Health Action Network Society had the pleasure of attending the opening of InspireHealth’s new Victoria Regional Centre at Suite 212 – 2187 Oak Bay Avenue in Victoria on Thursday, October 13, 2011. We were certainly not alone! The event was very well attended with standing room only in the large program room where the event was held. All in attendance were very pleased to have the wife of Dr. Roger’s, co-founder of InspireHealth, in attendance.

InspireHealth provides integrative cancer care. Many from Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands have benefited from the services and care provided through the Vancouver office of InspireHealth and now they will be served out of this new office complex in Victoria. The Victoria centre will come under the Direction of Dr Ron Puhky which is a distinct benefit to Victoria and the Gulf Islands as he has practiced complementary medicine in both Victoria and the Gulf Islands for many years. Ron has been instrumental in bringing awareness to alternative and complementary medicine through his many years of work with the Association of Complementary and Integrative Physicians of BC (ACIPBC).

The centre was officially opened by Minister Ida Chong (MLA for Oak Bay – Gordon Head) representing the Minister of Health Michael de Jong. Following the opening brief speeches were made by Dr. Hal Gunn (co-founder and CEO of InspireHealth), Dr. Ron Puhky (lead physician for the new centre), Dr. Stephen Faulkner (a well known Vancouver Island physician) and Ms. Kathryn Tatchell (a Victoria based cancer survivor). The speeches were both entertaining and optimistic but the speech that resonated with all in attendance was the speech given by Ms. Kathryn Tatchell. Kathryn took us into her experiences with cancer and the many benefits she received from InspireHealth and Dr. Ron Puhky in particular. Kathryn presented this speech as a picture of good health and as such the ideal person to represent the benefits of complementary and integrative medicine.

InspireHealth plans to open centres in Kelowna, Abbotsford and Prince George. We wish the team at the new Victoria every success in bringing their integrative cancer care services to Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands and thank them for including us at this opening event.