Leadership transition at REACH Community Health Centre – Message from the Board President

Dear REACH Community,

On behalf of the REACH Board of Directors, I am writing to share an important leadership transition at REACH Community Health Centre.

Honouring Nicole LeMire’s Leadership

After seven years of exceptional leadership, Nicole LeMire will be stepping away from her role as Executive Director on April 11, 2025. On behalf of the REACH Board of Directors, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for her dedication and transformative leadership.

Under Nicole’s visionary guidance, REACH has expanded access to healthcare for additional 12,000 patients annually by launching a new Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC), strengthening Indigenous health initiatives, and deepening its commitment to health equity. She led with strategy and conviction, navigating complex funding negotiations, securing resources for critical new mental health services and programs, and building a strong, resilient team—leaving REACH in a position of strength for the future.

These are just few examples of the many contributions and innovations that have reinforced REACH’s role as a vital pillar of community health. We invite you to read a Special Acknowledgement Feature on the web to learn more about the positive and lasting impact Nicole has had on our community. 

Welcoming Melinda Markey

As we honour Nicole’s legacy, we are also excited to welcome Melinda Markey as the new Executive Director at REACH Community Health Centre and will commence the role as of April 1st, 2025.

 Melinda brings years of experience championing social justice with a focus on population health and well-being. She is a strategic thinker with experience working with diverse teams and managing complex budgets. She has worked in several non-profit settings as well as a stint at the City of Vancouver. Most recently, Melinda led the Healthy Public Policy Unit at Vancouver Coastal Health where she worked on strategic policy initiatives to promote health equity and address the social determinants of health with medical health officers, local and First Nations governments, provincial agencies, community organizations, and advocacy groups.

Once again, we express our gratitude to Nicole for her exceptional leadership and commitment to the REACH community. Her vision and impact will continue to shape REACH’s future. We are excited to build on this foundation and move forward with Melinda at the helm.    

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at info@reachcentre.bc.ca

Sincerely,
Barbara Wood
Board President
REACH Community Health Centre  

Executive Director Special Recognition: Nicole LeMire

Nicole LeMire, Executive Director of the REACH Community Health Centre from 2018 to 2025

Nicole LeMire, was Executive Director of the REACH Community Health Centre from 2018 to 2025. She came to the position with a strong background in Health Economics and a wealth of experience in program development and management. REACH was fortunate to have her at the helm just as the Centre was entering one of the most challenging periods in our history, including the COVID 19 pandemic and rise in opioid deaths. Both of which had a significant impact on our community and on our organization.

Nicole’s commitment and leadership enabled REACH to weather these difficulties and to emerge a much stronger and more robust community health centre. During the pandemic, her hard work, vision and dedication ensured that our community was receiving the care, guidance and support it needed, while REACH staff, who were working at capacity, knew she had their backs. Nicole played a key role in helping the Board continue to function as a responsible governance body, something we would have had difficulty doing at a time when face-to-face meetings were verboten.

Equally important, Nicole has been a strong and compassionate advocate for needed reforms in the primary health care arena – particularly regarding social determinants of health.

Nicole’s many accomplishments during her tenure at REACH include:  

  • The establishment of an Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) under the REACH umbrella, the first UPCC attached to a community health centre in BC. The UPCC formally opened on the first day of the COVID 19 lockdown and since then has become an invaluable resource for episodic care in our community. REACH UPCC was specifically recognized and appreciated by Vancouver Coastal Health for its contribution to BC’s COVID-19 testing strategy 2020-2022. The UPCC is currently serving over 12,000 unique individuals annually, contributing significantly to public health.

  • The negotiation of funding flexibility during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, an important achievement that allowed REACH to respond to our community’s needs with creative and timely programs.

  • The expansion of the Multicultural Family Centre into the Health Equity and Engagement Department (HEED) to address a broader range of health and social issues for justice-seeking communities. HEED has a strong focus on the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples, and on pressing social issues such as mental health and substance use, gender-based violence, chronic diseases, sexual health. Nicole has also championed the rights of individuals with precarious immigration status, strongly advocating for equitable access to health care.

