An enthusiastic group of VPSA members gathered recently to recognize and celebrate our Vancouver Community colleagues. They were welcomed by family physician and chair of VPSA’s Community Building & Wellness Task Group Dr. Lucy Lyons.

“Tonight is dedicated to fostering connections,” said Dr. Lyons in her opening remarks. “With a significant number of our members practicing in Vancouver Community, we understand the challenges they face in connecting with colleagues and leaders. Vancouver Community is spread across multiple sites, limiting opportunities for in-person gatherings. That’s why we are thrilled to host this event for the fifth year in a row. The success of our previous years has been encouraging, and we are grateful for the ongoing support from our VC leaders, who recognize the value of engaging with their medical staff.”

Dr. Lyons then turned the floor over to VC’s newly appointed co-senior medical director, Jennifer Beaveridge, and VC VP Bonnie Wilson to provide an update on recent developments in their community of care.

They gave an overview of the Seniors Remote Monitoring Program that went live a year ago. As of October 8, 2026, the program serves 369 clients across VCH and provides monitoring, alert escalation, and caregiver support. The program’s collaborative and client-centered approach ensures caregivers and clients receive the guidance, resources, and reassurance they need.

Lily’s Community Health Centre opened in March. It is our largest community health centre and includes interconnected VCH Downtown Eastside programs and services. The UBC Urgent Primary Care Centre also opened in March. It was followed in April by the 10-bed Cottage Hospice at Burrard View Park. Vancouver Junction opened in its permanent location in June. It is the first made-in-VCH Recovery Community Centre. In September, Spiritwood Homes (formerly Alouette Homes) celebrated its first year of operations. This site provides long-term, complex mental health and substance use care within a supportive rehabilitation-focused environment. VCH purchased the privately operated Arbutus Care Centre to preserve its long-term-care capacity and convert it to a VCH-owned and operated facility.

The City of Vancouver extended urgent MHSU funding to 2027. VC’s first small care home, offering 10 beds of licensed long-term care, is targeted to open in May 2027. A 10-storey withdrawal management building is anticipated to open in summer 2028. VCH will operate two floors for purpose-built specialized substance use services.

The formal portion of the event concluded with remarks from VMDAS/VPSA President Dr. Adam Meneghetti.

“I am committed to ensuring that the voices of Vancouver Community members are heard and reflected in VPSA’s work,” he said. “As part of the development of our new strategic plan, we have taken a close look at engagement across our various departments and specialties to better understand how our members are connecting with and contributing to medical staff initiatives. What has stood out is the strong level of engagement from Vancouver Community members, particularly those within the Department of Family Practice. Many of you have actively participated in VPSA and VMDAS engagement initiatives, committees, working groups, events, and leadership activities. Your willingness to contribute your time, expertise, and perspectives has helped advance important work on behalf of medical staff across our community of care.”

Check out photos from the event here.

Member feedback

Fourteen of 35 attendees completed the post-event survey. Ninety-three per cent agreed that these types of events support their well-being, with 100 per cent agreeing that this event helped build collegiality. Eighty-six per cent agreed that it improved their perception of VA/VC as a place to work. The event earned a net promoter score of 71.43.

Comments included:

• Good time! Thanks to the Foundation!
• My only feedback is that there were very few medical staff in attendance and low turnout from the medical leadership.
• Provide set aside parking for attendees and also for those with mobility issues. Placed to sit so attendees can engage while eating.
• The food was very good and well presented. Maybe more chairs next time.
• I was talking to a VPSA member about the possibility of childcare at some of the evening medical staff events… would be an excellent offering to enhance inclusivity.
• Lovely event, thank you! The food was excellent, my only comment was that it was a bit odd to have only alcohol and no non-alcoholic beverages available (other than water). A lot of us are driving and not going to drink alcohol before getting home! Still, it was overall an excellent event.
• Thx for plant-based food!

Ideas for other events?

We want to hear from you about ideas for VPSA events and/or workshops. Share your brainwaves with us and we’ll direct your suggestion(s) to the relevant VPSA committee or task group for their consideration and action. Please complete this form. Let’s care, connect and collaborate!