Your co-op, your voice

By Vanessa Hammond

Over 10 years ago some visionary residents in and around James Bay envisioned an organization that would focus on wellness, on integrative primary health care, on community outreach. After many community consultations we established the Victoria Health Co-op and started our work with services to members and community outreach. The services to members included monthly Members Wellness Clinics in which members can enjoy a treatment from one of the Complementary and Alternative practitioners, make a donation to the Creating Community Wellness Society to build up the Health Access Fund, and get a charitable donation receipt! This fund helps financially challenged members to receive a series of treatments when one is not enough, and ensures that the practitioner is fairly remunerated. Our community outreach included programs in Middle School, Our Place, Saanich Public Library, First+Met United Church and several BC Housing locations, bringing discussion and encouragement on topics such as nutrition, entertainment, stress reduction – all within the reach of people with very restricted incomes.

In September 2010 we rented the medical area of the James Bay Community Project, taking over responsibility for the Medical Office staff, phones, computers, supplies, cleaning. Six of our CAM practitioners, eight family physicians and a midwife all practice in that space – the Co-op Health Centre, 547 Michigan. Juggling the desire of practitioners to work part-time, accepting new patients as practitioner time became available has been challenging, specially as we cannot require Co-op membership as a condition of receiving care.  Despite this, the 450 members of VHC, in co-operation with Creating Community Wellness, have kept supporting its Health Centre and our wonderful Medical Office Assistants and practitioners look after over 5,000 residents.

It’s your co-op. If you are a member, come to our Annual General Meeting, 11:00 a.m. Feb 21st, Fairfield United Church. Ask questions, state opinions, visit the displays of all the other area co-ops we invite each year, enter for the excellent door prizes, select the Board, hear Chris Tilden of Vancity explain why Strong Co-ops = Strong Communities. And if you are not a member? Join. For only $50 for a lifetime membership you can help shape how we serve the community. You can enjoy a treatment at the monthly Members’ Wellness Clinic. You can participate in our outreach programs, contribute to the wellness of our community and learn about discounts at local shops. 

Questions?  Vichealthcoop@gmail.com or 250 415 9272.