Kamloops Brain Injury Association receives financial boost from province

Mar 31, 2017 | 5:23 PM

 KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Brain Injury Association is one of more than a dozen organizations that received a boost from the provincial government Friday.

Health Minister Terry Lake announced the province is investing $3 million to go towards the B.C Brain Injury Alliance.

The alliance is made up of 13 organizations, including the Kamloops Brain Injury Association, with Friday’s money going towards improving numerous programs.

“I’ve known with my work with the Kamloops Brain Injury Association what a difference iT makes when you can support people by providing some training, education and making sure people have someone to talk to so they feel supported,” said Lake. “This money helps brain injury associations across the province, something which I’m really proud.”

Kamloops Brain Injury Association Executive Director David Johnston says part of Friday’s funding will go towards creating a new program for prisoners suffering from a brain injury.

“Brain injury can impact your impulse control, which can lead to higher rates of people in prison with brain injuries,” said Johnston. “If we can get in there and help educate and tell him ‘hey this is what happened to you’, and then they realize they can do something about it, we’re really hoping that’s something we can keep doing.”

400 people in the Kamloops region belong to the Kamloops Brain Injury Association.