Copper Island Health

Copper Island Health & Wellness

By Sandra Reutlinger

We planted an apple tree one year. Then we waited. The next year we pruned and pollinated, fertilized and fretted. It was a few years we waited. We battled some kind of insect infestation and something else that was eating the leaves. We wondered if the work was worth it and maybe that tree would never bear fruit.

Then the glorious day came when we finally had success and an apple appeared. We eagerly awaited the day it would ripen. A short trek out to the back yard to check on it and make sure it hadn’t been pecked by the crows or some other bird. One day we went out to pick that one beautiful red ripe apple. We thought, let’s give it one more day, it’s looking good.

That night the bear came into our yard and helped himself to that apple. Big bear also broke some branches and left a rather large deposit near by. Sigh. We had to wait for yet another year to get an apple. We even had a friend come and tape some apples to the tree that Spring, as some kind of hopeful encouragement for us.

The Copper Island Health and Wellness Centre is a bit like our apple tree. The dream for a Health Services and Senior Resource Centre was planted years ago and a lot of hard work ensued. It’s been a while and there has been growth and there have also been some setbacks. It might feel like we’ve waited for a long time for bountiful fruit and this Spring we are reaping a harvest due to the support of our community and the many dedicated volunteers who have worked so tirelessly.

We are part of the Rural Health Locum Program and just finished up our first term with a doctor. We have other confirmed dates for a full time, Monday -Friday doctor at the Clinic: April 26 - May 7, May 10 - May 28 and June 7 - June 25.

To make an appointment, please call our Medical Clinic line: 250-675-2196. You can keep up to date by checking out our calendar at https:// sshss.ca/calendar/ Our other services continue by calling 250-675-3661 for an appointment: Free Income Tax preparation for qualifying Seniors, other Senior support services, Foot Care, Lab Services on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We also have a Dental Hygiene Clinic on the 3rd Friday of every month.

Be sure to mark down Sunday, June 13th for the Blind Bay Bunch’s Hybrids and Hi-Jinks Golf Tournament in our support. This great group has recognized that we are a community led and supported centre and not funded through Interior Health but through grants and the generous donations of our community. The Golf Tournament will be held at the amazing Shuswap Lake Estates Golf Course and there are a ton of prizes.

For more information, follow us on Facebook or give us a call. We are looking for more volunteers to help out with various things.