Camosun joins GreenTech
Camosun College is now part of the new GreenTech Exchange Vancouver Island, joining a network of industry, education, and funding organizations that aim to share ideas, pool resources, and support each other in the clean technology sector. GreenTech Exchange is hosting a networking event at Royal Roads on January 26 to kick off the new year, featuring companies such as Sea Breeze Power Corp—the company behind the 99 MegaWatt Cape Scott Wind Farm project. Check out greentechexchange.ca for more information.
Premiers creating national health plan without federal government
In response to comments from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada’s premiers are forming a national plan for health-care innovation without the federal government. Just one day after Harper told the provinces that it’s their responsibility to reform the system, Canada’s premiers came up with their own “innovation working group.” The group intends to focus on the scope of practice: the scope of what licenced nurses and pharmacists can provide; human-resources management: taking a more coordinated approach to the competition for doctors and nurses across the country; clinical practice guidelines: developing and adapting the best clinical and surgical practice guidelines so all Canadians can benefit from the best up-to-date care.
Study says high costs cause British Columbians to skip meds
BC has, by far, the highest rate throughout Canada of patients who stop taking prescribed drugs because they can’t afford them, according to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The study says that one in six BC residents didn’t adhere to their prescriptions due to cost—rates nearly double the national average.
UNICEF launches Student Challenge
UNICEF Canada is launching its first ever national student challenge, with the top prize being a trip to UNICEF’s headquarters in New York City. The challenge centers around groups of two students who are required to educate their friends, family, and classmates on the importance of UNICEF’s mission to provide safe drinking water worldwide. The teams are then required to fundraise to purchase water pumps (costing roughly $500 each) to provide communities in need with access to safe water. Each pump purchase will earn teams a ballot in the official draw for the chance to win the trip to New York. Check out unicef.ca/studentchallenge for more details.