When it comes to finding money for health care, no one can beat the folks here on the Sunshine Coast.
Last year this community rolled up its collective sleeves and pitched in to raise millions of dollars for a new CAT scanner at St. Mary's Hospital. While that fundraising campaign was wrapping up, the Pender Harbour and District Health Centre Society and Health Centre Auxiliary joined forces in the It's Ours Campaign in an effort to raise $350,000 - money that would pay off the centre's mortgage. This week we learned that the official numbers are in and the It's Ours Campaign was a huge success, raising the needed capital. The health centre, which has been serving the Pender Harbour community and surrounding area with quality, vital health services, can now truly be called a "community health centre." The community came through and now that the mortgage has been paid off - a full five years ahead of schedule - the health centre society board can look positively towards the future and, with the community's input, can offer expended services and programs that could only be dreamed of just a short year ago.
With the success of both of these fundraising endeavours, maybe someone should run for political office or at least show the provincial government how to raise money for health care. Lord only knows with the state of the health care system in this province, the provincial government can use all the help they can get.
DOS getting toughWe haven't always seen eye to eye and agreed with the decisions coming out of council and the District of Sechelt offices, but when District officials follow through on an investigation, we take notice.
Blasting issues with Trail Bay Estates and the surrounding residents have been an ongoing concern for more than a year. Recently, the District, along with WorkSafe B.C., started separate investigations into blasting violations that allegedly took place from Nov. 1 to 3. Now it appears that the District is getting tough on the developers and charges are expected to be laid, possibly after a council motion at the first meeting of 2008 this Wednesday.
We applaud the District for taking this stance and investigating these matters fully. It may have taken a while and residents negatively affected by the blasting probably wish action would have come sooner, but at least the District is following through and enforcing their bylaws.
