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Health gains and
inequities highlighted
North Island Eagle, November 21 2025
Island Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer has released her 2025 Population Health Status Report, offering an in-depth look at the health of people across the region with a focus on children and youth.
Among the positive trends, the report notes a 41 per cent drop in child and youth poverty between 2016 and 2021, childhood immunization rates that now exceed the provincial average, and declining rates of substance use and self-harm among youth.
“This report shows that progress is possible, and already happening,” said Dr. Réka Gustafson, Island Health’s chief medical health officer and vice president of population and public health.
“From decreasing child poverty rates to improved youth mental health, we’re seeing positive shifts that reflect the strength and resilience of our communities,” Dr. Gustafson said.
The report also notes declining life expectancy and differences in health outcomes driven by social determinants of health including geography and income.
Life expectancy varies by up to eight years depending on where people live within the region, with men disproportionately affected by premature mortality, largely due to unregulated drug poisonings.
Residents continue to use more tobacco, cannabis, and alcohol compared to the rest of the province despite an overall decline in use.
The region has also seen increased cases of communicable diseases including syphilis and tuberculosis, with housing insecurity being a risk factor.
“Substance use continues to be elevated in the Island Health region, leading to avoidable harms like injury, illness and death,” said Dr. Gustafson. “We must continue investing in upstream prevention, develop a comprehensive system of care, and address the root causes of health inequities. By equipping communities with evidence to shape policy and promoting healthier public attitudes and policies around substance use, we can begin to shift the culture.”
The report also highlights ongoing mental health challenges among youth, including a notable decline in their sense of community connection since 2018. While some indicators are trending in a positive direction, overall youth mental health has yet to rebound to pre-pandemic levels.
Dr. Gustafson says sustained health promotion and prevention activities are key. “To make a real difference, we must intervene early, work collaboratively across sectors, and focus on the social conditions that shape health,” said Dr. Gustafson. “These are not just health system issues - they are community-wide challenges.”
The report is intended to serve as an engagement tool to support dialogue among public health staff, clinicians, local governments, and community organizations across the Island Health region.
In British Columbia, medical health officers have the statutory responsibility to monitor and report on the health of the population, providing advice on public health issues and the implementation of relevant health promotion and protection policies.
To read the full report visit Population Health Statistics & Publications | Island Health
Photo —Submitted
Island Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Réka Gustafson has released her 2025 Population Health Status Report
Village to do condition assessment on Quatsino Chalet Annex
North Island Eagle, November 21 2025
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The Village of Port Alice is taking steps to determine the future of the Quatsino Chalet Annex located at 1113 Nigei Street.
On Oct. 7, 2024, the Annex was auctioned at the annual tax sale. There were no bidders on the property, so the Village of Port Alice was deemed the purchaser.
“I am currently in the process of transferring the title to the Village of Port Alice,” said Chief Administrative Officer Bonnie Danyk in a report to council.
“The Village of Port Alice Council will need to decide if they would like to sell the building at market value or if they want to renovate it and use it for housing,” Danyk said. There is a strong need on the North Island for both subsidized seniors housing and employee housing for health care and service sector workers.
“I would recommend that one of the first tasks to be done is a condition assessment on the building. This will give us a baseline of what will need to be repaired immediately as well as an understanding of what services are shared with the Quatsino Hotel (heating, hydro) and what the process would be to sever them. The Village should also work on making the building more secure and consider adding an alarm system.”
If the Village decides to keep the building and renovate it for housing, they will need to fund it. Current programs such as the Federal Government ‘Build Canada Home’ and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) ‘Affordable Housing Fund’ are for new builds only. CMHC has an ‘Apartment Construction Loan Program: Seniors Rental Housing’ but there is a minimum of 50 units required. There are funding and loan programs with a strong focus on green infrastructure available through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. BC Housing may also have funding programs or partnerships available.
“Once the condition assessment is done these programs can be researched more thoroughly to see what available options are,” Danyk said.
At their regular meeting Nov. 12, council agreed to proceed with a condition assessment.
Photo — Ryan Nicholson
The Village of Port Alice is taking steps to determine the future of the Quatsino Chalet Annex apartment building located at 1113 Nigei Street.