Sad loss of key volunteer

Donna and Ken Crosby were key volunteers at Treefest, the annual celebration of the heritage tree collection on the Riverview Hospital site.      photo: V. Otton 


Photo and article from the Burke Mountain Naturalists newsletter:  January 2017 Issue 281BMN Loses Stalwart Volunteer Donna Crosby

 by Elaine Golds 


     Many BMN members will be saddened to learn of the passing of Donna Crosby on December 24. Donna was a long-time and stalwart BMN member whose passion was for Riverview and its very uncertain future. I had the pleasure of serving with Donna on Coquitlam’s Riverview Stewardship Committee for many years. 

      As a member of that group, representing the RV Horticultural Centre Society (RHCS), Donna made a contribution that truly deserves to be remembered. She always did her homework and attended every meeting well prepared with very strategic questions about the management and future of Riverview’s tree collection. The answers we typically received were vague and often not especially helpful. Donna politely kept the government and consultant staff on their toes with her incisive questions and by constantly referring to written comments taken from minutes of previous meetings. I think that over the years, it was Donna’s well thought-through and careful questions that gradually built up the confidence of the City staff members, and that ultimately helped to build a solid and trusting relationship between BMN, RHCS and the provincial consultants handling the Riverview file. Donna was consistently gracious, diligent, persistent and always polite; the strategy she chose was very effective. 


      For several months prior to the each annual Treefest, there were seemingly endless calls and emails between Donna and Riverview and City staff. She had the good sense to be able to anticipate problems and this was generally what made the organization of Treefest proceed without problems. In years past, Donna’s husband Ken was another of the volunteers upon whom Treefest depended. 

      A few months ago, Donna lost Ken after nursing him at home over a slow decline. This year, she had the unenviable task of organizing Treefest without Ken by her side. 

       Donna had superb organizational skills. I recall one meeting at Donna’s home where we were discussing a relatively minor aspect of Riverview’s history. To clarify the point under discussion, Donna went to her records and, in minute or two, returned with copies of the documents we had been discussing!
 
       Donna also spent countless hours preparing for the monthly public tree walks at Riverview. Over the years, the numbers of knowledgeable volunteers to lead these walks has gradually diminished. Thankfully, Norma Gillespie has kindly risen to the challenge of promoting Riverview’s tree collection. During the past few years, Norma has led many successful public monthly tree walks and awakened many people in our community to the impressive tree collection found at Riverview. Donna attended almost all of these monthly tree walks. She always was quietly present just in case she was needed - she well knew what a challenge it could be if forty people showed up anticipating a professional tree tour. 

Donna was a sincere and wonderfully dedicated volunteer. She will be much missed


ed. note:

  Kenneth Bruce Crosby ( 4 June 1941 -  24 April 2016 ) 

was a retired Coquitlam firefighter, always helping out when needed.

  Donna and Ken put in many years of passionately pushing the cause of preserving Riverview for whom it was intended; the health care of the people of Canada.

 Donna May Crosby,  nee, Donna May Elliot  9 May 1941 - 24 December 2016 ( obituary )

Riverview UBCM resolution

The Union of British Columbia Municipalities , (UBCM) are having their annual town Parliament, and one of the resolutions is directed at Riverview.

RESOLUTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE 2013 ANNUAL CONVENTION

VANCOUVER CONVENTION CENTRE, VANCOUVER, BC

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2013 TO FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2013

B121       REINSTATING RIVERVIEW         Maple Ridge

WHEREAS the lack of adequate treatment and housing for those suffering from serious or severe
mental illness is a reality experienced province wide, resulting in a less efficient system, with
unacceptably poor outcomes for the most needy citizens of BC, as well as severe financial and social
burdens on local communities;
AND WHEREAS the Riverview facilities and grounds have a proven history of providing a very
suitable environment for such treatment and housing, with much of the necessary infrastructure
already in place:
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government immediately begin to undertake
all necessary action, including funding, to reinstate Riverview as a modern centre of excellence for
mental health care and support.
ENDORSED BY THE LOWER MAINLAND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
UBCM RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: No Recommendation
UBCM RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE COMMENTS:
The Resolutions Committee advises that the UBCM membership has not previously considered a resolution that specifically requested that the provincial government reinstate Riverview as a patient-centred, wrap around care modern centre of excellence for mental health care and support.
However, UBCM members have consistently endorsed resolutions calling on the provincial government to
provide adequate support services for mental health patients.

