Sam’s World by Tony Blocker.

Sam’s World is a one-panel web comic featuring characters from the imagination of Calgary-based artist Tony Blocker. Tony shows life’s situations in a laid-back, wicked literal, and humorous approach. Visit Yelling Rabbit Artworks to learn more.

VGH’s new care model promises an easier time getting treatment as well as a discharge plan. Photo: prweb.com

The Vancouver General Hospital (VCH) is implementing a new care model, which promising its patients an easier time during admission and a discharge plan, plus help in arranging follow-up appointments.

A part of its new iCare/Ideal Transition Home (ITH) model, discharged patients will receive the “My Discharge Plan” which outlines their admission history, follow-up appointment schedules, a list of symptoms in line with their condition as well as contact information of community health providers.

Care teams will also assist discharged patients in setting an appointment with family doctors within two to three days.

“Ensuring patients have a seamless level of care regardless of where they are in the health system is at the heart of what we’re doing. That means strengthening our relationship with the patient’s primary care provider and also ensuring the patient has the information and resources they need after discharge to ensure a successful recovery,” said Susan Seeman, director of strategic initiatives at VGH.

The model is now in effect in 250 medicine beds in VGH, freeing up to 40 beds each day for new admissions especially those coming from the emergency room.

Family doctors have praised the model and discharge plan with up to 87 per cent recommending its implementation in the communities.

VGH plans to adapt the model to its surgery programs very soon.

“iCare/ITH has enabled us to continue providing quality care while reducing the average length of stay and the number of re-admissions to acute care. We’ve also strengthened the patient’s transition to the community so that care doesn’t end once they leave the hospital. This is really critical at a time when patients want to recover in the comfort and familiarity of their own home,” added Seeman.

The VCH-Vancouver iCare/ITH Working Group who created the model also earned the 3M Health Care Quality Team Award for their innovativeness and teamwork during the National Health Leadership Conference in Niagara Falls, Ont. on June 11.

The team received the award in front of the crowd of health care leaders in Canada who attended the conference to discuss challenges faced by the country’s health system.

B.C. residents, tell us what you think of the Canadian oil sands by filling out this brief survey. $2 will be donated to breast cancer research for every completed survey.

According to its 2012 Annual Report, Surrey is progressing towards its goals of achieving long-term sustainability in Surrey as defined by the 2008 Sustainability Charter. Photo: surrey.ca

The City of Surrey recently released its 2012 Annual Report highlighting last year’s efforts to achieve economic, environmental and socio-cultural sustainability in Surrey.

The City of Surrey is well on its way to fulfilling its award-winning 2008 Sustainability Charter.

The report also provides a progress meter for the City’s goals as defined in the original charter.

“In partnership with a broad spectrum of community stakeholders, the City has made considerable progress in each of the three pillars of sustainability over the past four years, and in particular, the past year has seen some significant progress. We are in excellent shape in terms of reaching our sustainability in Surrey targets and monitoring sustainable activities throughout the City,” said Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts.

The report states that the City was able to:
• Launch its Rethink Waste Management program which reduced greenhouse gas emissions and producing a 70 per cent waste diversion rate.
• Launch an online sustainability dashboard on its website.
• Reduce corporate carbon footprint through sustainable operations, continue greening of its corporate fleet, and designing and building LEED-certified buildings.
• Leverage green infrastructure with senior levels of government.
• Develop an economic diversification strategy focusing on clean technology, medical technology and advanced manufacturing.
• Partner with British Columbia Technology Industry Association and Simon Fraser University to develop a Centre4Growth in Surrey that will support technology entrepreneurs.
• Continue reducing residential water consumption to reach the target of 260 litres/pp by 2028.
• Develop a biodiversity conservation strategy to be finalized in 2013.
• Develop of a new cultural plan.

“Surrey continues to lead the region in a number of key areas of sustainability. We have aggressive goals for 2013 and are working on completing the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, completing the Community Energy and Emissions Plan and Climate Adaptation Strategy, as well as finalizing a major update to the Official Community Plan,” added councillor Bruce Hayne, who heads the city’s Environmental Sustainability Advisory Committee.

More information on the sustainablity in Surrey program can be found here.

B.C. residents, tell us what you think of the Canadian oil sands by filling out this brief survey. $2 will be donated to breast cancer research for every completed survey. 

For the Vancouver Whitecaps Girls, the beginning of the Pacific Coast Soccer League (PCSL) season could not have gone much better.

Following Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over Abbotsford FC, the Vancouver Whitecaps Girls moved to a perfect 9-0 to start their first PCSL campaign.

