Vancouver Coastal Health

02/10/2025

Food Workers: Did you know that Hepatitis A can spread through food prepared by someone who’s infected — even if they don’t show symptoms?

If you work in food service, you may be at higher risk of exposure. The Hepatitis A vaccine is your best defense—it protects your liver and helps prevent outbreaks in kitchens and communities.

✅ Safe
✅ Effective
✅ Helps protect you, your coworkers and customers

👉 Who should get vaccinated?
Food handlers, travelers, and anyone who may come into contact with the virus.

Another way that food handlers can reduce the risk of Hepatitis A exposure is by always washing their hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, before preparing meals, and before eating.

🔗 For more information, including eligibility, coverage and cost, talk to your health care provider or visit: healthlinkbc.ca/hepatitis-a

02/10/2025

The VCH Board of Directors invites you to join our upcoming Open Board Forum focused on health-care topics relevant to Vancouver neighbourhoods including Grandview-Woodland, Hastings-Sunrise, Kensington-Cedar Cottage, Killarney, Mount Pleasant, Renfrew-Collingwood, Riley Park, Sunset and Victoria-Fraserview.

During this session, the VCH Board of Directors and senior leaders will provide updates on health-care services and programs, including public health, acute care, community care, as well as other initiatives that support the health and wellness of the local community. Participants will be able to ask questions during multiple Q&A periods.

Please visit vch.ca/obf to register to receive a phone call connecting you to the forum at 6 p.m. on October 15, 2025, and to submit questions ahead of time.

01/10/2025

This , let’s celebrate the power of connection!

Spending time with friends, family, neighbours and peers is great for the soul and has proven health benefits too! Here are a few ways to stay connected and meet new people:

🌿 Invite a neighbour or loved one for a walk around the block or enjoy time together in a garden
🧩 Join a local group or online activity
🏓 Visit a local rec centre for free or low-cost programs
👥 Connect with a seniors’ centre near you

If you or a loved one has a medical condition that limits the ability to stay connected, Adult Day Programs offer fun, social, and active experiences for adults living with physical or cognitive challenges.

🕒 Programs run 1–2 days/week for 4 hours
🍽️ Includes lunch, snacks, and help with daily tasks
💰 Subsidized for those who qualify by Vancouver Coastal Health — just $10/day

Adult Day Programs help clients to:
✅ Get Active – Improve strength, balance & coordination
✅ Stay Well – Make friends & enjoy great conversation
✅ Have Fun – Games, music, arts & special events

🔍 Learn more at https://www.vch.ca/en/service/adult-day-programs

30/09/2025

VCH works collaboratively with First Nations, Métis and Inuit in B.C. to address and reduce health inequities for Indigenous Peoples by providing culturally safe and responsive care.

We continue to make VCH a safe space for healing, designed to preserve traditional healing practices and ensure cultural needs are reflected in every care plan.

Today, on National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, and Orange Shirt Day, we encourage you to join us in our shared commitment towards reconciliation.

29/09/2025

26/09/2025

September is Sexual Health Awareness Month. At Vancouver Coastal Health, we’re proud to offer confidential, caring, and sex-positive support.

For more than 50 years, the Sexual Health Rehabilitation Program team at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre and Blusson Spinal Cord Injury Centre have been helping persons with disability navigate sexual health with compassion and expertise.

Read more about VCH's Sexual Health Rehabilitation Program on the link: https://www.vch.ca/en/news/sex-spoken-here-50-years-life-changing-impact

24/09/2025

🥦🍓 Feeding toddlers can feel like a rollercoaster—one day they love broccoli, the next day they won’t touch it! But don’t worry, picky eating is a normal part of toddler development.

Here are some expert-backed tips to help you navigate mealtimes with confidence:

✅ You decide what, when & where to serve food. Your toddler decides if and how much they’ll eat. Trust them to listen to their bodies.

✅ Routine is key. Eat at regular times. Offer three meals and up to three snacks at regular times each day. Offer only water between meals and snacks.

✅ Make mealtimes fun & social. Eat together, avoid distractions (like screens), and keep the conversations relaxed.

