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Clark opens cancer centre DeLynda Pilon
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Most people’s lives have been touched by cancer in some way, and Premier Christy Clark is no exception. Her mother won the battle against skin cancer and breast cancer, ultimately losing her life to brain cancer. Clark said she understood how important it is to be near your support group and for your loved ones to be able to be close to you when you are struggling with the disease. Every morning during her mother’s battle with brain cancer she would drive to the Royal Columbian Hospital, help her mother shower and eat, then put her to bed. After work she would pick up her son and they would go see her mother. Clark would feed her dinner and help her brush her teeth. Her mother may not have surDe Ly nd a PILON/ Fre e Pre s s vived her final battle with cancer, but Clark said she did get to Premier Christy Clark toured the radiation unit at the B.C. Cancer Agency Centre for the North during spend those final days with her in its grand opening Monday. Patients will begin treatment at the centre Nov. 1. their passion for wanting to save lives ... that is ing for the project. the best possible way. A first report by the committee projected the “It was her final gift,” she said. “Now families what makes the difference.” Prince George Health Authority board chair earliest such a clinic could become a reality was in Prince George will also have that gift.” With tears in her eyes, Clark shared her story Wynne Powell said that for the first time in the 2015. Bond said they knew that just wasn’t fast during the grand opening of the B.C. Cancer north, the newly constructed centre will allow enough. Agency Centre for the North on Monday. In a patients to undergo radiation therapy. “Northern B.C. has been asking for equity in He added the centre is a key part of the northroom filled with proponents who worked hard health care for a long time,” Bond said. to make the centre a reality, local and provincial ern cancer control strategy. Over the time it has taken to make the centre In addition to being on time and below buddignitaries as well as many of the 82 professionals who will staff the centre, she talked about get, the centre, he said, will enhance service a reality, she said she was asked about it many the importance of a community coming together across the cancer care continuum through the times. “It’s not a matter of if,” she said she told peonorth. with a vision, then bringing it to life. Dr. Michelle Sutter broached the subject of a ple. “It’s a matter of when. And when is today.” “This is something you have needed in this “Everyone south of Williams Lake told us it local cancer centre when she noticed there was community for a long time,” she said. She added the province has the best can- an abnormal number of mastectomies being per- couldn’t be done,” Bell said. “When people tell northern British Columcer survival rate anywhere in North America, formed in the North. “Women were unwilling to leave their sup- bians it can’t be done, they just roll up their thanks in great part to the B.C. Cancer Agency sleeves. Today proves we can get it done in port systems,” she said. and the specialists who work there. The initial meeting with local MLAs Pat Bell northern B.C.,” Bond said. Prince George now has the most recently built Construction for the centre began in July of clinic, one of six throughout the province, filled and Shirley Bond led to several more, until Dr. Charles Jago, someone who has garnered a great 2010, with a capital cost of $91.5 million. The with state-of-the-art equipment. “But the real difference is the people who work deal of respect among a range of people, was first patients are expected to walk through the in the building,” she said. “It is these people and put in charge of a steering committee, advocat- doors on Nov. 1.
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One dead in crash One person is dead following a two-vehicle crash on Highway 97 south of Prince George Sunday. The RCMP’s Operational Communications Centre received a report of a two-vehicle collision at 9:49 p.m. near the intersection of Highway 97 and Buckhorn Road, just south of Prince George. One person was confirmed dead at the scene, while others were taken to the University Hospital of Northern BC by the BC Ambulance Service. Highway 97 was closed between Buckhorn Road and Old Cariboo Highway for about three hours. The BC Coroners Service has been called in to investigate. If you have any information about this collision, please contact the Prince George RCMP at (250)5613300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1(800)222-TIPS (8477), online at www. pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca (English only), or Text-A-Tip to CRIMES (274637) using keyword “pgtips.”