Due to unforseen circumstances, the following meetings are the only 2 currently active. Thursday 8pm Salvation Army Sunday 8pm Salvation Army all others are closed until further notice. you can also do online meetings at area78aa.org Thank you

Fort St. John Aa Intergroup      Fort St. John

MEDIA RELEASE: Sanctuary Health and community partners call in British Columbia to waive the three-month wait and provide health coverage for uninsured people    Vancouver ---  This afternoon, the Ontario government announced that they are waiving the three-month waiting period for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage and will cover the cost of COVID-19 services for uninsured people who do not meet the criteria for OHIP coverage. In wake of the ever-progressing pandemic, Sanctuary Health and community partners in British Columbia are calling on their government to do the same.   Before today’s announcement, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec were the only provinces that enforced a three month wait period for people arriving or returning from outside of Canada. This practice has been a longstanding concern of Sanctuary Health as it disproportionately affects vulnerable communities.   Yesterday, BC’s Medical Services Commission announced that they will waive the Coverage Wait Period for those who are returning from impacted areas and intend to stay in BC and for those that were outside of the province for longer than the allowable period to maintain MSP Coverage. This leaves important members of our community wondering if they’ve been forgotten, including:   Canadian babies born to parents without MSP coverage   Migrant workers who arrived just before the borders closed or potentially who may start arriving in groups soon   Newly arrived permanent residents in British Columbia   People who have lived in British Columbia for many years and have finally obtained permanent residence.   “We are hoping that BC will make a clear statement as Ontario has today. It would be unconscionable that in a public health crisis, valuable members of our community will be left without health coverage,” says Omar Chu of Sanctuary Health. “The three-month wait never made sense, and we are seeing the consequences of it now.”   The waiting period places individuals in a limbo period, forcing them to delay seeking care until coverage is received, placing them and the broader community at risk. Sanctuary Health recently presented the Medical Services Commission a package advocating for the removal of the waiting period for all new and returning BC residents coming from outside of Canada, and for ensuring access to care upon arrival. The package had support letters from over 25 organizations including health care providers, unions representing health care workers, human rights organizations, and migrant groups.   Sanctuary Health’s call to remove the waiting period is a part of our broader push for access without fear – regardless of immigration status – to free, universal, and expanded healthcare. This call includes people who are undocumented, navigating the bureaucratic immigration system, international students, and people with implied status. In July 2017, the government began denying MSP coverage to people with implied status: people who applied for new work or study permits before the expiry of their previous work or study permits and are legally entitled to live and work or study in Canada.   “The current pandemic has broadly revealed what we have been arguing since we started,” Chu says.   “Health care is a human right and a just society ensures that we all have it.”   Sanctuary Health is a grassroots community group that deploys a wide range of strategies to advocate for access to services for all regardless of immigration status or documentation. Read the full Three Month Wait package at http://www.sanctuarycityvan.com/three-month-wait/   Contacts: Omar Chu, 778-883-6627 -=-=- British Columbia Health Coalition · 3102 Main St, 302, Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territories, BC V5T 3G7, Canada

General News     Fort St. John

Resident Brings MADD Canada Message to Fort St John   Fort St John, BC – MADD Canada is pleased to announce Melissa Dunn as its new volunteer Community Leader in Fort St John, BC.   In the role, Ms. Dunn is part of a nation-wide network of volunteers who represent MADD Canada and deliver its message and programs to local communities.   “Our Chapters and Community Leaders undertake a diverse range of activities within their communities to help achieve MADD Canada’s mission of stopping impaired driving and supporting the victims of this violent crime,” said MADD Western Canada Regional Manager, Tracy Crawford.  “They truly are the heart and soul of our organization. We are proud to welcome Ms. Jones to our amazing and dedicated volunteer team.”   As a new Community Leader, Ms. Dunn will focus much of his initial efforts around public awareness and education initiatives and building partnerships with stakeholder and community organizations with similar goals of ending impaired driving.    Crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs are the leading criminal cause of death in Canada. On average, approximately 4 people are killed each day in crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs.   “These deaths and injuries are completely preventable. They can all be avoided if people do not get behind the wheels of their vehicles impaired,” said Dunn “I want to be part of the solution and I am confident that Fort St John will be supportive of the effort to stop these senseless tragedies from occurring on our roads and in our community.”   About MADD Canada MADD Canada (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) is a national, charitable organization that is committed to stopping impaired driving and supporting victims of this violent crime. With volunteer-driven groups in more than 100 communities across Canada, MADD Canada aims to offer support services to victims, heighten awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and save lives and prevent injuries on our roads.     For more information, please contact:   Melissa Dun at 1-800-665-6233 ext 365 or FSJMADD@gmail.com