“It’s been very competitive. All the teams throughout the league have all their university players and college players back in town playing,” Vancouver Whitecaps Girls head coach Jesse Symons told Beacon News. “All the teams are fully equipped with their players. It’s been a good challenge for sure the last few games. Our players have shown really good character in the last couple matches to come away with the result.”

Though their record is perfect, the circumstances have not been.

Their last three outings, Symons has been without star players Jasmin Dhanda, Aman Shergill, Chelsea Harkins and Emma Fletcher, who were all selected to the Team Canada U20 Excel camp in Vancouver to battle for a roster spot at the 2014 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.

Vancouver Whitecaps Girls left with short bench with many regulars at Team Canada training session

In addition, the Whitecaps players in action have had to face the stresses of both soccer and final exams.

“All the other teams are getting their players back and our players are finishing their exams in school,” said Symons. “Last week and the next week and a half are a very stressful time for our players, studying for exams, preparing for graduation for the grade 12s. They’ve been trying to balance their life both on a off the field, and come to the field with a good attitude. They’ve been able to find opportunities even when it has been tight.”

Last week’s two game schedule saw the Whitecaps in survival mode, with many players switching positions to fill the void the national team hopefuls caused. With the opposing teams both having access to their college and university players, it appeared the underage Whitecaps squad had their backs against the wall.

They may not have been in an ideal position going into the week, but they grinded out a 2-1 victory over Coquitlam Metro-Ford SC and a 1-0 win over NSGSC Eagles.

“We’ve definitely had a small bench, but the players have stayed focused and motivated for the full 90 minutes,” said Symons. “Some of our girls are playing out of position a little bit and are really supporting the team well, finding the right times to make decisions on the ball.”

This weekend, the Vancouver Whitecaps Girls will have to bring their textbooks and study material on the road, facing Okanogan FC Saturday and Kamloops FC on Sunday.

B.C. residents, tell us what you think of the Canadian oil sands by filling out this brief survey. $2 will be donated to breast cancer research for every completed survey.

Pigeon Park in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside (shown here in 2007), is across the street from Pidgin restaurant, the site of several months of anti-gentrification protests. Photo: Daniel Lobo

Downtown Eastside Neighborhood Council say Pidgin restaurant protesters ‘served their purpose’

For four months, Pidgin restaurant has been the target of constant protests from anti-gentrification activists in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Members of the Downtown Eastside Neighborhood Council (DNC) and the Carnegie Community Action Project tirelessly stood outside Pidgin restaurant with hopes of putting them out of business.

On June 14th, the DNC sent out a statement stating their change of opinion on the situation.

“The DNC shares many of the goals of the anti-gentrification protesters, but feel the specific actions in front of 350 Carrall St. (Pidgin restaurant) have served their purpose. The DNC therefore disagrees with the continuation of this action, and calls on the protesters to move on.”

From the outset the protesters goals were clear: To shut Pidgin restaurant down.

Simon Kaulback, general manager at Bonita restaurant, one of the first upscale restaurants in the vicinity, says the situation Pidgin restaurant had to face was unique.

“It’s a bizarre situation that Pidgin restaurant has found themselves in. They’re not the first restaurant of that nature to open in Gastown or in the Downtown Eastside,” he said. “When we opened Bonita, it was the real gentrifier, one of the first restaurants to open up in this neighbourhood that wasn’t for the locals. We felt no resentment or resistance.”

In an effort to work with the community rather than against it, Bonita offered jobs to some in the neighbourhood that may not normally get that chance.

“We employed a number of neighborhood folks and street people, if you choose to call them that,” said Kaulback. “Since then we have always had this relationship where we didn’t bother them, they didn’t bother us. We employ a couple of them still; they wash our windows, take out our bottles and that kind of stuff.”

Being directly across the street from Pigeon Park, Pidgen restaurant owner Brandon Grossutti found his business in the epicenter of the anti-gentrification movement in the Downtown Eastside. A typical day at Pidgin Park will see numerous drug activities and people passed out. But right across from the park, Pidgin restaurant is upscale in appearance.

“No mistake was made intentionally. What has happened is they have been unjustly chosen by protesters that would protest anything, really,” said Kaulback. “The reason they’re being protested is they’re visual, they’re on the street. It’s impossible to stand outside the offices of West Bank or OmniCorp or any of the property developers and developing companies because there’s no story there. You can protest there, but security will usher you away, there’s no story there. If a protester stand in front of a couple going into a restaurant that’s just getting by, by the skin of their teeth, that’s front page news right there.”