  • Her efforts to ensure REACH physicians attained a contract with the Ministry of Health that included competitive working conditions has strengthened our capacity to recruit and retain top medical professionals, ultimately enhancing access and the quality of care provided to our patients.

  • Improved staff satisfaction and retention. Nicole understood that high quality health care depends on high quality working conditions. She encouraged an organizational culture that empowers and respects staff, while ensuring access to enhanced benefits, year of services bonuses, staff professional development programs.

Nicole’s contributions to REACH have been significant, raising the profile of Western Canada’s largest community health centre. But her impact has also been felt across BC’s primary health care sector where she has become an important and respected leader. In recognition of her accomplishments in the BC’s health sector, Nicole received the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards nomination and the prestigious ‘Rising Star Award’ from Société Santé en Français, a national organization dedicated to enhancing access to quality and equitable health programs and services in French through collaborative leadership.

Working with Nicole has been inspiring, enlightening and fun. We are enormously grateful to her for her seven years of service and visionary leadership she has provided to the REACH community and the REACH Board.

Respectfully submitted by:

Jane Turner, Board President 2018-2019
Colleen Fuller, Board President 2019-2023
Barbara Wood, Board President 2023 – current

Special Recognition: Nicole LeMire

REACH’s Executive Director, Nicole LeMire received the prestigious ‘Rising Star Award’ from Société Santé en Français, a national organization dedicated to enhancing access to quality and equitable health programs and services in French through collaborative leadership.

This award aims to highlight a person who demonstrates exceptional commitment to the development of health services in French, and promising leadership within their community.

In collaboration with RésoSanté, Nicole played an integral role in establishing the first Francophone community health centre in British Columbia, Santé Ouest. Over the course of 18 months, she voluntarily devoted her time offering strategic and operational advice and support.

Through her expertise and leadership, Nicole was instrumental in defining the centre’s strategic vision, securing approval from the Ministry of Health, obtaining funding, and recruiting qualified staff.

In the photo from left to right: Dr Brian Conway, President and Medical Director of the Vancouver Infectious Disease Centre and the newly created CHC for francophones, Nicole LeMire, Executive Director of REACH, Nour Enayah, Executive Director of RésoSanté

As Nour Enayah, Executive Director of RésoSanté shared ‘Nicole’s involvement went beyond technical advice. Nicole truly embodied the values of collaboration and altruism, enabling RésoSanté to overcome significant challenges. Her determination and dedication laid the foundation for a sustainable project vital to the Francophone community in the province.’

We are extremely proud of Nicole’s efforts and leadership skills that go beyond her role at REACH. We extend our heartiest congratulations for this well-deserved award acknowledging her tireless leadership and dedication to health equity!

International Overdose Awareness Day

Resources and Questions from International Overdose Awareness Day 2024

How can I help my loved one dealing with addiction? 

SMART Recovery has Family & Friends groups who use the tools of SMART Recovery and Community Reinforcement Approach & Family Training (CRAFT) to help cope with and motivate their loved ones dealing with addiction, using evidence-based motivational and cognitive behavioural theories. 

Go to:

 WHERE CAN I GET MY DRUGS TESTED

Vancouver Coastal Health runs drug testing sites

Robert and Lily Lee Community Health Centre have “Take Home Testing Kits” available for pick up in their safe supply and OSP kits.

 WHAT SUPPORT CAN I GET AT REACH

We have a variety of free services tailored to your needs. Our services include community counselling in English and Spanish, assistance from social workers, access to an Elder in residence, participation in an Indigenous women's circle, enrollment in the Basic 4 Health program, and participation in mental health support workshops such as Grief and Loss and Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT). *Please note that certain conditions and eligibility requirements apply.

WHAT IS SMART RECOVERY?

