The letter is closed to new signatures as of May 7th 2023, the total is 116.
Read the published version in the Georgia Straight: https://www.straight.com/news/hastings-encampment-44-vancouver-coastal-health-employees-decry-eviction-despite-organizational
The following letter is from 44 Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) frontline workers, who are speaking out about the City of Vancouver's forcible decampment, despite fears of backlash and silencing from their employer. VCH was mentioned in the original leaked documents as "in discussions" with the City concerning the operation, and a safety warning leaked via the Vancouver Sun implied the health authority was aware of its commencement. After its initial publication, a further 23 VCH employees added their signatures.
xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, sḵwx̱wú7mesh & səlilwətaɬ lands: We write to you as current Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) employees, across a number of disciplines and neighbourhoods, that are unequivocal in our condemnation of the Hastings Street police-led, city of Vancouver planned displacement that began on April 5, 2023. Notably, we are writing on the day which marks the seventh year since the drug toxicity crisis was declared a provincial public health emergency.
Many of us who are on the frontline have witnessed and/or been the recipients of police-led violence or escalation, both physical and verbal. We have seen or heard about our clients and other community members having their belongings taken. For some, this was all they owned, and for many it was their only shelter. Some days police have sectioned off parts of the community, creating barriers for people to access pharmacies, overdose prevention sites and other important services. Services that are accessible have been running beyond capacity as displaced peoples search for somewhere to go. We work alongside and have relationships with the community members currently being displaced (sometimes experiencing this multiple times), and are concerned that the police remain armed, despite recent increases in firearm use and police-escalated violence in Vancouver. While "lived experience" is rightfully becoming valued in healthcare, there has been no enhanced mental health support for those of us who may feel unsafe or forced to relive traumatic experiences throughout this show of force.
As workers providing direct care, we were not forewarned about this operation. This lack of communication meant that we could not always create appropriate care plans for our clients who may be impacted, either as residents of the encampment, or those living and spending time within sections of the streets that have been closed off. Care has deferred as police attempted to halt outreach services via the barricades, which has impacted our ability to connect with clients. During this time, deferring outreach-based healthcare has meant potential for increased risk of adverse health and psychosocial events (i.e., onset of sepsis and the worsening of a mental health crisis) for populations who are already marginalized.
We look to the groups that spoke out before us, including Kilala Lelum Health Centre, DEWC and Battered Women’s Support Services, Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society, the BC Federation of Labour, among others, and are thankful for their leadership in ensuring this inhumane and cruel operation has not occurred without resistance and critique. We also have gratitude for the many community-led groups, including the #StoptheSweeps coalition and Distro Disco, and businesses like Sisters Sage, who have done the labour to reduce harm caused by the ongoing decampment while other organizations have stood aside.
We are likewise concerned as employees about what feels like a prohibition on the critique of policing as an institution, including harms caused, within the parameters of VCH. Several employees cited being too nervous to sign this letter for fear of managerial blowback, despite stated support. VCH spans a large region and numerous communities, and we feel this blanket ‘cone of silence,’ excludes many voices and valid concerns in the communities we serve, live and/or receive our own healthcare in.
Signed (in alphabetical order),
- Abby Rolston, RN, DCHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Adair Manning, Mental Health and Addictions Outreach Nurse, Assertive Community Treatment, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Ainslie Cook, Concurrent Disorder Clinician, Three Bridges CHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Alexander Brown, Youth Substance Use Services, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Alexis Baker, Registered Social Worker, Three Bridges CHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Alicia Wilson, MOA, NEUPCC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Alida Fernhout RN, BA, BN, MPH, DCHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Ali Munro, Registered Nurse, Insite, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Annah Mackay, Outreach Worker, Overdose Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Anna Roth Trowbridge, RN, Bella Bella Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Blake Edwards, Outreach Worker, STOP HIV/AIDS, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Blue Topping, Community Liaison Worker, DCHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Bobby Burgess, Community Liaison Worker, DCHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Brandon Wong, Social Worker, DCHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Bridget Simpson, Registered Nurse, Three Bridges CHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Caitlin Millham, Physiotherapist, VGH, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Candace Barry, Outreach Support Worker, Overdose Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Chelsea Tetrault, Social Worker, Overdose Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Claire Frampton, RN (C), DCHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Claire McMillan, Outreach Counsellor, Youth Assertive Outreach Mental Health Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Connor Learey, Social Worker, Emergency Department, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Conrad So, RN, MPH, DCHC Vancouver Coastal Health
- Dan Korotchenko, RN, Pender CHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Danielle Lee, RN, NE UPCC, VCH
- Dr. Daniel Paré MD CCFP(AM) FASAM, DTES Family & Addiction Physician
- Dave Markland, Outreach Worker, STOP HIV/AIDs Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Del Carr, Social Worker, Youth Substance Use Services, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Elaine Durand, Occupational Therapist, Youth Substance Use Services, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Farah Davie, Registered Nurse, STOP HIV/AIDS Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Faiza Khalil, RCC, Community Care Coordinator, Pender ICT, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Fraser MacPherson, Registered Nurse, Raven Song Primary Care, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Hailey Smith, Registered Social Worker, STOP HIV/AIDS Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Hannah Douglas, Community Liaison Worker, Downtown Community Health Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Harkamal Sangha, MCP, clinical counsellor, Pender ICT and Steps Services, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Heather Tunold, Peer Specialist, Heatley ICT, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Hera Chan, RCC, Concurrent Disorders Counsellor, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Hilary Ison, RSW, Lion’s Gate Hospital (formerly Overdose Outreach Team), Vancouver Coastal Health