Downtown Eastside is still gritty, despite arrival of upscale businesses

Though some feel many newer businesses are drastically changing the Downtown Eastside, some things don’t change.

During the interview with Kaulback, a member of the Vancouver Police Department walked across the street, bearing a shotgun.

“Downtown Eastside, it’s what I see everyday,” Kaulback quipped.

Later, an ambulance, four police cars and a SWAT team with shotguns were present in Blood Alley Square, just south of Water Street between Abbott and Alexander Streets.

Kaulback barely blinked at what appeared to be a serious situation.

“It’s the type of thing we deal with everyday. I’ve already seen two people shoot heroin today.”

Over the past four months, the protests at Pidgin restaurant had escalated, leading to the arrests of two people. Robyn Pickell was taken into custody after trying to chain people inside the Pidgin restaurant building. Kim Hearty, with The Coalition of Progressive Electors, was also taken in to custody for theft, assault and mischief. Both have been released.

B.C. residents, tell us what you think of the Canadian oil sands by filling out this brief survey. $2 will be donated to breast cancer research for every completed survey.

Cam Reynolds, golf pro and manager at Nevada Bobs, shows golfer John Slighte a tip for proper posture on the tee box.

Top golf gifts for dad on Fathers Day 2013

With Fathers Day 2013 landing this Sunday, you might be panicking on what to get dear old dad to show your appreciation for his endless patience, wisdom and chauffeur responsibilities.

If he’s got a garage stuffed to the brim with macaroni masterpieces, power tools or BBQ accessories, maybe it’s time to help dad work on his golf swing.

Beacon News has a list of top 3 golf gifts to make sure dad is excited about his Father’s Day 2013 gift.

Golf gift idea for Fathers Day 2013: Proper clubs

Cam Reynolds, golf pro and manager at Nevada Bobs, says the most important part of golf is having clubs that fit the golfer properly.

Reynolds says without proper-sized clubs, the game will be much more difficult for beginners.

“Clubs could be too heavy and they won’t reward good shots, clubs could be too short or too long, and it just makes an already tricky game even harder,” Reynolds says.

John Slighte has been golfing for five years.

He says getting a great driver is important for beginners to invest in.

“A lot of golfers don’t make the proper investment in equipment,” Slighte said.

“That means going and spending the time on getting fitted and learning what the best stuff is. Also, buying good quality equipment that’s going to last them more than one or two seasons.”

Clubs can be bought at Sport Chek, Nevada Bob’s Golf or Bob’s Golf Town.

Golf gift idea for Father’s Day 2013: Accessories

Reynolds recommends a good set of golf balls for dad this Father’s Day, to help dad shoot his best score.

Slighte says the right equipment, especially golf balls, will help round out the game.

Sport Chek, Nevada Bob’s Golf and Bob’s Golf Town all offer a range of golf balls.

Golf gift idea for Father’s Day 2013: Lessons

Slighte says lessons are a good place to start for dad, and added it’s always a good idea to have a pro take someone through some of the core skills around the game.

Reynolds agrees, adding “Lessons are probably the best way and most efficient way to learn the great game of golf, quicker.”

The City of Calgary offers lessons at McCall Lake, Confederation Park and Shaganappi Point golf courses. The lessons are taught by professional instructors from the National Golf Academy,

Tell us what you think of the Canadian oil sands by filling out this brief survey. $2 will be donated to breast cancer research for every completed survey. 

Dene Tha’ First Nation, Alberta NDP calling for more safety measures after Apache pipeline spill

The Dene Tha’ First Nation and Alberta NDP are questioning the effectiveness of safety measures after an Apache pipeline spill leaked approximately 57,000 barrels (9.5 million litres) of “produced water” in northern Alberta.

The Dene Tha’ said they are worried that the spill may contain a number of materials, including hydrocarbons, sulphurous compounds, metals, radioactive materials and chemicals.

In a release sent on Thursday, the Dene Tha’ said the spill may have contaminated the water and killed fish, birds and wildlife.

The Dene Tha’ said the spill is located less than 15 km north of a Dene Tha’ reserve and within 1.5 km of the Zama River, on an area used by band members to hunt and trap.

“Dene Tha’ is gravely concerned that the health of its members will be compromised if they exercise their Treaty 8 rights to harvest in the area,” the First Nation said.

“Dene Tha’ members may be unable to harvest in the vicinity of the spill for many years as a result of this spill.”

Dene Tha’ said its field technician visited the Apache pipeline spill site on June 6 and noted that all plants and trees affected by the spill had died, and that the contamination had saturated the muskeg in the area.

