Friday December 12, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Today on Universal Health Coverage Day, a group of Saanich residents launched Family Doctors for Saanich.
That’s a new grassroots campaign working to improve access to family doctors and nurse practitioners in the District of Saanich.
The volunteer-led initiative aims to help more residents get attached to primary care providers and encourage participation in local efforts to bring additional doctors to the region.
Supporters and volunteers gathered at Rutledge Park this morning for the campaign launch.
Universal Health Coverage Day:
Marked every year on December 12, Universal Health Coverage Day is a global day of action dedicated to promoting strong and equitable health systems.
It highlights the importance of ensuring that all people have access to the health services they need, when and where they need them. Around the world, communities use this day to call for practical steps toward universal access to primary care, prevention, treatment and support.
By launching on this day, Family Doctors for Saanich is joining a wider movement that recognizes primary care as the foundation of a healthy community.
Almost 20% of Saanich residents without a doctor:
In Saanich, thousands of residents are still searching for a family doctor or nurse practitioner.
At least 19.1% of people living in the Saanich Peninsula are not attached to a family doctor or nurse practitioner, according to the Saanich Peninsula Area Profile from Island Health (2022-2023 numbers).
How to sign up with the Health Connect Registry:
Family Doctors for Saanich is encouraging anyone who does not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, and who is not already on the list, to sign up right away with the Health Connect Registry (a service of the provincial health care system).
The provincial service used to help match patients with available primary care providers in their community.
Signing up takes just a few minutes. Have your Personal Health Number (PHN) ready. You will need to enter your address, email address and phone number.
Being in the Registry helps individuals and the health system as a whole.
A boost for Saanich:
“The provincial government has been working hard to connect people on the Health Connect Registry with a family doctor or nurse practitioner, and this is to be applauded,” said Teale Phelps Bondaroff, Saanich Councillor and member of the Family Doctors for Saanich organizing team.
“However, the government can only attach people to a family doctor or nurse practitioner if they know those people are looking for one, and that’s where our Health Connect Registry drive comes in. If you don’t have a family doctor and are not on the Health Connect Registry, please sign up, and let the government know to send more doctors to our community!,” says Phelps Bondaroff.
Family Doctors for Saanich is a grassroots and volunteer driven campaign. In the coming months, participants will be tabling at community events, canvassing neighbourhoods, and talking with friends and neighbours to raise awareness of the Health Connect Registry and the importance of registering. Volunteers are also working to support broader efforts to bring more primary care capacity to the region, including fundraising initiatives led by local partners and allies.
“As a community, we can all play a part,” said JoAnne Nelson, a Saanich resident and one of the founding volunteers. “Many people still do not know that the Health Connect Registry exists. Just telling your neighbour about it can help attach them to a family doctor or nurse practitioner, and it gives the province a clearer picture of the need in our area.”
“There is a real opportunity right now to make progress,” said Tony Wass, a community member involved in the launch. “When people sign up for the Health Connect Registry, when neighbours get involved, and when we support the organizations bringing new doctors to our region, we help build the primary care system our community deserves.”
“Doctors are essential to our quality of life and longevity. Without a family doctor, people are often left to guess, self-diagnose, and miss critical treatment. Physicians are our first line of overall well-being and public health, trained and skilled to save lives,” said Sue DeGrandis, Saanich resident, and Family Doctors for Saanich volunteer.
Registry realities:
The provincial government recently announced that a record-breaking 250,000 people getting attached to a family doctor or nurse practitioner in 2024.
However, several sectors of the population who might need additional or time-sensitive care are not always getting attached to a family doctor. That includes pregnant women and seniors.
South Island Primary Care Society:
The Family Doctors for Saanich campaign is also shining a spotlight on the work of the South Island Primary Care Society, a local organization helping to expand access to primary care across Greater Victoria.
The current fundraising priorities of South Island Primary Care Society include expanding clinic capacity and supporting the arrival of new doctors to the region.
“The South Island Primary Society has made significant strides in addressing the primary care crisis over the past few years, bringing 17 new doctors to the South Island and operating 5 clinics,” said Alyssa Andres, Executive Director of the South Island Primary Care Society. “The next crucial step is to retain these practices and establish even more clinics, as there’s still a lot of work to be done and we are committed to seeing that through.”
Family Doctors for Saanich strongly supports these efforts and encourages residents to donate directly to the Society.
Call to Action:
The campaign is encouraging Saanich residents to take four simple steps to help strengthen access to healthcare in the community:
- Sign up for the Health Connect Registry if you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner and are not already signed up. [Editor’s note: If you’re already listed in the Registry but your health situation or contact information has changed, it helps to provide those updates within the Registry.]
- Talk to your friends and neighbours and encourage them to register if they are unattached and not currently sign up.
- Volunteer with Family Doctors for Saanich by helping with canvassing, tabling, communications, or community outreach.
- Donate to the South Island Primary Care Society to support clinic expansion and efforts to bring new family doctors to the region.
Volunteer opportunities:
The Family Doctors for Saanich website provides information about the campaign, volunteer opportunities, the Health Connect Registry, and ways to contribute to local primary care efforts. Residents are invited to learn more, sign up for action updates, and get involved.
“Access to primary care is one of the biggest concerns I hear from residents,” said Saanich Councillor Phelps Bondaroff. “Our Health Connect registration drive is only the first step. We want to support broader efforts to recruit and welcome more medical professionals to the District so people can get the care they need close to home.”
===== RELATED:
- New medical clinic supported by City of Langford (June 16, 2025)
- Colwood health-care clinic hires first family doctor (December 8, 2024)
- Working hard to get a UPCC medical appointment (August 30, 2024)
- BC gains 708 net-new family doctors but there’s still a shortage (April 5, 2024)
- Westshore Urgent Primary Care shifts to appointment booking by phone (Mach 18, 2024)
- Health Connect Registry rollout coming July 4 (July 5, 2023)
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