- Ineka Schuurman, Social Worker, Acute Care, Lion’s Gate Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Jacqueline Schmidt, CLW, Raven Song, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Jade St Onge, Clerk, VGH, Vancouver Coastal Health
- James Rankin, Strategic Lead, Indigenous Cultural Safety, Indigenous Health, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Jeff Woodyard, Outreach Worker, Overdose Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Jenn Brown, Outreach Worker, Heatley ICT OAT Tracking, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Jennifer Lee, Registered Nurse, Insite, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Jennifer Nelson, RN, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Jerome Rumbaoa, Registered Nurse, Insite, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Jesse Bolton, Registered Social Worker, Vancouver Detox, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Jess Peart, Nurse Practitioner, Heatley CHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Joan Kennedy, Case Manager, Youth Substance Use Services, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Justin Roll, Child and Family Support Worker, RMHSU, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Justin van Westen, Social Worker, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kahlied Salem, Casual Outreach Worker, DTES, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kara Schultz, MSW, Casual Mental Health Clinician/Outreach Social Worker, Strathcona Mental Health, Vancouver Coastal Health
- karina czyzewski RCSW, Concurrent Disorders Clinician, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Karis Bergsma, Registered Social Worker, PCN, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Katie Saundercook, Registered Social Worker, Youth Outreach CYMH, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kelsey Carlson, RN, Heatley ICT, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kelsey Murdoch, Community Health Nurse, Pender Clinic, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kelsey O'Hanlon, Outreach Worker, Overdose Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kelsey Yarlett, Registered Social Worker, Lions Gate Hospital, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kerry Ryan, Youth Care Worker, DTES Youth Outreach Team and casual Community Liaison Worker, various sites, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Khadija Hammuda, Social Worker, Foundry North Shore, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kim Calder, Indigenous Nurse Educator, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kimberly Bartfai, RSW, Overdose Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kimberly Collier, RN, DCHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kimberly Tran, Registered Social Worker, STOP HIV/AIDS Outreach team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kirby Pickard, RN, Insite, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kirsten Douglas, Registered Social Worker, STOP HIV/AIDS Outreach team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kirsten Larsen, Clinical Coordinator, RN-C, DCHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Kris Burris, Outreach Worker, DCHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Krista Fullerton, RN, NEUPCC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Laura MacDonald, RN, Priority Populations Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Leah Shin, Registered Nurse, Insite, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Lee Gangbar, RN (C), Intensive Case Management Team (outreach nurse), casual RN at Heatley CHC and Insite Supervised Injection Site
- Lindsay Greene, Registered Nurse, Insite, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Lisa Wong, Family Engagement Worker, LRP, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Lukas Gauthier, Casual Outreach Worker and Community Liaison Worker, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Luke Gruenhage, Outreach Worker, Overdose Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Madelaine Beaumont, Registered Nurse(C), Master of Nursing student at UVic, Casual STOP HIV/AIDS, Pender CHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Mark Ng Shun, CLW/DTW DCHC and VDC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Marjory Ditmars, Nurse Practitioner, Heatley Clinic and Onsite Withdrawal Management
- Mehak Sharma, Social Worker, Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Michele Loughrin, Registered Psychiatric Nurse, STOP HIV/AIDS, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Mina Karimi, RN, Insite Casual Clinic Nurse, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Mo Gaffney, CRN, DCHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Monica Dee, RN, DTES Connections, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Morgan Marrs, Outreach Nurse, Heatley/Women’s ICMT, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Myles Adams, Social Worker, Youth Substance Use Services, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Nathan Froehlich, Outreach Worker, Overdose Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Nathaniel Winata MD CCFP, DTES Family & Addiction Physician, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Nat Ko, Occupational Therapist, Robert and Lily Lee Family CHC and Pender CHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Navi Dasanjh, Social Worker, DCHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Nesa Hamidi Tousi, Nurse Practitioner, DCHC, VCH
- Nicole Beare, Mental Health and Addictions Outreach Worker, Vancouver Integrated Supervision Unit, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Nicole Engel, Social Worker, Overdose Outreach Team, VCH, VCH
- Olivia Wale, RN, STOP HIV/AIDS Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Paulina Bisognin, Addictions RN, Onsite, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Phoebe Wong, Clinical Audiologist, Vancouver Community Audiology Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Robin Destun, Registered Social Worker, PCN, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Rodrick Malton, Social Worker, STOP HIV/AIDS Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Sam Stouten, Registered Social Worker, RMHSU, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Santina, Mental Health Rehab Worker, Willow Pavillion, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Sarah Irving, Concurrent Disorders Counsellor, Stepping Stones Substance Use Services, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Serena Lee, Outreach Social Worker, DCHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Shar Cooper, outreach worker, Robert and Lily Lee, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Sienna Sangra, Peer Support Specialist, DTES Connections, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Simone Page, Licensed Practical Nurse, Insite, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Stephanie Wang, Community Liaison Worker, Heatley Clinic, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Sylvia Massinon, Social Worker, DCHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Tanya Vall, Outreach Worker, Overdose Outreach Team, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Taylor Barker, RN, DTES Connections, Vancouver Coast Health
- Tharuna Abbu, Physician, Pender Community Health Centre
- Tiffany Wu, Family Engagement Worker, LRP, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Tyson Singh Kelsall, PhD student, Faculty of Health Sciences, SFU and Casual Social Worker, DTES, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Vic Cluett, Registered Nurse, Heatley CHC, Vancouver Coastal Health
- Yuka Ishikawa, Casual Community Liaison Worker, Raven Song Community Health Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health