HSABC's Podcast

Corey Ranger, Public Health Nurse, and Alynn Gausvik, Senior Director of LA Family Housing, will be on the line to discuss how to safely and compassionately transition people from homeless camps to the emergency housing and hotel rooms being provided by government, and talk challenges, on the ground experience and practical tips for outreach and frontline workers based on their experience with large camps and complex populations in Victoria, BC and Los Angeles. We also hear from Duncan Higgon and Tanya Fader from PHS talk about their efforts in Oppenheimer and other camps during this process. 

The BC Government announced a public safety order on April 25th to dismantle encampments and move inhabitants to the emergency housing and hotel rooms being secured and the deadline is set for May 9th. 

Alynn Gausvik has worked in homeless prevention for families, youth housing research and policy development, Housing First for chronically homeless
adults, and now Engagement for families and individuals. She was recently involved in re-homing people from one of Los Angeles' longstanding encampments due to the COVID-19 crisis. 

Corey Ranger started his nursing career facilitating a blood borne pathogens program in the Edmonton downtown core—since that time, Corey has worked on the Harm Reduction team in downtown Calgary, implemented and coordinated HIV programming in rural Alberta, as well as the take-home naloxone project and supervised consumption services in Medicine Hat. Corey is highly driven and passionate about ethical and evidence-based approaches to public health problems. He has a wealth of experience in both formal and informal education, having acted as instructor/coordinator for the practical nursing program at Medicine Hat College. Most recently, Corey has moved back to Vancouver Island and has taken on the role of project manager for the Provincial Peer Training Curriculum project with the government of British Columbia.  He has most recently been involved in advocacy, systems and frontline work in Victoria's two homeless encampments. 

Corey Ranger, Public Health Nurse, and Alynn Gausvik, Senior Director of LA Family Housing, will be on the line to discuss how to safely and compassionately transition people from homeless camps to the emergency housing and hotel rooms being provided by government, and talk challenges, on the ground experience and practical tips for outreach and frontline workers based on their experience with large camps and complex populations in Victoria, BC and Los Angeles. We also hear from Duncan Higgon and Tanya Fader from PHS talk about their efforts in Oppenheimer and other camps during this process. 

The BC Government announced a public safety order on April 25th to dismantle encampments and move inhabitants to the emergency housing and hotel rooms being secured and the deadline is set for May 9th. 

Alynn Gausvik has worked in homeless prevention for families, youth housing research and policy development, Housing First for chronically homeless
adults, and now Engagement for families and individuals. She was recently involved in re-homing people from one of Los Angeles' longstanding encampments due to the COVID-19 crisis. 

Corey Ranger started his nursing career facilitating a blood borne pathogens program in the Edmonton downtown core—since that time, Corey has worked on the Harm Reduction team in downtown Calgary, implemented and coordinated HIV programming in rural Alberta, as well as the take-home naloxone project and supervised consumption services in Medicine Hat. Corey is highly driven and passionate about ethical and evidence-based approaches to public health problems. He has a wealth of experience in both formal and informal education, having acted as instructor/coordinator for the practical nursing program at Medicine Hat College. Most recently, Corey has moved back to Vancouver Island and has taken on the role of project manager for the Provincial Peer Training Curriculum project with the government of British Columbia.  He has most recently been involved in advocacy, systems and frontline work in Victoria's two homeless encampments. 

Organizational trauma and burnout specialist Amanda Thiessen takes a look at the challenges facing front line staff, managers and leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic and talks through practical tips, strategies and tools to mitigate burnout and overwhelm in your staff and yourself.

Amanda Thiessen specializes in helping individuals and organizations manage workplace stressors and make positive changes. 

As a ‘Stress Strategist,’ Amanda works with individuals through the process of inquiry to support people in gaining clarity and finding solutions to challenges. She offers a range of workshops to organizations to facilitate the creation of safe, supportive, and positive work environments. 

Having worked for over 15 years in the non-profit world, she has firsthand knowledge of the kinds of experiences that exemplify working in frontline capacities. Her experience includes working in the areas of addiction, victim services, mental health and developmental disabilities. 

This is an audio only recording of an HSABC Webinar, recorded on May 1, 2020. For the video recording and additional materials, please go to hsa-bc.ca

Organizational trauma and burnout specialist Amanda Thiessen takes a look at the challenges facing front line staff, managers and leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic and talks through practical tips, strategies and tools to mitigate burnout and overwhelm in your staff and yourself.

Amanda Thiessen specializes in helping individuals and organizations manage workplace stressors and make positive changes. 

As a ‘Stress Strategist,’ Amanda works with individuals through the process of inquiry to support people in gaining clarity and finding solutions to challenges. She offers a range of workshops to organizations to facilitate the creation of safe, supportive, and positive work environments. 

Having worked for over 15 years in the non-profit world, she has firsthand knowledge of the kinds of experiences that exemplify working in frontline capacities. Her experience includes working in the areas of addiction, victim services, mental health and developmental disabilities. 

