accountable to promote wellness  and prevent chronic disease.

To learn more about BCAHL please visit www.bchealthyliving.ca

 

Position Overview

 

The Executive Director reports to a provincial level Board of Directors and serves to provide advice and  recommendations on strategic directions for the Alliance and works closely with the Board on setting  strategic priorities. The ED has the delegated responsibility for all operational functions within the limits  defined in policy and in accordance with an annually approved Business Plan.

The ED’s major responsibilities include governance, advocacy, administration, communications, external  relations, fundraising, financial management and human resources.

The ED represents BCAHL and serves as liaison to government and other external groups and provides  information as appropriate to BCAHL partners and governments on BCAHL’s activities and current
policy positions.

The ED is expected to develop strategic plans and proposals for potential future roles and projects which  might be undertaken by BCAHL, as well as for future policy positions. This requires engagement of key  stakeholders in collaborative annual and long‐term planning to increase the organization’s impact.

The ED ensures the financial sustainability of the organization, seeks out new funding opportunities and  manages key funder relationships. Supervises two staff (Manager of Advocacy and Communications and  Administration Manager) and other consultants as required.

Currently, the ED is also responsible for the oversight of the implementation of the Physical Activity  Strategy for Children and Youth grant from the Ministry of Health in partnership with the Ministry and  the executing agencies.

 

Required skills and knowledge

 

  • Master’s degree or equivalent in public health, health promotion and health administration or a  related area.
  • A minimum of seven years of senior management experience including two to four years’
    experience in multi‐organizational project management.
  • Strong leadership skills with a proven record of effective organizational development.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with a governing body as well as fostering strong relationships with  senior leaders in government and not‐for‐profit sectors.
  • Commitment to health promotion and solid knowledge of chronic disease prevention and health equity.
  • Proven track record of successful government relations and experience in policy‐making and advocacy.
  • Familiarity with current policy issues in health promotion and ability to see opportunities to align  with government priorities, cultivate internal champions and build political support.
  • Understanding of financial management best practices and nonprofit and charitable regulatory
    frameworks.
  • Demonstrated ability to implement successful fundraising strategies and manage key funder relationships.
  • Excellent written, speaking and presentation skills and exceptional interpersonal skills.
  • Demonstrated ability to show initiative and ingenuity.
  • Skill with managing competing priorities and divergent interests of stakeholders.
  • Able to make challenging decisions respectfully and effectively.
  • Experience providing guidance, support and constructive feedback to motivate staff and achieve  organizational objectives.
  • Excellent interpersonal, organizational, presentation and decision‐making skills. Tact and good  judgment required.

 

Compensation: 

Salary is negotiable.  Benefits include paid vacation starting at three weeks per year plus time off during  the annual office closure between Christmas and New Year’s.

Application Information: 

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter outlining their relevant experience and  interest in the position to BC Alliance for Healthy Living Society, 310 ‐ 1212 West Broadway, Vancouver,  BC V6H 3V2 or email to info@bchealthyliving.ca.

Application deadline is Wednesday January 31, 2018.  Only candidates selected for further  consideration will be contacted.  We thank all applicants for their interest.

 

 

Summer School 2018: Final Agenda & Think Piece released, don’t forget to register today!

Posted on June 29, 2018

The Public Health Association of British Columbia’s
Summer School 2018

PHABC - Public Health Association of BC

The Public Health Approach

Building Safe & Inclusive Communities

 

Join us for our 9th annual summer school, happening July 5th & 6th, 2018

Registration is now open at: https://phabc.org/2018-summer-school-registration/

 

 

We hope everyone is gearing up for a fantastic long weekend! Our office will be closed Monday, but before we go we wanted to share with you the final agenda for our upcoming summer school, The Public Health Approach: Building safe & inclusive communities, and a two page think piece designed to do exactly what you would expect, get you thinking about how you can create safe and inclusive communities here in BC and across the country.

 

The summer school will be happening at four university locations across BC from July 5th and 6th, 2018. Locations for the summer school include the University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, University of Northern British Columbia and the University of British Columbia: Okanagan. This year we are excited to partner with Saskatchewan Public Health Association and provide students living in Saskatchewan the opportunity to attend the summer school. A videoconferencing connection will allow all sites to actively participate in the full summer school experience while fostering interprovincial networking opportunities.

 

Registration is on now and will be open until the morning of the first day. Don’t miss your chance to learn how you can help to create safe and inclusive communities while networking with like-minded individuals across the province and beyond! For those who have already registered we will be releasing the registrant’s package today. It will provide you will all the information needed to attend the summer school, keep checking your inbox!

