News & Updates

BC is failing workers experiencing domestic and sexual violence. Paid, job-protected leave from work is critical for employees experiencing violence who may need to relocate or seek community services, such as medical attention, legal services, or counselling. For workers experiencing trauma, it can be difficult to focus on work and perform job duties safely. We also know that the workplace...

Domestic violence and workplace safety: Why policy change is needed By Samantha Ponting, HSA Communications When we talk about health and safety in the workplace, domestic violence issues rarely enter the discussion. Yet for someone who has been awake most of the night from duress, their ability to manage workplace risks and hazards can become a serious issue. “For those...

A message from HSA President Val Avery I would like to invite HSA members to join me in supporting the New West Hospice Society by participating in the River Walk for Hospice, happening Saturday, Oct. 5. The River Walk for Hospice is an opportunity to gather in community, raise money for a good cause, and honour the memory of loved...

The Health Sciences Association (HSA) is proud to welcome 11 new members from the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) BC division, who voted 100 per cent in favour of joining HSA. This is the fourth successful union vote to take place in relation to CMHA BC division worksites, where workers have been fully united voting 100 percent in favour of...

By Anne Leclerc HSA member When a resident dies in long-term care (LTC), this can take a toll on staff who have developed close emotional bonds with them. Our kno wledge-to-action (KTA) research project “Keeping the Light Shining” identified challenges that staff experience when caring for LTC re sidents throughout the dying process and strategies to help alleviate staff stress...

President's Report: This federal election, let's vote for a universal Pharmacare program By HSA President Val Avery It’s official. The federal election has been called and Canadians will head to the polls on Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 to elect a new government. In the coming weeks we can expect to see and hear a lot from the various political parties...

The effects of for-profit health insurance on public health care delivery: Examining the research By Samantha Ponting, HSA Communications Given Canada’s close proximity to the US, Canadians often hear horror stories from Americans about healthcare, whose bodies and bank accounts are at the mercy of a very broken system. We hear anecdotes of multi-thousand dollar medical bills, personal bankruptcy, preventable...

According to research conducted by the Canadian Malnutrition Taskforce, 25 to 50 per cent of patients admitted to a Canadian hospital are malnourished. “That’s a significant portion of people who we serve in our hospitals,” said Jaki Thornhill, HSA member, dietitian and professional practice leader at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. While there is some variability in this statistic based...

As a result of systemic violence, thousands of Indigenous women and girls have gone missing across Canada. This violence is both historic and ongoing. The National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls called this violence "a national tragedy of epic proportion" and a "deliberate and often covert campaign of genocide against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people."...

Celebrate this Labour Day with a chance to win tickets to a Whitecaps game September 14 Are you a soccer fan? Enter to win tickets to Union Night with the Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday September 14. The Vancouver Whitecaps MLS soccer team is celebrating union night on Saturday Sept. 14 in a game against the Houston Dynamo at the Bell Pitch...