Three research projects at the University of Northern British Columbia will be receiving more than $500,000 in funding from the Vancouver Foundation and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – BC/Yukon Region for projects related to mental illness, barriers to cancer diagnosis, and seniors’ mobility issues in Northern and Interior BC.
Dr. Robert Olson, an Assistant Professor in the Northern Medical Program (NMP) at UNBC, and a Radiation Oncologist at the BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North, is receiving $57,000 from the Vancouver Foundation and an additional $50,000 from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – BC/Yukon Region for his research into the coordination of cancer diagnosis and care in isolated Aboriginal communities.
 
“Not only does geographic isolation make it difficult to access many services, but social and cultural factors often form barriers to accessing cancer services, from diagnosis to end of life care,” says Dr. Olson. “Unfortunately, there is limited research exploring which factors lead to delays in diagnosis, and treatment in this population, which can lead to inferior outcomes for Aboriginal Canadians.”
“I’d like to thank the Vancouver Foundation and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for investing in this important research, which will help us assess these bottlenecks and barriers to proper cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care in these communities.”
Dr. Candida Graham, an academic physician in Psychiatry in the NMP at UNBC will receive nearly $237,000 in Vancouver Foundation funding. It will allow researchers from the NMP to work collaboratively with service users at the Activity Centre for Empowerment, and the BC Schizophrenia Society in Prince George, to shape health initiatives, in order to better meet the needs of mental health service users, and help improve their health.
“One in five Canadians experiences a mental illness in their lifetime and people living with enduring mental illness will likely face the prospect of having a 20% shorter life due to illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease. Mental health service users have a right to a healthy life and we have a responsibility as researchers, healthcare professionals, and as a society, to address this issue. I’d like to thank the Vancouver Foundation for supporting our efforts,” adds Dr. Graham.
Dr. Greg Halseth, a Geography Professor, Director of the Community Development Institute (CDI) at UNBC, and Canada Research Chair in Rural and Small Town Studies, will receive more than $227,000 for his project From Front Door to Grocery Store: Getting seniors where they want to be from a grant from the Vancouver Foundation. The program supports communities to improve and advance health and wellbeing.
Following the completion in 2012 of a seniors’ needs assessment, the CDI, in partnership with the District of Clearwater, is undertaking the study, which will involve seniors and others in the community. The study will  assessing shopping and service areas, community facilities, walking routes, and transportation to determine what is working and what could be improved to help seniors get around in Clearwater. Each area will be assessed in both summer and winter. Following the assessments, community workshops will be held to review what was learned and to help formulate opportunities for improvement. The recommendations will assist the municipality, local businesses, various agencies, and non-profit organizations in planning and providing improved services to seniors.
 “The work we do in Clearwater will provide a model for other communities to explore mobility issues and assist with planning services and programs,” says Marleen Morris, Associate Director of the CDI. “This will enable communities to support seniors to age-in-place so that they can continue to enjoy the quality of life and strong networks that are common in rural areas.”
“We would like to thank the Vancouver Foundation for supporting this important study.”