SMART Recovery is a FREE four-point program to assist people to recover from all types of addiction and addictive behaviours, including drug abuse, drug addiction, substance abuse, alcohol abuse, gambling addiction, prescription drug abuse, sexual addiction, and problem addiction to other substances and activities. 

The 4-Point Program® offers specific tools and techniques for each of the program points:

  1. building and maintaining motivation

  2. coping with urges

  3. managing thoughts, feelings and behaviours

  4. living a balanced life

The SMART Recovery Meetings at REACH: every Thursday from 4 to 5 pm.

'AgE with Attitude' - Seniors in our Community

The theme for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) this year is ‘Age with Attitude.’ We asked some elders in our community to let us know what ageing with attitude means to them. Here are some responses and images of the beautiful people we interviewed. Let us learn from them, celebrate the richness of getting older, and take a stand against elder abuse!

55 years of REACH

Join us in celebrating our 55th anniversary! Since opening our doors in 1969, REACH Community Health Centre has been dedicated to building healthy, sustainable communities.

We are excited to unveil our anniversary logo, “Endless Impact,” symbolizing our resilience in the past five decades, our strong connections with our community, and our ongoing commitment to making a positive impact on people’s health and lives.

Throughout the year, REACH will host a series of anniversary events and campaigns to engage with community members like you who are part of our incredible journey! Stay tuned and follow #REACH55 for more updates. 

Let’s celebrate this milestone and work together to build a healthier, more connected future! Visit our anniversary page and celebrate 55 years of community health!

Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research

On October 24th, 2023, the violence prevention program through REACH Community Health Centre presented guest speaker, Karen Mason from SOAR Canada (Supporting Survivors of Abuse and Brain Injury through Research), for a special half-day workshop titled “Moving Head: Putting Knowledge of Brain Injury in Intimate Partner Violence into Practice”. The workshop was held at the YWCA Hotel in downtown Vancouver and was attended by front-line workers from various community organizations including, Mount Pleasant Neighborhood House, Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Watari Counselling and Support Services, Coquitlam RCMP Victim Services, Vancouver and Lower mainland Family Services Society, and REACH Community Health Centre.

The workshop covered topics such as:

  • How to identify red flags and common symptoms of brain injury in cases of intimate partner violence

  • Resources that are available for survivors of brain injury

  • Tools available to help workers deliver a trauma-informed response to those who may be exhibiting signs of having experience a brain injury

 The workshop was very informative and interactive and participants reported feeling much more confident on the topic and more equipped to serve their clients and community as a result of the knowledge gained from the workshop. Visit SOAR’s website for more resources and information on these topics https://soarproject.ca/

Special Acknowledgement: Nicole LeMire

Nicole LeMire - Executive Director of REACH

On May 9th 2023, Nicole LeMire was one of 78 B.C. women honoured at the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony in Vancouver in recognition of her contribution to REACH and, more broadly, for her leadership in B.C.’s health sector. Among the achievements highlighted was her work in developing team-based, interdisciplinary care, and the confidence and support she has earned from a staff of over 190 people, the REACH Board of Directors and from our diverse community as a whole. The honour recognized her work during COVID, which hit our community particularly hard. During the pandemic, as the number of patients without access to primary care rose across the province, Nicole significantly increased access to REACH services. In 2020, she opened the REACH Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC), the first UPCC in the province to be located in a community health centre. This enabled over 15,000 additional people to be seen annually by a team of healthcare providers including doctors, a clinical pharmacist, nurse practitioners, and social workers.

In 2022, Nicole created a unique Health Equity and Community Engagement Department (HEED) to address social determinants of health with a strong focus on seniors, Indigenous peoples and people struggling with substance use, mental health disorders, poverty, and racism. She established an Indigenous advisory team, including an in-house Elder, to identify appropriate health services for Indigenous community members. All of these programs contributed to an overall increase of 30% in the number of Indigenous patients attached to the REACH Medical clinic. Nicole also obtained cultural safety training for both staff and Board members to better support, work with and serve Indigenous community members who represent 7% of REACH’s client base.

