Olivier Laurin

1 week ago | goldstreamgazette.com | Olivier Laurin

While some set up tents, others lay out harm reduction supplies on a foldable table. Carefully coordinated, about a dozen volunteers set up a temporary, unsanctioned overdose prevention site (OPS) a few blocks from Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital on the morning of April 13, on the eve of the ninth anniversary of B.C.’s toxic drug public health emergency. The initiative is led by Doctors for Safer Drug Policy (DSDP), an independent group of physicians from Vancouver Island.

1 week ago | langleyadvancetimes.com | Olivier Laurin

At 21, Benjamin Lohner can’t be left alone for long. Having both Down syndrome and autism, he needs someone who can read his cues, calm his anxiety, and redirect his impulses before they turn destructive. But after leaving the school system, the level of care he received dropped sharply, and his mother, Tamara Hodgson, is pleading with the province for more help after he recently had an outburst where he wrecked parts of their James Bay residence.

2 weeks ago | pentictonwesternnews.com | Olivier Laurin

It was while Karolina Valente was wrapping her PhD at the University of Victoria that she discovered a blind spot in cancer research. With a background in 3D bioprinting and mechanical engineering, the Brazilian-born entrepreneur founded VoxCell Bioinnovation, aiming to revolutionize cancer treatment.

2 weeks ago | goldstreamgazette.com | Olivier Laurin

Stephanie McLean is a seasoned politician, but she never imagined returning to politics after leaving her home province of Alberta. A graduate of the University of Calgary’s law school, McLean served as minister of status of women and minister of Service Alberta from 2015 to 2019 under Rachel Notley’s NDP government. After her time in parliament, she resettled in Colwood, where she, her husband, their young son, and three dogs have lived for the past six years.

2 weeks ago | nanaimobulletin.com | Olivier Laurin

After eight months of deliberations, the Victoria-Saanich Citizens' Assembly has recommended that the municipalities of Victoria and Saanich amalgamate. “They concluded that… the two communities should amalgamate, and it was the overwhelming preference,” said Peter MacLeod, chair of the assembly.