 

The final agenda is designed to introduce students to each subtopic then let students apply theory to practice I the form of hands on workshops and group discussions. Our speakers will include Ann Pederson, director of population health promotion at BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre, Richard Harvey, regional director of BC, Alberta & Yukon at Frontier College, Dr. Bernie Pauly, associate professor of the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria, Indiana Best, board member of Student Wellness Initiative Towards Community Health (SWITCH), Dr. Ian Pike, director at BC Children’s Hospital’s Injury Research and Prevention Unit, Steve Woolrich, principal of Rethink Urban, Dr. Gord Miller, President of the Public Health Association of BC, Judi Fairholm, director of Respect-Education program at Red Cross Canada, Sarah Burke, Senior Manager of Community Integrated Development & Emergency Management at Red Cross Canada, Jade Yedia, Island Health’s Regional Built Environment Consultant, and Dr. Steven Jones, president of the Saskatchewan Public Health Association.

 

Following the format of last year’s summer school and fall conference; our chosen theme, integrated with the discussions held by participants at the summer school, will be used to help guide and inform the curriculum of our annual conference. Participants who attend the summer school are encouraged use what they learn to develop an abstract for consideration at the conference, happening from November 15th to 16th, 2018 at the Sutton Place Hotel in Downtown Vancouver.

 

Don’t forget to check our events page for the most up to date information, along with links to the agenda, thinkpiece and registration page. We hope to see many of you next week; together we can create fair and healthy British Columbia for all.

Summer School 2018 – Building Healthy/Safe/Inclusive Environments (Session Description)

Posted on June 23, 2018
We are pleased to share the final line-up of speakers and presentations for the Summer School session on Building Healthy/Safe/Inclusive Environments.

Safety and Risk – Finding the Right Balance – Presented by Dr. Ian Pike

Experiencing and managing risk is an essential element to healthy development, particularly among children.  This session focuses on the importance of risky play for children, and examines current parent and caregiver perceptions of risk and hazards, as well as the predominant ‘helicopter parenting’ approach.
Dr. Ian Pike is Director of the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit in Vancouver, BC; Professor of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia; Investigator at BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute; and Co-Executive Director for The Community Against Preventable Injuries (Preventable). His academic training is in health promotion and injury prevention, with particular emphasis on population health and the workplace. With some 30 years of experience in injury prevention and healthy lifestyle promotion, Dr. Pike has worked in the private, not-for-profit, and academic sectors.

Healthy Built Environment Linkages Toolkit 2.0 – Presented by Jade Yehia

Our neighbourhoods and how they are built influence how healthy we are and how safe we feel. The Healthy Built Environment Linkages Toolkit (2.0) describes how population health is influenced by the design of our neighbourhoods, housing, transportation systems, natural environments, and food systems.  It brings together health evidence and land-use planning. Furthermore, in this 2.0 version, research on social well-being shows us how our physical and mental health is also impacted, shaped by the communities in which we all live, work, and play.
Jade Yehia is Island Health’s Regional Built Environment Consultant. Her main objective is to promote health in land use planning, and building safe and inclusive communities is integral to this. Her background is in Geography, Public and Environmental Health.

Urban Planning (Crime Prevention & Community Engagement) – Presented by Steve Woolrich

Are we designing our streets and neighbourhoods to be truly safe and inclusive? Our built environment must support best practices and processes that achieve optimal outcomes. Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) helps cities achieve this but the methodology is often misunderstood or not utilized to its full potential. We will explore 2nd Generations concepts and a Full Spectrum Approach including such principles as social cohesion, culture and placemaking to create compelling places that help us thrive.
Steve is the principal of Rethink Urban (RU), a company based in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, specializing in Community Safety and Engagement. Steve is an expert in Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) promoting a Full Spectrum Approach that supports People – Place – Connection. Steve is also serving his 2nd term on the Board of Directors with the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network focusing on safe, compassionate and inclusive streets in Victoria, BC.
The sessions will wrap up with a hands-on activity that will encourage participants to venture into nearby environments to observe and discuss what they learned about risky play, healthy built environments, crime prevention and social cohesion.

Summer School 2018 – Healthy Relationships & Emergency Response (Session Description)

Posted on June 20, 2018
We are excited to welcome Judi Fairholm and Sarah Burke from the Canadian Red Cross to present their topic, ‘Helping Kids Be Safe within Their Relationships and the World of Emergencies.’

Building on Sustainable Development Goals, Convention on the Rights of the Child, Determinants of Health, International Protection Standards, and Jordan’s Principle, this session will look at how we create safe environments for children and youth within their relationships and in varying contexts. Throughout the session, participants will be tasked to incorporate both the bigger picture and the immediacy of the moment in defining safety and preventing violence. Active participation will be key to determining an action plan and next steps.

A bit about the presenters…
Judi Fairholm:

As Director, Judi Fairholm has spearheaded the growth of Canadian Red Cross Respect Education program from a grassroots initiative to a national/international award-winning program.  With a menu of programs that promote respect and prevent violence, Judi has worked nationally and internationally with numerous governments, researchers, Indigenous communities, children and youth, organizations, NGO’s and Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies. She has incorporated violence prevention and psychosocial programs into disaster response and recovery. She has received numerous awards, including the International Florence Nightingale Award and the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee Medals. She has worked on projects in over 20 countries as educator, program developer, writer, consultant, disaster responder and program evaluator. She sits on the Steering Committee of IFRC Psychosocial Reference Centre and is an International PS Master Trainer.