The First Nation said given the amount of dead vegetation in the area, the spill may have been occurring for a long period of time.

“Given the increasing number of spills that have occurred in its Territory recently, Dene Tha’ hopes that the Government of Alberta will require companies to implement more effective safety measures,” the Dene Tha’ said.

Apache says wildlife has not been affected

Apache said the spill was reported on June 1 when it was first detected, but did not give details on how long the pipeline has been leaking.

“There are no visible impacts on wildlife,” Marc Douglas, spokesman for Apache, told Canadian Press on Friday.

The company said the water contained salt, oil and other minerals.

Apache said there was only a trace amount of oil in the produced water, which has been removed from the ground.

The Apache pipeline spill occurred June 1 on a produced water pipeline about 20 kilometres northeast of Zama City, Alta., which is located just south of the border with the Northwest Territories.

The spill affected an area of about 42 hectares.

“Wildlife, aquatic and vegetation studies are underway by an extensive environmental remediation team and analytics are being compiled,” Apache said in a release sent on Thursday.

“Water sampling and monitoring is conducted daily and collection of the produced water is well underway.”

Apache said they don’t know why the spill happened.

“While our priority right now is remediation and restoration, we are investigating the cause and will develop a solution to prevent a similar incident,” Apache said.

Alberta government says water is not toxic

A spokesman for the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) told Beacon News the water is not toxic.

“There have been some reports referring to it as toxic waste but that’s not really accurate when you look at the definition of those terms,” Bob Curran said.

“Produced water has a high saline content, which is of concern when it gets into contact with vegetation. In this case there are trace levels of hydrocarbons, but there is predominately a high salt content.”

Curran said he could not give anymore information until tests are completed.

NDP calling for release of pipeline safety review

Alberta Premier Alison Redford, left, met with her BC counterpart Christy Clark Friday in Kelowna, BC to discuss the two provincial economies. Photo: Alberta government.

Contentious Northern Gateway project not discussed at meeting

Premiers Alison Redford and Christy Clark met in Kelowna Friday to announce they will be working together to grow their respective provinces’ economies and create jobs.

But the two did not discuss the contentious issue of the Northern Gateway pipeline.

“I think as we move forward, there’s lots of opportunity for discussion and I think if we focus on what really does unite us, which is wanting to grow our economies, that’s our best opportunity to work through some of these issues,” Redford said at the joint news conference.

“You don’t bridge the divide, you don’t find a way to resolve differences that you have unless you talk,” Clark said.

The meeting Friday was friendlier than the previous meeting between the two last fall. At that time, Clark said the Northern Gateway pipeline would not be happening until it met British Columbia’s environmental conditions. Redford suggested the B.C. premier was after more money at the expense of Alberta.

While the conditions remain in place, Clark said she was not against responsible energy development.

“We are not opposed to economic development and we are not opposed to resource development,” Clark said. “But we just didn’t see the fact base that would support us being able to support the Enbridge proposal as it stands today.

“The [conditions] haven’t changed. But I think they are conditions that resource development projects can meet and we’re proving in British Columbia that they can be met.”

The premiers said they discussed issues of common interest including skills training, immigration policies and responsible resource development. The goal is to work together on economic growth and job creation.

“As the economic powerhouses in Canada, it’s our responsibility to grow the national economy which we’re very much focused on,” Clark said. “It’s something Canada needs us to do.”

The meeting was the first between the two since Clark’s surprise election victory last month and just ahead of the annual conference of Western Premier’s in Winnipeg early next week.

Tell us what you think of the Canadian oil sands by filling out this brief survey. $2 will be donated to breast cancer research for every completed survey. 

Kinder Morgan crews were on site cleaning up the 5-12 barrel ‘leak’ Thursday. Photo: Courtesy BC CTV.

Only 5-12 barrels of oil released onto ground near Merritt, BC from Trans Mountain pipeline

Pipelines leak. Rail cars carrying crude oil derail. Tanker trucks overturn on highways. A hundred per cent guarantee against crude oil spills is impossible and British Columbians need to accept that fact.

The miracle is that the means of transporting oil don’t leak more often. When you think about the millions of barrels shipped from and around Canada each and every day, the pipeline industry’s claim of a 99.999 per cent safety record sounds pretty impressive.

Which is why it’s important for British Columbians to keep pipelines in perspective when there are leaks.

Thursday’s discovery of a small leak on Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline near Merritt is not cause for hand wringing and alarm. The pipeline did not rupture (more like a weep, according to company officials) and the leak was discovered during routine maintenance.

