Queen Charlotte Islands General Hospital
This is a 16 bed hospital on the south coast of Graham Island, 500 miles North of Vancouver. The hospital serves a population of 3,000 - from villages to isolated logging camps. The hospital provides acute and long term care services. Many islanders are employed in the logging or fishing industries and a significant proportion of our patients are Haida Indians. There are seasonal influxes of fishermen and tourists.
The three physicians on staff are part of a community-run project in health care delivery, attempting to give a team approach to health care. They do general practice, normal obstetrics and emergency coverage including closed reductions, minor surgery and stabilization of trauma and otherwise stabilizing critically ill patients for transport when necessary. There is a commitment to family-centred maternity care.
The physicians maintain a close relationship with other health care personnel such as the Alcohol & Drug Counsellor, Public Health Nurse, social workers and the Native community health workers. Frequent telephone consultations are made and consultants regularly visit from Prince Rupert and the Lower Mainland.
Haida Gwaii Community
Haida Gwaii (the Queen Charlotte Islands) is an archipelago of between
150 and 200 islands, located off the northwest coast of British
Columbia. The Village of Queen Charlotte is the centrally located
community at the South end of Graham Island.
Known as the
Galapagos of British Columbia, the Islands are a rain forest of natural
beauty and wildlife. Haida and settler cultures add to the diversity
while the mild climate allows for lush vegetation and abundant wildlife.
Deer, raccoons, black bear, and many varieties of birds such as bald
eagles and peregrine falcons can be viewed seasonally in easily
accessible areas. There are miles of endless beach from rocky to white sands and always a
private spot available. Beachcombing, beach walks, kayaking, canoeing
and fishing are popular pastimes for locals and visitors alike.
For the historian, there are many homesteads, closed whaling stations and
canneries, museums and logging machinery. Many of these sites shut down
suddenly and the equipment was simply left in place. Charters by plane
or boat can be arranged to visit ancient Haida Villages where totem
poles, house posts and various other artifacts lie in their original
village sites.
The Village of Queen Charlotte is a community full of art and
culture. Gift shops and coffee shops scattered throughout the town
display the works of various artists ranging from paintings, wood
carving, pottery, Haida carving, glass work and handmade clothing. The community offers visitors and residents alike a unique opportunity for outdoor life experiences as well as the comfort and accessibility of a wide choice of restaurants, businesses and accommodations. The village is a friendly community with hospital, school and churches set within the beautiful pristine rain forest of the west coast.