Pearson was in the news again, this time about the food served to residents. Those of us who have been here awhile remember well when things changed – under Gordon Campbell’s BC Liberal government, starting around 2003 – a LOT of privatization went on. During Campbell’s term as premier of British Columbia from 2001 until 2011, housekeeping, food, laundry, and security services in health care facilities were outsourced to transnational corporations, under the guise of saving money.
This is not meant to blame the workers – they are often poorly paid and expected to do more in less time. And GPC didn’t have a choice in the matter. As with so many things, the actual people responsible have likely long since moved on.
Some residents think the food here is great. Some do not. The desire for a home cooked meal was the driving force behind CARMA’s Community Kitchen, a monthly program of making and sharing excellent food featuring fresh produce.
Sadly, Community Kitchen is on hold during this COVID-19 Pandemic, and sorely missed by residents.
The link to the news article on GPC’s meals is below.
https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/07/08/concerns-meals-vancouver-care-centre/