Local governments recognized for stepping up to support nurses

Communities that go the extra mile to support nurses are now getting some well-deserved recognition, thanks to a new award for local governments.

Photos from the media release

The BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) Health Care Champion Award was recently presented to the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) Mayor Rob Fraser and municipal staff during the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) convention on September 24.

This new award shines a spotlight on communities that have gone the extra mile to back nurses and strengthen health services close to home.

Each year, the award will highlight communities that help attract and keep nurses by making local life more appealing through affordable housing and childcare to better transit and recreation options.

“We’re incredibly proud to receive this recognition from BCNU,” says NRRM Mayor Fraser. “Our community knows that attracting and keeping nurses starts with making sure they feel welcomed, supported and connected. This award reflects the hard work of our council, staff and residents to create a place where nurses can thrive, and where quality health care is part of our community’s foundation.”

It also gives a nod to municipalities that are backing nurses by pushing local health authorities, along with provincial and federal governments to take stronger action.

This includes their support for minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, which have been shown to save lives, lighten heavy workloads, and make the job more manageable according to a media release from BCNU.

“Local governments play an essential role in building communities where nurses want to live and work,” says BCNU President Adriane Gear. “The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality has set an inspiring example by taking proactive steps to welcome and support nurses, and by standing alongside them in their advocacy for safe, sustainable health care.”

On top of these supports, the NRRM has set up residential-style housing for agency and travel nurses working through the province’s GoHealth BC program. The goal is to give permanent staff some much-needed relief and to improve nurse-to-patient ratios in positions that are tough to fill.

“The work underway in the Northern Rockies goes beyond just filling vacancies – it's helping nurses join a community that invests in their success” says Gear. “It’s a model of partnership and local leadership that shows what’s possible when communities truly value the people who care for them.”