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Author Archives: pfmarchive

Coast to coast for awareness

June 11th, 2009 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Coast to coast for awareness)

Wayne Cho’s awareness run for anxiety and depression reaches Vancouver Island

picture 097Wayne Cho began a run across Canada last May 23, 2008 in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The purpose of his run is “to raise awareness for anxiety and depression, which affect a significant portion of the population but are often misunderstood and neglected.”

Wayne Cho himself has been affected by an anxiety disorder since childhood but his condition went undiagnosed until age 31. He took up long distance running which helps to significantly reduce his anxiety symptoms. This Thursday, June 11, Wayne reaches Victoria, B.C. (more…)

Putting an end to domestic violence

June 11th, 2009 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Putting an end to domestic violence)

Haven Society responds to need

picture 096Half of all Canadian women have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16 and every year in Canada, up to 360,000 children are exposed to domestic violence. 58,486 women and 36,840 children sought refuge in one of 473 shelters across Canada between April 1, 2003 and March 31, 2004.

Haven House, a transitional house in Nanaimo for women fleeing abuse, sees 400-500 women annually, with another 2,000 women and children in programs offered by the society. The organization has launched a capital building campaign to raise $1 million toward the construction of a new community services building. (more…)

Harm reduction goes guerilla

June 4th, 2009 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Harm reduction goes guerilla)

Why Victoria activists are offering needle exchange in a ‘no-go zone’

picture 095Harm Reduction Victoria launched what it calls a “guerilla needle exchange” in downtown Victoria in the middle of a so-called “no-go zone”—an area that has been off-limits for needle distribution for a year. Kim Toombs, a member of the harm reduction group, told the Victoria Times Colonist that the group plans to hand out clean needles every evening to drug users in the area.

We speak with Kim Toombs about harm reduction in Victoria, the ‘no-go zone’ and the guerilla needle exchange.

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Image: Harm reduction supporters donned masks of VIHA CEO Howard Waldner, while Kim Toombs handed out needles near Our Place on Nov. 30, 2008. By Leah Sheitel/The Martlet

After the diagnosis

June 4th, 2009 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on After the diagnosis)

Alzheimer’s disease care and support

picture 094As people age, a decline in thinking abilities and memory is expected, but when that decline is much faster than normal, the consequences can be devastating to those people and their loved ones. Such a sharp decline is known as dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is the most frequent type of dementia in the elderly.*

The Alzheimer Society of B.C. offers a series of telephone workshops, including a session called Life After Diagnosis, that provide help and support to people diagnosed with Alzheimer disease, and to their families. (more…)

A look at Mad Pride, in four interviews

May 28th, 2009 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on A look at Mad Pride, in four interviews)

Artist and author Leef Evans: “I have to tell people”

picture 090Leef Evans, an author and artist, experienced a severe bout of depression six years ago that resulted in hospitalization and the loss of apartment, car, and virtually all connection with family and friends.

While living on Vancouver’s downtown eastside, Lee participated in an art program at Coast Mental Health Resource Centre and he is now a part of the Gallery Gachet collective.

He recently told Westender magazine that he has been forced, through his painting, to deal with his lifelong struggle with depression. (more…)

‘Crime stopper of the year’ engages youth

May 21st, 2009 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on ‘Crime stopper of the year’ engages youth)

Peter McGee has been traveling across B.C. and North America, training and presenting about how the program can engage youth in the digital age

picture 089Crime Stoppers began in 1976 when a detective in New Mexico appealed to the public with a video re-enactment of a murder crime and offered a reward for anonymous tips. Two men were arrested within 72 hours and charged with the murder. Since that time, Crime Stoppers has become a global phenomenon and is credited by its originator, former detective Greg MacAleese, with solving over one million major crimes. (more…)