 Past Resolutions

 (  2012-B37, 2011-B61, 2010-B42, 2008-A1, 2008-B51, 2006-B50, 2006-B51, 2006-B153 ).

And the Answer Is:

Endorsed as Amended (amendment in Bold red )

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government immediately begin to undertake all necessary action, including funding, to reinstate Riverview as a patient-centred, wrap around care modern centre of excellence for mental health care and support.

Followed quickly by:
Civic politicians demand Provincial Government re-open Riverview

UPDATES: Premier says Riverview Hospital won’t be reopened
     The Tri-City News:  Premier rejects UBCM call to reopen Riverview

[ Sold to the highest bidder who pads the party coffers no doubt. More interested in replacing a tunnel with a ( Guaranteed to be a toll ) bridge, the "Rusty Clark bridge" typical. ]

B.C. mayors call for a return to facilities like Riverview to treat mental illness

Lack of mental-health care in B.C. is immoral.  [ That last word that should be very familiar to our premier ]
Reopen Riverview, says mental health agency

Some Opposition from "professionals" :   Reopening of Riverview Hospital not the answer
Written by the CEO of the BC section of the Canadian Mental Health Association, (CMHA)
and  Marina Morrow, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences at SFU.
[ Typical writtings from two people who live in glass palaces away from the trenches. ]

 A letter to the editor...
Re: Riverview Hospital

Save these poor tormented souls who reside on our streets. They are without stability.

If these people with problems were put on a schedule of eating, sleeping and taking their medications, they would improve greatly. They need proper supervision. Riverview can provide that salvation for them.

Ruth Enns, Vancouver

Another Letter:
 Riverview renewal needed

I was disappointed when the premier announced the Massey bridge project, negating the dire need to look into the Riverview Hospital situation.

Wasn’t it closed because the government felt people shouldn’t be institutionalized? Face facts. Some poor souls are incapable of managing their medications, diets and general well-being.

I’m hoping Christy Clark will rethink the decision and put our tax dollars toward the greater need of addressing the mental-health situation in our province.

Marilyn Adrian, Langley


Monday, Sept. 23: Mentally ill deserve better care    Numerous letters to the Vancouver Sun.
Wednesday, Sept. 25:
  Premier douses Riverview plan; Mayors' Vote To Turn Hospital Site Into Mental Health Centre Nixed.

And a nice letter to the Maple Ridge News:    No public outcry over Riverview closing
   [ the writer brings up some very good points in the letter ]
Riverview was an asset  also from the Maple Ridge News, written by a former forensic worker.


          A news video discussion:     WATCH:    Should Riverview be reopened?

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The Burke Mountain Naturalists, (BMN) prepared a handout for the delegates, volunteers went down to Vancouver, but were hindered by security, and turned away. :(
But Mae Reid, Coquitlam councillor heard of the plight and decided to print up 2,000 copies of the letter below and personally place them on the delegates seats in the venue. Apparently the resolution will be voted on this Thursday sometime; I will update this post when the resolution is voted on.

 BMN Handout

To:  Delegates at the UBCM Conference, September 2013

Please support the restoration of mental health care to Riverview!

The 99 hectare Riverview Hospital grounds contain a number of significant heritage buildings in a graciously designed landscape with a world class collection of trees.  First opened in 1913 to serve the needs of the mentally ill of the province (and originally called Essondale), the site has now matured into a stunning park-like setting which instills a sense of peace, tranquility and closeness to nature.  Last year when the hospital finally closed after decades of community service, the Heritage Canada Foundation placed Riverview in the Top Ten Endangered Heritage Sites in Canada.