✅ Offer variety without pressure. Toddlers may need to try a new food over 10 times before they accept it! Keep offering and let them explore with all their senses.

✅ Be a role model. Your child will eat better and be more willing to try new foods if they see others at the table eating the same foods.

✅ Avoid food battles. Don’t bribe, punish, or pressure your child to eat. Let hunger—not bargaining—guide their choices.

💡 Bonus Tip: Get your toddler involved in meal prep! Simple tasks like washing veggies or stirring ingredients can spark curiosity and make them more eager to try new foods. Engaging all five senses helps them become familiar and comfortable with different textures, smells, and tastes.

You’ve got this! 💪 Every shared meal or snack experience together is a step toward healthy habits. For more information and advice about child nutrition, please visit https://www.vch.ca/en/eating-and-nutrition-toddlers.

22/09/2025

Do you remember the thrill of jumping into a pile of leaves, climbing a tree, or playing street hockey as a kid? That feeling of adventure with playing freely outdoors is what we call risky play—and it comes with many health benefits for kids.

Risky play involves exciting, unstructured activities that carry a bit of uncertainty. For young children, these experiences help build confidence, resilience, decision-making skills, and the ability to assess and manage risk.

Of course, safety is still important! The following recommendations still apply:

✔️ Follow proven safety guidelines (like helmets, car seats, and life jackets)
✔️ Keep a watchful eye in hazardous environments (such as near water or traffic)
✔️ Encourage kids to explore within their comfort zone and skill level

Want to learn more about why risky play is so valuable for child development? Please visit www.outsideplay.org.

17/09/2025

Don’t know where to get vaccinated? Our immunization clinic finder makes it easier to understand where to go for different vaccines, for everyone in your family.

Start by checking with your regular healthcare provider, they may already have what you need. If not, our finder can help you explore other options.

Just enter your location, age, and type of vaccine (childhood, flu, COVID-19, sexual health & more), and see where to go—whether it's a VCH clinic or another provider.

✅ One place to search—no more clicking through multiple pages

✅ Easier booking—find phone numbers, details & book online

✅ Quick reminders help parents update records before booking

Check it out: https://www.vch.ca/en/service/find-immunization-clinic

16/09/2025

Residential wood smoke is a major source of air pollution in Metro Vancouver. It contains fine particles (PM2.5) that can enter the lungs and bloodstream, affecting health much like wildfire smoke. Health impacts may include:

- Worsened asthma or breathing issues
- Airway irritation, coughing, or shortness of breath
- Higher risks for those with heart or lung disease
- Greater harm to children, seniors, and vulnerable individuals

To help reduce these risks, Metro Vancouver’s new bylaw requires residents with wood-burning devices (e.g., fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves, masonry heaters) to:

✔️ Submit a declaration of compliance with best burning practices

✔️ Register their device (if it’s in use)

💡 Consider alternatives like electric heating, using clean seasoned wood, burning smaller hot fires, and never burning garbage to improve air quality for everyone.

Learn more at: https://service.metrovancouver.org/RIWB

13/09/2025

Last week, we gathered at North Vancouver Junction Community Centre for a meaningful unveiling of Indigenous artwork.

Artist John Spence joined us in celebrating the installation of his mural which helps create a culturally welcoming space for clients, families, and staff of the Lookout Society.

John is Coast Salish from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the Killer Whale clan of Haida Gwaii.

The background design was created by graphic artist Lissa Nunweiler. Lissa is from the beautiful swiya of the Sunshine Coast, the hereditary lands of the shíshálh people.

Their collaborative piece, “The Journey” honours the salmon as the heart of the ecosystem — a symbol of sustenance, renewal and resilience. Salmon feed the people, the animals and the forest, representing the centre of the life cycle.

🔍 Go to VCH.ca and search “Indigenous art” to explore how Indigenous artwork supports VCH’s commitment to safer, more inclusive spaces.

🔗 vch.ca/en/about-us/indigenous-health/indigenous-art-vancouver-coastal-health

12/09/2025

💫 Was summer your turning point?

Whether it's choosing fresh foods, moving your body more, or setting boundaries that protect your peace, every small change adds up.

👇 Drop a comment and tell us: How did summer transform your health and wellbeing?