In the Elk Valley and similar regions, residents are calling for a stronger voice in decisions that directly impact their care—and the message is loud and clear. As communities across British Columbia celebrate their strength and resilience, a new report from the UBC Centre for Rural Health Research shines a light on a persistent challenge: the rural health care gap.
Titled “Health After 2020”, the province-wide analysis paints a detailed picture of the systemic barriers facing rural residents, including emergency room closures, the loss of local diagnostic services, and the exhausting burden of traveling for basic medical appointments. The report’s central message? Better rural healthcare starts by listening to the communities who rely on it.
Local Voices, Missing from the Table
A staggering 90% of rural British Columbians surveyed felt their needs were not adequately represented in healthcare planning. Even when asked for input, many believed the decisions had already been made.
“We’re invited to consultations, but they already have a plan. They’re not here to listen—they’re just checking a box,” one participant said.
This disconnect between local communities and centralized health authorities has long been a source of frustration in the Elk Valley, where people are eager to contribute their lived experience to policy decisions that affect their everyday lives.
What Needs to Change
The study recommends four urgent actions to close the rural healthcare gap:
Establish Formal Community Partnerships: Recognize and support independent, local organizations that can serve as trusted bridges between residents and decision-makers. These community-driven networks can ensure diverse voices—especially from vulnerable populations—are heard and respected.
Create Local Engagement Hubs: Fund dedicated rural engagement centres that host regular, grassroots consultations and help health planners stay informed about real community needs.
Ensure Cultural Safety and Inclusion: Outreach must be trauma-informed and culturally competent, especially in Indigenous and underrepresented communities. One-size-fits-all engagement doesn’t work in a diverse province like B.C.
Support Local Capacity: From transportation to childcare to digital access, reducing the barriers to participation is essential. Community voices can only be heard if residents can show up.
Bring Decision-Making Back to the Community
The report also calls for more local autonomy in healthcare decision-making. Many municipal leaders voiced concern over budget and capacity, but also stressed that top-down health planning without local input fails rural residents.
The authors urge provincial officials to create a Rural Health Advisory Council, including health authorities, government representatives, and community leaders. This would formalize the feedback loop from rural communities to provincial health planners—and ensure that community needs inform policy at the highest level.
Accountability, Not Just Access
Rural residents aren’t just asking to be heard—they want transparency, follow-up, and real change. Participants in the focus groups demanded a system where engagement leads to action.
“We need to know where our input is going. If nothing changes, tell us why. If it’s being used, show us how.”
To that end, the report recommends a province-wide data platform that tracks rural health metrics, and standardized engagement benchmarks for all health authorities.
From Consultation to Collaboration
Above all, Health After 2020 calls for a cultural shift in how healthcare is planned in rural BC—from a system that prescribes to one that collaborates. In the Elk Valley, where community spirit runs deep, this shift could help unlock local solutions to persistent problems.
As we look ahead to the future of healthcare in Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford, and beyond, one thing is certain: when rural communities speak, it’s time for the system to truly listen.
See the “Health After 2020” report here.