Only 12 barrels (some reports say as little as five) of crude leaked from the Trans Mountain pipeline. That’s a very small leak. Crews were on hand quickly to clean up the soil and repair the pipeline.  The company’s system worked as designed, with minimal damage to the environment and no harm to humans.

Also this week, a pipeline in northern Alberta near the border with the Northwest Territories ruptured and spilled almost 57,000 barrels (9.5 million litres) of produced water onto ecologically sensitive muskeg. The water is very salty and will certainly kill vegetation over the 42 hectare area where it spilled.

The Alberta spill is significant and Canadians should be concerned. What was the chemical composition of the water and how much oil did it contain? If it seeped into the muskeg, which resembles a sponge, can it be effectively cleaned up? What effect will it have on local First Nations? Why did it happen and how can it be prevented from happening again?

The Trans Mountain pipeline spill is not significant. It is the cost of business in a hydrocarbon economy. And until solar power and wind energy are ready for prime time, British Columbians must accept the risk of small spills as the price they pay for driving cars, heating their houses, and in some cases, cashing a paycheque.

Not surprisingly, the eco-warriors were in full cry yesterday. ”They are proving that they can’t eliminate the threat posed by their pipeline,” Gabriel George of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation told he Surrey Leader.

Jordan Wilson of the Pipe Up Network said, ”By a stroke of luck, the spill did not enter any waterways, saturate a farmer’s field, or worse yet, a school yard.”

Luck had nothing to do with it. Kinder Morgan was “pigging” the pipeline and the tool found an irregularity. Crews were dispatched, found the leak and a short time later the line was shut down and repairs were underway.

The system worked exactly as designed.

As an aside, I examined the Trans Mountain pipeline leak records from 1961 to present for a story last year and was surprised to discover that most spills were small and happened at tank farms and pumping stations, where there are containment systems in place.

Hugh Harden, Kinder Morgan’s VP of operations and environment, health and safety, told me in an interview that the Trans Mountain pipeline is in better shape now than when the company purchased it in 2005 because of regular maintenance and upgrades.

As long as we have an economy that runs on oil – and last I looked, British Columbians burned as much gasoline in their SUVs and minivans as other Canadians – that oil will be moved from one place to another by pipelines.

West Coasters must accept small spills and not get in a swivet over five barrels here and 10 barrels there. Especially when the spill in question occurs on industrial property and is contained and quickly cleaned up.

Significant spills, like the Zama pipeline, rightly deserve their concern. And they should be demanding answers of the industry and assurances that such spills won’t happen in BC.

But crying “Wolf!” over every incident involving a pipeline will only guarantee citizens eventually tune out the issue, which would be counterproductive because public pressure is what keeps government, regulators and industry on their toes.

Tell us what you think of the Canadian oil sands by filling out this brief survey. $2 will be donated to breast cancer research for every completed survey. 

A section of the 42 hectares flooded by 59,627 barrels of produced water. Photo: Dene Tha.

Apache pipeline spill near Zama City worries First Nation

An Apache pipeline spill has leaked 59, 627 barrels (9.5 million litres) of “produced water” in northern Alberta.

The incident occurred on a water pipeline about 20 kilometres northeast of Zama City, Alta., which is located just south of the border with the Northwest Territories.

Apache Canada released a statement Wednesday that said the spill affected an area of about 42 hectares.

The company said the leak has been plugged and crews are working to contain and clean up the spill.

Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development spokeswoman Nikki Booth said there is no indication that impacts to the Zama River have been experienced.

Booth said the line was shut off June 1.

When asked if she knew how long was the water was spilling into the environment, Booth said it is under the investigation of the Energy Resources Conservation Board.

“Once that investigation is complete we will release the results,” Booth said.

Spill first reported on June 1

The Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) said the spill was first reported by Apache on June 1.

Apache did not release estimates of the spill’s size until Wednesday.

Greenpeace spokesperson Mike Hudema said the pipeline spill came to light only after someone reported it to a TV station last week.

Apache said waste water that is extracted during oil and gas operations contains oil, gas, non-potable water, salt and other minerals.

The company said the water released involved produced water that had been treated to remove hydrocarbons.

However, the Dene Tha First Nation suggest the produced water contains hydrocarbons, high levels of salt, sulphurous compounds, metals and naturally occurring radioactive materials, along with chemical solvents and additives used by the oil industry.

“It’s very troubling that Apache doesn’t know what chemicals are flowing through its pipes,” said Hudema.