This is an audio only recording of an HSABC Webinar, recorded on May 1, 2020. For the video recording and additional materials, please go to hsa-bc.ca

This is an audio only version of an HSABC webinar, recorded on April 29th, 2020. For the video recording and pdf materials, please go to hsa-bc.ca

Dr Hillary McBride provides useful practical strategies for understanding stress and anxiety and responding to it. The tools and insights she presents in this course pull from the most current research in the field of psychology and neuroscience to help you learn to find calm, right where you are.

This content is also tailored to reflect the high stress situations that we are finding ourselves in during the Coronavirus Pandemic, and incorporating a front-line worker's perspective on how to deal with the anxieties you may be facing in your work right now. 

This is an audio only version of an HSABC webinar, recorded on April 29th, 2020. For the video recording and pdf materials, please go to hsa-bc.ca

Dr Hillary McBride provides useful practical strategies for understanding stress and anxiety and responding to it. The tools and insights she presents in this course pull from the most current research in the field of psychology and neuroscience to help you learn to find calm, right where you are.

This content is also tailored to reflect the high stress situations that we are finding ourselves in during the Coronavirus Pandemic, and incorporating a front-line worker's perspective on how to deal with the anxieties you may be facing in your work right now. 

This episode is an audio only recording of an HSABC webinar recorded on April 28th, 2020. For the video and related materials, please go to hsa-bc.ca.


Dr. Daniele Behn Smith, Aboriginal Health Physician Advisor with the Ministry of Health, Justine Patterson, the Executive Director of the Overdose Emergency Response Centre at the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, and Jane Buxton from the BCCDC, will be on the line discuss the overdose response recommendations and provide more information for front line shelter workers and homelessness support agencies around harm reduction during COVID-19. 


Dr. Behn Smith works alongside, Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer. Dr. Behn Smith provides independent advice and support to the Ministry of Health on First Nations and Aboriginal health issues. In support of the Ministry’s strategic agenda, Dr. Behn Smith focuses on closing the gap in health outcomes between First Nations and other British Columbians.

Justine Patterson is a psychologist with 15 years of clinical and leadership experience in mental health and addictions. Before coming to Canada, Patterson worked in mental health and addictions in Australia.

Jane Buxton is a physician epidemiologist for hepatitis and the medical lead for harm reduction at BCCDC. She is also a professor and practicum director in the UBC School of Population & Public Health.

They talk to the HSABC team about on the ground applications of provincial guidelines for safe overdose intervention and harm reduction during COVID-19. 

This episode is an audio only recording of an HSABC webinar recorded on April 28th, 2020. For the video and related materials, please go to hsa-bc.ca.


Dr. Daniele Behn Smith, Aboriginal Health Physician Advisor with the Ministry of Health, Justine Patterson, the Executive Director of the Overdose Emergency Response Centre at the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, and Jane Buxton from the BCCDC, will be on the line discuss the overdose response recommendations and provide more information for front line shelter workers and homelessness support agencies around harm reduction during COVID-19. 


Dr. Behn Smith works alongside, Dr. Bonnie Henry, Provincial Health Officer. Dr. Behn Smith provides independent advice and support to the Ministry of Health on First Nations and Aboriginal health issues. In support of the Ministry’s strategic agenda, Dr. Behn Smith focuses on closing the gap in health outcomes between First Nations and other British Columbians.

Justine Patterson is a psychologist with 15 years of clinical and leadership experience in mental health and addictions. Before coming to Canada, Patterson worked in mental health and addictions in Australia.

Jane Buxton is a physician epidemiologist for hepatitis and the medical lead for harm reduction at BCCDC. She is also a professor and practicum director in the UBC School of Population & Public Health.

They talk to the HSABC team about on the ground applications of provincial guidelines for safe overdose intervention and harm reduction during COVID-19. 

Marsha Goldford and Jill Westlake, HR and non-profit organization specialists review the emergency employment insurance resources and supports available for non-profit organizations and help you navigate the avalanche of information during the coronavirus crisis.  

"To say these are unprecedented times is becoming the understatement of the century.  COVID-19 is not only taking its toll on our physical health, but it is seriously impacting our economic and emotional well-being. In response, federal and provincial governments have introduced a range of measures to assist individuals and families in weathering the short and medium term financial burden they face arising from actions to contain the virus.  This webinar walks you through the various types of assistance available and how you can guide your employees in taking advantage of them.  It focuses on what is available, who is eligible and what they can do to access these supports - information that is critical to your employees' peace of mind during this uncertain time."

Marsha Goldford and Jill Westlake, HR and non-profit organization specialists review the emergency employment insurance resources and supports available for non-profit organizations and help you navigate the avalanche of information during the coronavirus crisis.  

"To say these are unprecedented times is becoming the understatement of the century.  COVID-19 is not only taking its toll on our physical health, but it is seriously impacting our economic and emotional well-being. In response, federal and provincial governments have introduced a range of measures to assist individuals and families in weathering the short and medium term financial burden they face arising from actions to contain the virus.  This webinar walks you through the various types of assistance available and how you can guide your employees in taking advantage of them.  It focuses on what is available, who is eligible and what they can do to access these supports - information that is critical to your employees' peace of mind during this uncertain time."