General News     Fort St. John

        Internal/External Job Posting September 30 to December 20, 2019     Position: Early Childhood Educator 1- Playcare (Daycare)   Responsibilities and Abilities:   •  Provide leadership and mentorship within the Early Learning Program Team in the Playcare (daycare) classroom   •  Establish and maintain positive daily communication and interaction with children, families, other staff and community members   •  Assist the CDC team by providing quality child care, excellent service to families and building meaningful relationships as per our current program philosophy   •  Ensure all safety and supervision standards are implemented and maintained according to licensing and CDC requirements   •  Enthusiastic and positive nature that embraces respect, honesty, caring, and responsibility.       Qualifications:   •  Minimum of a BC Early Childhood Educator Certificate (Must provide certificate number)   •  Child Care First Aid certification    Classification / Salary: $20.14 - 25.12/ hour as per Health Sciences Professionals Bargaining Association Grid Level - 85% of Grid 2   Hours of Work: 5.0 hrs Monday-Friday 8:15 – 2:15 (1hour lunch break)   Closing Date – Posted until filled     Cindy Singer Early Learning Program Supervisor Child Development Centre of Fort St. John 10417 - 106 Avenue Fort St. John, BC V1J 2M8 Phone: 250-785-3200 ext. 1012 Fax: 250-785-3202 Email: cindy.singer@cdcfsj.ca    Note: Qualified internal applicants will be given priority  Only thoes applicants shorlisted for an interview will be contacted                                                 “Building the best foundation for our children’s future.”  

Child Development Centre      Fort St. John

FSJ Basketball Drop-in will return to the North Peace High School on Wednesdays and Sundays from 7:30-9:30pm.  Starting on Wednesday September 11,  this is how the two nights will be run:   Wednesdays will be an adult only drop-in with a $2 fee.  Players will be assigned to teams of 3, 4 or 5 (depending on numbers) with team pinnies available.  Teams will play a slate of games with a Finals at the end of the night.  Game balls to be provided and pinnies returned at end of night to be washed.   Sundays will be an open drop-in with both gyms available to game play.  Bring your own ball, no drop-in fee.   Updates will be advertised here and on the FSJ Basketball 2019-20 Facebook page.

Fort St. John Men's Basketball      Fort St. John

Every year, the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation (FSJHF) teams up with the British Columbia Ambulance Services, and Coach Barbers for its annual Bluey Day, now on its 21st year.    Individuals, families or teams will register to participate, accept pledges in person and online, remit donations to the FSJHF before and on the day of the event.  They raise funds by asking family, friends, the company they work for through an online Fundraising Page.  Participants will then "be brave and shave" on the day of the event to give hope, to remember, and to raise cancer diagnosis and awareness.   The goal this year is to raise $100,000 for the Cancer Treatment and Diagnostic Fund.  This fund is to purchase emergent equipment needs for the Diagnostic Imaging Department, Laboratory, Operating Theatre, and Endoscopy Suite to help with early screening and diagnosis of cancer; and for treatment of cancer at the Community Cancer Centre.   Registration opens March 2!

Registered Non-profit      Fort St. John