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Cindy E. Harnett

Cindy E. Harnett

Cindy Harnett is a Times Colonist reporter focused on health.

Cindy is originally from Toronto, where she attended York University and Ryerson University before taking her first newspaper job in northern Ontario, where she learned about forestry, wildlife, block heaters, and snowstorms in May. She has worked as a reporter in Quesnel and a managing editor at Black Press, and has contributed to publications including Maclean’s magazine.

In 2008, Cindy and her Times Colonist colleagues picked up a Jack Webster Best News Reporting of the Year award for coverage of the 2007 Lee family murder-suicide, which highlighted gross inadequacies in domestic violence and child protection services and police co-ordination.

Over the years, Cindy has gravitated to issues of justice, including the 1997 swarming and murder of teenager Reena Virk, the 2012 botched firing of eight B.C. Health Ministry researchers during which one committed suicide, the 2018 toxic drug poisoning death of Elliot Eurchuk, and the 2019 William Head jailbreak that saw two prisoners charged with murder.

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Recent Work by Cindy E.

Island Health memo instructs nurses not to stop illicit drug use in hospitals

Island Health memo instructs nurses not to stop illicit drug use in hospitals

The memo dated March 12, which was raised in the legislature on Tuesday, provides a guide for staff interactions with people who use illicit drugs
No plans for overdose-prevention sites at all B.C. hospitals, Dix says

No plans for overdose-prevention sites at all B.C. hospitals, Dix says

Health authorities have differing approaches on how to deal with drug use in hospitals, but task force will standardize rules, minister says.
Trudeau visits UVic to tout funding for science, supports for students

Trudeau visits UVic to tout funding for science, supports for students

The prime minister toured the University of Victoria’s CanAssist wing of the CARSA building to hear from science and engineering students and faculty about their research.
BC United leader says solution to illicit drugs in hospitals is 'just say no'

BC United leader says solution to illicit drugs in hospitals is 'just say no'

Kevin Falcon says he would ban open drug use in hospitals
New streamlined registry aims to speed up attaching patients to family doctors

New streamlined registry aims to speed up attaching patients to family doctors

Health Minister Adrian Dix says the goal is to reach out to everyone on the Health Connect registry at least every three months
Nurses say rules for illicit-drug use in hospitals won't work without enforcement

Nurses say rules for illicit-drug use in hospitals won't work without enforcement

While standardized rules form a task force are welcome, the rules in place now are not being enforced, says the president of the B.C. Nurses Union
Mask mandate in hospitals dropped as vaccine booster program ramps up

Mask mandate in hospitals dropped as vaccine booster program ramps up

The goal of the spring booster campaign is to strengthen waning protection for the most vulnerable
Thousands in B.C. order new HPV mail-in screening tests

Thousands in B.C. order new HPV mail-in screening tests

B.C. has been a world leader in cervical cancer prevention for decades, said B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix
Cancer patients won't need to leave B.C. for new immunotherapy treatment

Cancer patients won't need to leave B.C. for new immunotherapy treatment

Starting this month, 20 adults and five children with lymphoma and some forms of leukemia who haven’t had success with other treatments will get immunotherapy treatment in Vancouver
Affordability crisis for seniors will worsen as boomers hit their 80s, seniors advocate says

Affordability crisis for seniors will worsen as boomers hit their 80s, seniors advocate says

Isobel Mackenzie says subsidies for the one in five seniors who rent have fallen “dramatically short” of what they need to continue living independently
More work by Cindy E. >