News&Notes

The following physicians have died over the past year; please consider submitting a piece for our “In Memoriam” section in the BCMJ if you knew the deceased well.

“Unsafe at School: Advocating for Children with Type 1 Diabetes” was published in the June 2012 issue of the BC Medical Journal (BCMJ 2012;54:232-237).

The article describes how type 1 diabetes, unlike other common, life-threatening illnesses in school-aged children such as asthma, severe allergies, and epilepsy, is not fully accommodated in the BC school system and has had far-reaching negative effects for affected children and their families.

Nelson Mandela’s eyes are filled with calm and purpose: a benevolent, steady determination that occupies the space between us. His brilliant, endless smile radiates the unmistakable joy of existence—an unquenchable spirit. As his hand squeezes mine, his grip is firm and strong, that of a much younger man with much work still to do.

The saga began inauspiciously in the 7-Eleven parking lot in Burns Lake, BC. My wife Leslie and I were returning from a windsurfing vacation in Oregon with our equipment on the roof of our overburdened Toyota Tercel. “Ever been to Tatlayoko Lake? Supposed to be good windsurfing there!” cried a voice from across the pavement.

“Where’s that? I replied. 

“Three hours west of Williams Lake,” came the answer. 

The use of mobile devices worldwide and in Canada is increasing rapidly. Data from surveys conducted by the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA) reveal that almost 27 million Canadians subscribed to a mobile phone service in 2012,[1] and that smart phone users in Canada increased from 33% of all mobile phone users in March 2011 to 48% in March 2012.[2] Similarly, the most recent Ipsos Reid Mobil-ology poll, conducted online in January 2013, found that almost half of all Canadians (47%) now use smart phones.[3]