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Investigative Journalism

Frontline Stories That Matter

Real investigations, real families, real change. We expose failures, celebrate heroes, and demand accountability in BC's senior care system.

47
Stories Published
293K
Total Reads
12
Policy Changes
4
Facilities Reformed
Program Guidelines
Investigation
Featured
18 min47.2KDec 15, 2024

The Island View Place Files

How two families exposed systematic retaliation

After 9 years of excellent care, Joan's family filed a complaint about untreated wounds. Within a week, they received an eviction notice. Joan died 5 weeks later. Lynn's stepmother experienced identical treatment on the exact same dates. Our 6-month investigation reveals a pattern of coordinated retaliation against families who dare to complain.

Retaliation
Complaints
Saanichton
CHEK News
Investigation
Featured
22 min89.1KNov 28, 2024

Inside Retirement Concepts' $50M Collapse

How we helped bring down BC's largest for-profit chain

Nanaimo Seniors Village had 22 licensing violations, norovirus outbreak mismanagement, and no director of care for 8 months. Dr. Paul Hasselback called it 'widespread, systemic failure.' Our investigation contributed to government seizure of 4 facilities and the effective end of BC's largest senior care corporation.

Corporate
Government Seizure
Nanaimo
Violations
Investigation
Featured
15 min156.7KNov 2, 2024

The 303-Day Wait: Island Health's Crisis

Why Victoria families wait longer than anywhere in BC

Island Health maintains the longest wait times provincially—303 days average vs 159 days in Interior Health. Through exclusive interviews with families, staff, and officials, we reveal how desperate families use hospital admissions to fast-track placement, where waits drop to just 36 days.

Wait Times
Island Health
Victoria
Statistics
Real Stories, Real Impact

Heroes & Villains of BC Senior Care

Between 2020-2025, BC's senior care system revealed devastating failures and remarkable human resilience. These are the untold stories from the frontlines.

303
Days Avg Wait (Island Health)
6,500
People Waiting
4
Facilities Seized
$18K
Monthly Private Cost
CRISIS
Led to Island Health policy review
7 min readTrending

Barbara's 2-Year Wait: The Victoria Care Crisis

84-year-old becomes human ping-pong ball in overwhelmed system

Laura Kyle raised her fist and shouted from the hilltop to get care for her 84-year-old mother Barbara. After 6 months at Gorge Health Centre, they faced 2 more years on Victoria's wait list while Amica quoted $18,000 monthly.

Victoria
Wait Times
Island Health
INVESTIGATION
CHEK News investigation launched
12 min readTrending

EXPOSED: Island View Place Retaliation Pattern

Two families evicted within week of filing complaints

Joan lived happily at Island View Place for 9 years. After Tracey filed a complaint about untreated wounds, they received an eviction notice within a week. Joan died 5 weeks after eviction. Lynn's family experienced identical retaliation on the same dates.

Saanichton
Retaliation
Complaints
INVESTIGATION
4 facilities seized, $50M government takeover
15 min readTrending

How We Brought Down Retirement Concepts

Government seizes 4 facilities from BC's largest chain

Nanaimo Seniors Village: 22 licensing violations, norovirus mismanagement, no director of care for 8 months. Dr. Paul Hasselback called it 'widespread, systemic failure.' BC's largest for-profit chain lost control of 4 facilities.

Nanaimo
Corporate
Government Seizure

All Frontline Stories

VICTORY
9 min read

Selkirk Village Whistleblower Wins

Dr. Murray Fyfe exposes 'unable or unwilling' management

Workers earning $3-5 less per hour, chronic understaffing, and management failures dating to 2017. Island Health seized control, adding 12 care aides, 1 LPN, and 1 RN to stabilize operations.

Management change, 15 new staff hired
Victoria
Whistleblower
Staffing
HERO
6 min read

Glenn's Story: LTC@Home Changes Everything

76-year-old gets second chance with revolutionary program

'A year ago, I was thinking I wouldn't be in this condo another two years... but I don't feel that way anymore.' Glenn Maxwell, 76, is thriving with fall detection, medication monitoring, and virtual care through Victoria's $47M program.

Program expanding to 2,700 seniors
Innovation
Victoria
Technology
CRISIS
8 min read

95-Year-Old James: From Savings to Homelessness

Life savings plus $25,000 in loans still not enough

After draining life savings plus $25,000 in loans at Sunnyside Manor, 95-year-old James Cullina faced homelessness, living in Peace Arch Hospital. Dan Levitt called it 'catastrophic' when seniors in their 90s face homelessness for the first time.

Sparked emergency funding debate
Homelessness
Costs
Surrey

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