Since joining REACH as Executive Director in 2018, Nicole has emerged as one of B.C.’s most knowledgeable and skilled leaders in primary healthcare. These achievements, and the positive impact they have had on our organisation, patients and clients, and on our community, were among the reasons that the YWCA chose to honour this remarkable woman in 2023. It is a well-deserved recognition and one extended to her by the REACH Board of Directors as well.

Respectfully submitted, Colleen Fuller - Board of Director/Former Board President (2019-2022)

SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT - 35 Years at REACH

“It is with much admiration and great respect that I would like to celebrate the contributions of Dr. Lalya Wickremasinghe. She has served as a family physician at REACH for some 35 years. Personally, I had the privilege to exchange ideas with her on numerous occasions over the years. When in doubt, I often sought her advice and perspective. Lalya is thoughtful and thorough in her communications and not much escapes her. Humble, she will never admit to how her contributions made a huge difference to how we do business at REACH. Please take time to read what she has to say. You will not regret it!”

Nicole LeMire, Executive Director

Dr. Lalya Wickremasinghe

“REACH is a special place to work. I have been fortunate to work with exceptionally dedicated clinical staff over the years. The team consisting of doctors, nurses, counsellors, social worker, MOAs, other allied care, dental and pharmacy staff, medical residents, and volunteers, assisted by MFC and admin support has allowed a standard of patient care that I am so proud to be a part of. During my 35 years at REACH, I have seen the clinic adapt and change to better serve our changing community needs. This flexibility, I believe, is the reason for REACH’s success and longevity.

When there is extraordinary leadership at the level of the Executive director, the Board, Medical Director, and Department Managers, as we have right now, that’s when magic happens! Despite the significant challenges in the entire health care system over the past few years, REACH has not just survived, but expanded in significant ways. The building of the UPCC, expanding pharmacy services, responding to the opioid crisis, initiating actions towards Truth and Reconciliation are just some of the many examples.

The most important component of the Clinic is our patients. Their demographic has changed over time, but there are many who have been patients for more than 50 years and are quick to remind me that they have been at REACH longer than I have! I have several families in my practice where I have cared for 4 generations from great-grandparents to new babies! My patients at REACH have made my career one of the most rewarding a doctor could have.

I am grateful for the mentorship and guidance I have received and continue to receive. There are too many people to thank individually, but I have to say that when I am in a difficult situation, I still ask myself “what would Sandi do?”, of course referring to Dr. Sandi Witherspoon.

REACH has a fascinating history and the strength of an amazing staff and Board which has sustained it for more than 50 years. With the energy and talents of our newest members I know that REACH will continue to thrive long after my tenure here.”

Dr. Lalya Wickremasinghe

Looking for Volunteer Board Directors

REACH is looking for community members to serve on our Board of Directors. Could this be you?

We are looking for members of the Grandview-Woodlands community with the passion, time, energy and dedication to serve as a volunteer Board Director. As an organization committed to reconciliation, justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, we encourage members of equity-seeking groups to put their names forward. We’re actively recruiting candidates in advance of our next Annual General Meeting (September 2022).

We’re looking for you, if you….

  • Believe that community health belongs in community hands

  • Believe that all people, regardless of gender, race, ability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or age should have access to an appropriate and wide range of integrated health and social services

  • Understand the value of community health centres as a model of primary care

  • Are looking for a way to give back to your local community and neighbors

  • Have the time to attend regular meetings

  • Live or work in Grandview Woodlands, or use one of REACH’s programs

Please note that you do not need to have experience in the healthcare sector in order to sit on the REACH Board – this is common misconception!

If you’re interested, please reach out to Emma Macklem, Co-Chair of the Nominating Committee mack.emm@gmail.com for more information.

