Council's proclamations raise awareness of health issues
Three local organizations visited Fort St. John City Council on April 22 to give updates about their programs and to ask Council for proclamations to help raise awareness for their causes.
The Fort St. John and District Palliative Care Society, whose volunteers have provided palliative care to families in the region since 1997, including visiting with people who are terminally ill, and providing grief and bereavement support for family members asked Council to declare the week of May 4 to 11 as Hospice/Palliative Care Week in Fort St. John.
MS Canada, through local Ambassador Sherri Mytopher asked the City to declare the month of May as MS Awareness Month, in recognition of the over 90,000 Canadians living with multiple sclerosis, many of whom call Fort St. John home. MS Canada provides information, support, education and other resources for people living with MS throughout Canada.
The MS flag will be flown at City Hall throughout May, and the Centennial Park stage is scheduled to lit up in red on May 30, 2024 for World MS Day.
For 25 years, the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation has encouraged community members to Be Brave and Shave their heads each May in support of cancer diagnostics and treatment in Fort St. John. In that time, $2.3million has been raised and 934 heads shaved. This May is no different, and on May 25 many brave community members have committed to shaving their heads for this worthwhile cause.
In recognition, the Foundation's Executive Director Kelly Amboe along with Community Giving and Event Coordinator Asuncion Sta. Maria asked the city to declare May Bluey Day Month. A light up in blue of the Centennial Park stage is scheduled for May 24 and 25, 2024.