Sarah Burke:

Sarah Burke is the Senior Manager of Program Response for Northern and Indigenous for Canadian Red Cross.  Sarah has worked for the Canadian Red Cross for the past 25 years with a significant portion in Indigenous communities across Canada. She is also now leading the development of a national approach for social emergencies and indigenous emergency response for the Red Cross. One of the main areas of focus for Sarah is leading the Canadian Red Cross integrated programming response in Canada’s North – specifically a large portion of time in Nunavut. Sarah has worked in 23 of Nunavut’s 25 communities to date. Sarah has supported in some of Canada’s largest emergencies in the past few years including Fort McMurray, Saskatchewan and Manitoba Fires. Sarah brings her passion and commitment for prevention education and community engagement experience to her role. Her personal goal for the Red Cross is to ensure all children and youth in Canada within her geography grow up immersed in safety and rights-based education.

Summer School 2018 – Preliminary agenda released and speakers announced!

Posted on June 11, 2018

The Public Health Approach:

Building Safe and Inclusive Communities

July 5th & 6th, 2018

UVic, UBC, UNBC, UBCO

 

 

Without further ado, we are delighted to release our agenda for the upcoming summer school 2018, The Public Health Approach: Building safe & inclusive communities, happening at university campuses across BC from July 5th to 6th, 2018.

 

Registration is on now, don’t miss your chance to attend one of BC’s only continuing education courses for public health.

 

 

 

This year our summer school will benefit from partnerships with the Saskatchewan Public Health Association, Red Cross Canada, Frontier College, BC Healthy Communities and PosAbilities to delve into the theme of building safe and inclusive communities through a variety of topics including:

  • Health Equity in Practice
  • Building Healthy, Safe & Inclusive Environments
  • Healthy Relationships for Children & Youth
  • Literacy & Inclusion
  • Emergency Response

 

Speakers will include Ann Pederson, Director of Population Health Promotion at BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre, Richard Harvey, regional director of BC, Alberta & Yukon at Frontier College, Dr. Bernie Pauly, associate professor of the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria, Indiana Best, board member of Student Wellness Initiative Towards Community Health (SWITCH), Dr. Ian Pike, director at BC Children’s Hospital’s Injury Research and Prevention Unit, Steve Woolrich, principal at Rethink Urban, Dr. Gord Miller, President of the Public Health Association of BC, Judi Fairholm, director of Respect Education program at Red Cross Canada, Sarah Burke, Senior Manager of Community Integrated Development & Emergency Management at Red Cross Canada, and more speakers to be announced!

 

This two-day workshop is designed to help you identify public health approaches to building safe and inclusive communities, understand how physical and social environments influence community safety, inclusion and health, assess barriers to safety & inclusion in their own communities, and to examine innovative and collaborative methods of promoting community safety and inclusion. Don’t miss your chance to learn how you can help to create safe and inclusive communities while networking with like-minded individuals across the province and beyond!

 

Locations for the summer school include the University of Victoria, University of British Columbia, University of Northern British Columbia and the University of British Columbia: Okanagan. A videoconferencing connection will allow all four main sites to actively participate in the full summer school experience. A further connection to our partners at the Saskatchewan Public Health Association will open our summer school up to members of SPHA and help facilitate inter-provincial collaboration.

Report Released – Key Health Inequalities in Canada: A National Portrait

Posted on May 30, 2018

Key Health Inequalities in Canada

A National Portrait

 

 

While many Canadians enjoy good health, the benefits of good health are not equally experienced by all. Many of these inequalities are the result of social, economic and other factors, which affect the chances of achieving and maintaining good health. The report Key Health Inequalities in Canada: A National Portrait describes the degree and distribution of key health inequalities in Canada, a critical step in taking action to advance health equity.

 

The report is a product of the Pan-Canadian Health Inequalities Reporting Initiative, a collaboration among the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Pan-Canadian Public Health Network, Statistics Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Information, and the First Nations Information Governance Centre. Based on a framework developed by the World Health Organization, the Health Inequalities Reporting Initiative aims to strengthen the measurement, monitoring and reporting of health inequalities in Canada through improved access to data and the development of resources to improve our knowledge of health inequalities.

 

The report presents results at the national level for 22 indicators of health status and determinants of health, selected to highlight some of the most pronounced and widespread health inequalities in Canada. Health inequalities are demonstrated according to a number of social, economic and demographic factors known to be important to health equity, including age, sex, income, education, employment, occupation, Indigenous identity, rural/urban residence, immigrant status, sexual orientation, functional health (physical and mental impairment), and cultural/racial background.*

 

 

To read the full report follow the below link

 https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/phac-aspc/documents/services/publications/science-research/key-health-inequalities-canada-national-portrait-executive-summary/hir-full-report-eng.pdf

 

 

*Text from Statistics Canada: The Daily (https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/180528/dq180528e-eng.htm)