About REACH Community Health Centre

REACH Community Health Centre is a community-governed organization that believes that good health is a state of physical, mental, and social well-being. We provide innovative, high-quality primary health and dental care, and social and educational services to support the physical and mental health and well-being of our community and the individuals within it. REACH’s interdisciplinary team offers a variety of health and social services under one roof:

  • Team-based primary health care

  • Dental care

  • Pharmacy services

  • Counselling and social work services

  • Our Multicultural Family Centre

  • Indigenous programs and resources

  • Urgent & Primary Care Centre

REACH Community Health Centre is led by a volunteer Board of Directors elected by our membership each year at our Annual General Meeting. Their role is to govern the organization on behalf of the community, in a timely, transparent, and accountable manner by overseeing the performance of the organization and ensuring fiscal integrity and regulatory compliance.

REACH Public Forum ‘Dental Care for All’

On June 23, the Board of REACH hosted an informative online public form about the proposed national dental plan and how it can greatly impact access to dental services for all community members. Speakers and advocates included MP Don Davies, Brandon Doucet from Coalition for Dental Care, Karese Mahnic from REACH and Sarah Clifford from Vancouver Aboriginal Health Society.

Watch the recording to learn more about this important change and how it could impact you and your family! 

Calming the City

The Calming the City Poster Project is a community art project that includes 18 original art pieces created by youth artists. These artists were participants in Make It, a therapeutic art-based employment and support program, offered by Frog Hollow Neighbourhood House. Each artistic work was made following the prompt of creating a calming space in the city to ease anxiety, with each individual expressing what that looked like to them personally. This exploration of the meaning of calm and creating a calming space resulted in works ranging from digitally created art to multi-medium works on canvas. These original art pieces were digitized and made into posters which were placed in the City of Vancouver and now, at REACH.

REACH Photovoice Exhibition: A Gallery Worth Over a Thousand Words

Picture by picture, story by story, let’s destigmatize substance use and mental health. In the past months, REACH engaged with over 20 of our East Vancouver neighbors - who had or have experience with substance use and mental health. Participants inspiringly shared their stories in a 6-session sequence where they learned to express their stories through photographs. They are now available to the community to view!

Our Photovoice exhibition was truly moving. We are so grateful to the community members who participated and contributed their unique stories of experiences with substance use and mental health. Thank you to everyone who joined us in the space, we loved sharing this experience with you!

We have compiled the photographs into a virtual gallery below. Take a look at the enlightening artwork and click and hover on the images to learn about the story and artist behind each photograph.

 

GLOBAL FUNDING - Zoom Panel Discussion

On February 22, 2022, Outreach Committee of the REACH Board and the VCC Nursing Program team collaborated to host an online public forum about Global Funding. If you missed our forum, we have made the recording available for you to watch now.

Panelists Colleen Fuller - President of REACH, Nicole LeMire - Executive Director of REACH, and Stacy Ashton - Executive Director of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of BC, provided exclusive insight into how the global funding model employed by other provinces allow Community Health Centers (CHCs) and Social Services to optimize their community offerings. 

Watch the video to learn more about the potential of global funding and the far-reaching impact it could have on our very own community health.

Virtual Hiring Fair: Nurse Practitioner Edition

On November 25th 2020, REACH held a Virtual Hiring Fair for Nurse Practitioners to be part of UPCC team. We are pleased by the outcome and thankful of all applicants who participated. We thank Leslie Mills and Alex Briede, NP’s in the REACH UPCC, and Nicole Lemire, Executive Director at REACH, for their inspirational words.

Nurse Practitioners at REACH UPCC are instrumental in delivering high quality, low barrier care as part of an interdisciplinary team alongside physicians, RNs, LPNs, social workers and support staff.

REACH UPCC operates alongside our medical, dental, pharmacy and multi-cultural family centre with the primary goal of providing urgent primary care to any individual who needs it 7 days a week. While the emphasis is on urgent primary care, our vision of REACH UPCC strengthens our existing commitment to the social determinants of health as a foundation for patient care, with integrated supports to address these within the urgent care setting.

