By Times Chronicle Staff
The BC Lung Foundation has received $8,000 for their BREATHE workshops through a collaborative donation by Peace Hills Insurance and Interior Savings Insurance. The donation will fund workshops in the Oliver region.
The BREATHE project is a community-based initiative that teaches participants how to protect themselves from wildfire smoke and extreme heat events through education and the hands-on experience of making a take-home DIY air cleaner.
“BREATHE” stands for ‘Building Resilience to Emerging Airborne Threats and Heat Events’, and is a project co-hosted by Simon Fraser University’s Pacific Institute on Pathogens, Pandemics and Society (PIPPS) and the BC Lung Foundation.
The workshops are facilitated by BC Lung Foundation, Simon Fraser University students, and Dr. Anne-Marie Nicol and support community members, especially seniors and people with existing lung conditions to build resilience against wildfire smoke.
During the recent Seniors’ Week activities organized by the Town of Oliver, Nicol and her team hosted a workshop on July 24 at the Oliver Senior’s Centre where over a dozen residents were given a hands-on opportunity to build their own air filter fan.
Participants at the workshop had an opportunity to socialize and connect while learning about wildfire smoke and building DIY air cleaners. The BREATHE project is actively engaging with many regional and community partners to bring these workshops to vulnerable communities across the province.
“The BREATHE project is making a real difference across BC by providing communities with
practical strategies and tools to help keep people safe during wildfire season,” said Christopher Lam, President & CEO at BC Lung.
“It is because of supporters like Peace Hills and Interior Savings Insurance that this important work is made possible. We are grateful to continue to expand the impact of this project with the help of this funding”
“Supporting the BREATHE project reflects our deep commitment to the health and well-being of
our communities, said Kirsty Scriver, CEO, of Interior Savings Insurance Services.
“The project aligns perfectly with our mission by providing crucial education and resources to protect against the impacts of wildfire smoke and extreme heat events.
We are proud to collaborate with Peace Hills Insurance to fund these workshops in the Oliver
region. Together, we can help build stronger, more resilient communities and make a
meaningful difference in the lives of those who need it most,” she added.
To learn more about the BREATHE project, or download instructions on how to build your own air filter visit BC Lung Foundation.
