Tuesday - May 28, 2024 - University naloxone gaps

🌧 High 13C

Good morning!

All in all, I'm not actually that busy. I work hard at this job, but on an hourly basis, my work-life balance is relatively good. And yet, it feels like I have no time. Or at least that’s my excuse. To wit: it's been more than a year since I went on a decent hike lasting more than an hour. I don't need to do some major expedition. I just want to get up into the mountains somewhere. I could even justify doing it on work hours if I write about it. And yet, I’ve always got an excuse not to go on a hike. There's always one more thing to do. But they say if you write down your goals, you'll actually succeed.

So here's my pledge: I'm going to hike the Spirit Caves Trail near Yale and the Hope Lookout Trail by the end of the summer. Then I'll tell you how it went. There's no backing out now, right? Riiiiight?

– Tyler

Traffic & Weather

🌤 Local forecast: Langley | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Hope

🚘 Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google, and find DriveBC’s latest updates.

🛣 Click here for links to road cameras across the Fraser Valley, including those for the Coquihalla, Highway 7, Hope-Princeton, Fraser Canyon, and Highway 1 in Langley and Abbotsford.

NEWS

Regalia and runways

Hand-strung beads, rows of dentalium, and drapings of ermine aren’t traditional choices for armour. But for Rebecca Baker-Grenier, it is what makes her feel protected. 

Baker-Grenier, who is from the Kwakiutł, Dzawada'enuxw, and Skwxwú7mesh nations, has been creating regalia for her family since she was 11. She began commissioned work in her late teens and joined the Indigenous dance group Dancers of Damelahamid in 2014. It has been nearly two decades of designing, crafting, and sharing regalia with her community.

But now, at 31, she is creating that armour in a new way—by designing couture clothing using Indigenous teachings. 

Since she ventured into the fashion industry two years ago, Baker-Grenier has produced two complete collections, as well as a variety of ready-to-wear clothing options. Her designs have been worn by Cree-Metis actress Tantoo Cardinal of Dances with Wolves and Killers of the Flower Moon fame, and one piece has even made its way to the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

On May 31, the Chilliwack-based designer will see her warrior collection exhibited on the runway in Toronto for its Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival. Seeing her work on the runway is “surreal,” Baker-Grenier said, but also a celebration of the resiliency of Indigenous people and art.  

• Today, Grace talks with Baker-Grenier ahead of her Toronto fashion show about runways, regalia, and how fashion aligns with Indigenous teachings.

• Tomorrow, Grace has an interview with an artist whose culture is influencing designs seen by thousands in the Fraser Valley.

Related

Need to Know

👉 A police watchdog says Mounties had no legal authority to arrest a man days before he killed himself [Langley Advance Times]

🔎 Chawathil First Nation says CIBC failed to properly investigate fraud, and the fallout has limited the band’s ability to serve vulnerable members [Hope Standard]

🚲 An intricate mountain bike and hiking trail will be constructed on Hope Mountain [Hope Standard]

🔥 An Abbotsford woman who has lost homes to flooding and fire in recent years says more mental health help is needed for disaster-hit people [CBC]

⚖ The trial has begun for the Langley man accused of killing and dismembering his wife [Global]

👉 Two activists are appealing their convictions for a protest at an Abbotsford hog farm [Abbotsford news]

🗝 A pair of Chilliwack-area Chiefs are two of the first First Nation leaders to have been awarded the Freedom of the City of London [Chilliwack Progress]

🌲 Someone intentionally damaged a newly planted tree at Cultus Lake [Fraser Valley Today]

🎉 Mark your calendars for June 1! EcoFarm is hosting their second EcoFarm Fest. An event featuring local foods, live music, kids entertainment and more!*

*Sponsored Listing

SPONSORED BY SCOTFESTBC

ScotFestBC June 14 and 15

Cape Breton fiddling great Ashley MacIsaac is headlining this year’s ScotFestBC festival, an annual celebration of Scottish culture and highland games to be held at Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park June 14 and 15.

The festival stretches over four stages with rocking Celtic music, pipe bands including former world champion SFU Pipe Band, world music on the Heritage stage, and competitions in Scottish heavy events (incl. caber tossing) and highland dance.

There will be a whisky school with classes by Jak’s and Macaloney Distillery, Scottish cultural workshops, children’s fun, 20 food trucks, and dozens of vendors with everything from traditional Scottish garb to local artisanal whisky and jewellery.

“There is just so much to take in it’s almost impossible to experience it all, but it’s worth trying,” says Mike Chisholm, ScotFestBC executive director. “We have a rocking headliner this year and great local partners upping our game in the whisky school, plus piping and dancing competition, music, and culture. This is one festival you have to take in to kick off summer.”

Learn more and plan your visit!

The Agenda

As province considers overdose prevention rules for universities, UFV says it already has naloxone in dorms

The recent death of a 18-year-old student from an overdose has revealed major gaps in the availability of naloxone at the University of Victoria and other post-secondary institutions.

The death of Sidney McIntyre-Starko has led BC’s advanced education minister, Lisa Beare, to demand immediate changes and the creation of a province-wide policy to ensure colleges provide students and emergency responders with more training, information, and resources to prevent deaths.

Although the University of Victoria continues to restrict the availability of the life-saving drug in dorms, a University of the Fraser Valley spokesperson says all resident advisors and staff at its housing facilities already carry naloxone and are trained in its use. Security officers also carry naloxone, and students can obtain them, as well as training, at the university’s wellness centre. Overdose response information and naloxone is also provided to students during orientation sessions and in various classes. The university says it began offering the programs to students in 2017.

The province’s new rules will mandate “naloxone kits available where students need them,” Beare said recently. A committee is also considering what other actions universities may have to take. That could include the distribution of easy-to-use nasal spray naloxone, and creating a system that requires students to be notified about incidents.

UFV, like most organizations, currently only provides naloxone that requires an injection. The naloxone is provided by Fraser Health, the university says. The province has vowed to start buying the nasal version “soon.”

New signal coming for Chilliwack’s Luckackuck Way

A busy—and sometimes chaotic—stretch of road in Chilliwack is getting a new traffic signal.

The City of Chilliwack is working to re-design Luckakuck Way east of the Vedder Road intersection. As part of the improvements, a new signal will be installed at the entrance to the large shopping complex anchored by the Real Canadian Superstore. The multidirectional centre left-turn lanes along the road will also be removed to make way for one-way left-turn lanes.

The city is soliciting bids for the work until mid June.

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SPONSORED BY CONCORD PACIFIC DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL

Summer starts at the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival: June 22-23

The continent's biggest dragon boat race is set to hit False Creek on June 22-23, alongside more family friendly programming than ever, cultural pavilions, and the TD Main Stage featuring Hey Ocean! and Manila Grey. And best of all, it's free to attend!

Click here for schedules.

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