In addition to providing direct care on site, Nurse Practitioners are a key part of our outreach activities; leading and supporting initiatives to provide specialised clinics, public health education, culturally appropriate outreach to our Indigenous communities, and medical services to homeless and street involved persons in cooperation with our community health partners.

Information about the Nurse Practitioner position, and other open positions at REACH, are on our careers page and updated frequently. Send your application to Amanda in Human Resources at jobs@reachcentre.bc.ca if you would like to be a part of the REACH team.

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Orange Shirt Day

In recognition of and to promote greater understanding of the history behind Orange Shirt Day, several links are listed below.

1)  'Every Child Matters': Residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad explains Orange Shirt Day -  4 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP508W5zJko&t=29s

2) Healing a Nation Through Truth and Reconciliation
Chief Dr Robert Joseph | TEDx East Van - 10 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJQgpuLq1LI

Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, O.B.C. is a true peace-builder whose life and work are examples of his personal commitment. A Hereditary Chief of the Gwawaenuk First Nation, Chief Joseph has dedicated his life to bridging the differences brought about by intolerance, lack of understanding and racism at home and abroad. Helping to heal this racism and intolerance is to recognize ‘we are all one’.

“Let us find a way to belong to this time and place together. Our future, and the well-being of all our children rests with the kind of relationships we build today.” – Chief Dr. Robert Joseph

3)  'We Were Children' is a 2012 Canadian documentary film about the experiences of First Nations children in the Canadian Indian Residential School System, as told through the experiences of 2 Indigenous children. 

Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9daBqAddI_s&list=PL479aPRTN_XfAq7xkIsAa1y2e_YKLmKWt

'We Were Children' can be viewed through Amazon Prime Video,  iTunes, or Google Play.

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Introducing Our New Phone System

We’re incredibly excited to be moving to a new phone system on August 17. We recognized that the old system didn’t cope well with REACH’s continual growth, and we’re confident that the new system will create a better experience for all.

We’d like to thank our patients, clients and community partners for their feedback, all of which has been incorporated into the planning of the new system, and we welcome your comments going forward.

There may be a short outage on August 17 as the new system is activated; please be assured we’ll do our best to minimize disruption to our core services during this transition.

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A Message from REACH Dental Department

Our dentists resumed operation on Monday, June 15th 2020.

Our hygienists started seeing patients again on Monday, July 06, 2020 with some restrictions:  only hand scaling (no cavitron) and fluoride but no polishing for now; they are also seeing less patients than usual in a regular day and appointments are extended to 1.5 hour instead of 1 hour.

Please know that we have been working very hard to keep our patients and staff safe as we resume operations.

Infection control has always been and it continuous to be a top priority for our dental office. After COVID-19 we have enhanced our personal protective equipment to make sure we all keep healthy.

A few things to please remember at this time:

  • We value all our patients; however, we will be booking appointments in the order they were when we closed the clinic.

  • Check regularly if you have not heard back from us in some weeks.

  •  If you are experiencing pain or have a dental emergency don’t hesitate to call us.

  •  Schedule has been reformatted. We will be seeing fewer patients every day.

  •  No walk-ins at this time, always give us a call to book any appointments.

  •  If you have an appointment booked, try calling us before coming into the clinic

  • Re-schedule your dental appointment if you have a fever or flu-like symptoms. It will be best to call 811 or your primary care physician.

  • You will be pre-screened before booking your appointment and screened again, including temperature check, when arriving to the clinic for your dental appointment.

  • Follow recommendations about physical distancing (6 feet).

  • No visitors allowed, patients only (unless special circumstances).

  • Any one accompanying a patient to the office should remain outside the building.

  • Sanitize your hands upon entrance to the clinic.

  • We appreciate if you bring your own mask.

  • Bring your own blanket if you think you might need one.

  • Credit or debit card are the preferred method of payment at this time.