Open Heart Collaborative

12/14/2025

Oh wow, scary news from Island Health. Connect to a family doctor A.S.A.P. anywhere on Vancouver Island. I know, easier said than done.

To ensure continued safe patient care, temporary changes for certain inpatients are happening at West Coast General Hospital.

Here is what you need to know:

- The Emergency Department remains open 24/7. If you have a medical emergency do not wait, call 911 or go to the emergency department.
- Some patients may be transferred to another hospital for if they require admission.
- Patients who cannot be admitted at WCGH will be stabilized on-site and then transferred to another hospital for admission.
- This will affect patients who do not have a family physician that works in the hospital, are in need of a hospital bed and do not require care from a specialist.

Patients will still be admitted at WCGH if they are:

- Having surgery
- Getting mental health or psychiatric care
- Having a baby
- Attached to a family doctor who admits patients at WCGH

Learn more: https://ow.ly/jXJo50XHfpT

12/02/2025

Harm reduction speakers event will be live streamed at 2:30 - T-minus 2 hours!

here is a link to the VIU HRA Instagram Page, where the Panel event will be live-streamed: https://www.instagram.com/viu_hra?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

The link to their Instagram can also be found on the VIU HRA website. Under “Upcoming Events” & “Harm Reduction Education Panel”: https://sites.google.com/view/viuhra/viu-hra/upcoming-events/harm-reduction-education-panel

Join us for our Harm Reduction Education Panel, an event designed to deepen understanding of harm reduction and its importance in the Nanaimo community. This session brings together experienced voices in harm reduction, nursing, Indigenous community education, and lived experience to offer diverse

11/27/2025

Free on December 2nd? Want some Narcan training? Want to see some crazy awesome speakers? Hit up VIU 2-5PM for an afternoon with the baddies of Nanaimo Harm Reduction.

Share, care, and be safe! :)

Curious about harm reduction? Mark your calendars! Come learn, ask questions, and challenge stigma!

📅 Date: December 2, 2024
⏰ Time: 2:00–5:00 PM
📍 Location: Malaspina Theater (Bldg. 310)
💰 Entry: FREE, no registration required!

Join us to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and foster a safer, more supportive community while learning about harm reduction and the impact of the Toxic Drug Crisis. 💜

Featuring:
• Corey Ranger, RN – President, Harm Reduction Nurses Association
• Dr. Jessica Wilder – Co-Founder, Doctors for Safer Drug Policy
• Edward Joe – Indigenous Harm Reduction Educator, First Nations Health Authority
• Lenae Silva – Co-Founder, Open Heart Collaborative; individual with lived experience and Indigenous artist

The Harm Reduction Education Panel includes:
✅ Speaker presentations
✅ Q&A session
✅ Free drop-in naloxone training
✅ Harm reduction supplies
✅ Refreshments
… and more!

LearnAndEngage FreeEvent QandA HarmReductionEducationPanel HarmReductionSavesLives Nanaimo

10/02/2025

Mixing art, advocacy, and lighting that fire in our hearts!

06/15/2024

As we move closer to AI generated everything, I've started considering the impacts that prompts may have on those who are underrepresented. Will text or images be used to to negatively impact those who are already facing and thriving through barriers by adding additional false narratives?

Or.... will we use it to swing a positive perspectives and love towards our fellow humans. Well dove has a great worksheet on "Real Beauty" and how prompts may impact AI. This reminded me that we are always training the future of AI. Here's an interesting thought exercise to think of prompts if you do use DALL-E or other AI Image makers. Check it out: (Clicking link below will download a PDF booklet by Dove)

https://assets.unileversolutions.com/v1/125422237.pdf

12/24/2023

If you are in the E.R., or Hospital in Nanaimo General, please access Island Healths new Harm reduction machine. This is also a life saver for those having to purchase syringes for other life saving medical issues, HRT and Insulin comes to mind. Harm reduction is for everyone! Open Heart provided feedback around some of the ways to reduce stigma, and includes art by one of our Co-Founders. We also made it to the Times Colonist

https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/outdoor-vending-machines-filled-with-harm-reduction-supplies-coming-to-three-island-hospitals-7705005

Island Health is introducing three Care and Connection Kiosks at hospitals in Campbell River, Nanaimo and Victoria offering community members an innovative way to access free, life-saving, harm reduction supplies and information about mental health and substance use services, supports and treatment.

The kiosks will electronically dispense discretely packaged harm reduction items including condoms, wound care supplies, naloxone kits, take-home drug testing strips, and syringes and safe disposal containers.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/sTJE50PYlhV

03/10/2023

“My landlord just came up and told me I had to move in two weeks. No paperwork. Nothing,” said Nanaimo resident Sharon Kowalchuk.

According to Kowalchuk, the verbal eviction notice from her landlord made it clear, the end-of-life care she needs is too disruptive.”

However, one advocate is helping the couple fight back.

“Obviously that is an illegal eviction, there’s no doubt about it,” said Risebridge Director Alex Martino, a local charity that helps tackle the housing issue in Nanaimo.

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/sharon-kowalchuk

Full article here:
https://www.cheknews.ca/dying-nanaimo-woman-evicted-because-i-have-ambulances-coming-1143021/

03/09/2023

The 4 Agreements

03/09/2023

On international we remember the women and girls killed by drug policy.