On October 11, 2023, the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit (BCIRPU) marked 25 years of impactful work with its Silver Anniversary Symposium. The event which was attended by past and present injury prevention partners, highlighted the significant achievements over the years and outlined a vision for future BCIRPU endeavours. Distinguished speakers, including Mr. Jonathan Robinson from the BC Ministry of Health, Dr. Geoffrey McKee from the BC Centre for Disease Control, and Dr. Steven Miller, UBC Department of Pediatrics, underscored the collaborative nature of injury prevention initiatives and acknowledged the pivotal role played by the BCIRPU.
Throughout the morning sessions, attendees were treated to a retrospective journey, exploring highlights from different periods of the BCIRPU's history.
After a networking lunch, Ms. Andrea Godfreyson and Ms. Kate Berniaz from the BC Ministry of Health and BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure shared their perspectives on the Vision Zero Grant Program, highlighting the collaborative efforts to eliminate traffic-related injuries and fatalities in the province. The afternoon sessions then featured presentations from the five regional health authorities and invited Vision Zero grant recipients:
Interior Health
Northern Health
Fraser Health
Vancouver Coastal Health
Island Health
As the event drew to a close, Dr. Ian Pike and Dr. Shelina Babul reiterated the importance of sustained efforts in injury prevention and expressed gratitude to all participants for their dedication and support over the past 25 years.
The recorded symposium sessions can be rewatched on the BCIRPU Youtube channel.