But Riverview contains far more than a few magnificent heritage buildings.  Some of its buildings are more contemporary and could be readily made available for patient care.  For example, the Valleyview facility, which closed in late 2011, opened in 1959 and in many respects has all the features of hospitals of that era, most of which are still in use throughout BC.  Originally designed for over 300 patients, if re-opened, Valleyview could comfortably provide 150 beds for mental health care.  Other residential buildings such as Brookside and Leeside were recently used for over a year to provide 40 beds for dual-diagnosed patients when overcrowding at the Willingdon facility in Burnaby presented challenges in 2011.  The Centre Lawn building, opened in 1924 for 300 patients, was also used for health care as recently as 2011 and could be made available with little effort.  The North Lawn building, opened in 1955, remains available for patients from the nearby Forensic Psychiatric facility should flooding require its evacuation.  The Henry Esson Young Building, originally designed as a nursing school in 1957, contains 100 bedrooms as well as classrooms, a library and auditoriums.  Thus, it offers space for teaching and recreation as well as residential care.  The Coast Mental Health Foundation currently uses a number of cottages on site for their patients.  Staff at the Coast Mental Health Foundation frequently comment on the therapeutic value of Riverview’s grounds for their patients.

The West Lawn building, which opened in 1913, was closed in 1983 during a period of government austerity.  That it remains standing after 30 years of utter neglect is a testament to its sound and innovative (at the time) construction.  Unfortunately, this building now has vegetation growing on it and it is typically featured in news coverage.  Yet, in no way do the remainder of the buildings at Riverview share similar conditions or state of neglect.  The movie industry continues to use a number of buildings at Riverview including the magnificent Art Deco-style Crease Clinic.

Riverview is well situated in the lower mainland to serve patients, having close connections to the Lougheed and TransCanada Highways as well as public transit.  Volunteers continue to maintain Finnie’s Garden which was originally designed as special place that patients could call their own.  Unfortunately, the provincial government has, for the most part, stopped landscaping services at Riverview.  As a result, the lawns have become overgrown and volunteer tree seedlings are now several feet in height and threaten the integrity of the tree collection.  In addition, the lawn areas have become a hazard for walking and a fire risk during dry weather.

The needs of the mentally-ill should be addressed through the health care system.  While the development of modern drugs has resulted in some remarkable resolutions to mental health care problems, not all such problems can be fixed by the simple writing of a prescription.  Some patients will continue to need stable, longer-term care in a facility such as Riverview Hospital.  Too often what they get instead is overnight confinement in a jail cell.

We are also facing another tsunami of mental health care as the baby boomers approach the age of declining health.  Predictions are that the number of people suffering from dementia will soon increase dramatically.  Eventually all such people will require long term care for, at least, a few years.  Riverview Hospital, with its spiritually-uplifting and pastoral grounds, would be an ideal site to provide longer term care facilities for older patients with diminishing abilities.

Produced by the Burke Mountain Naturalists in Coquitlam who for many years have worked in partnership with the Riverview Horticultural Centre Society and other community  partners to enhance public awareness of the value and potential of the Riverview site.  For more information about Riverview, see our report “The Riverview Hospital Site, Respecting its Past, Realizing its Future” available on our website 

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Also heard over the grapevine: Apparently the Royal Columbian Hospital is looking at expanding, and some rough estimates have been made, to expand at its present location will cost around 750 million, and to build new at Riverview would cost somewhere around 500 million, I  struggle to think that there is that much difference, but I could easily see 100+ million in price difference, which is still significant, saving more money for actual services. The Royal Columbian many years ago outgrew its present site, and I was always surprised that with all the development that has been allowed to occur in the area, why they were not knocking at the gate a long time ago.