Bella Coola resident celebrated in Legislature for his helping hands in COVID response

This week, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice highlighted the work of the efforts in communities across the region towards lending a hand when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of her allotted speaking time for the Legislature proceedings of Wednesday, Ms. Rice offered up the work of a Bella Coola resident as a symbol of the spirit of the region when it comes to helping out, recounting the work of James Hindley who created face shields for health care workers from his home and through a local group called the Bella Coola Makerspace.

Working in consultation with area doctors, Mr. Hindley quickly took to his work to develop the important Personal Protective Equipment that provides extra confidence for those on the front lines of health care.

Ms. Rice relayed his story as part of her remote participation in the Wednesday session.

We're facing a global pandemic not seen in over 100 years. While we have all witnessed some isolated examples of selfishness and malice, our communities have overwhelmingly demonstrated solidarity and kindness. 

Over the past few months, we have seen diverse and creative expressions of solidarity. 

There is one initiative in particular which I'd like to recognize here in the North Coast. My riding has some of the most remote communities in the province, and the isolation and lack of services makes our communities particularly sensitive to the potential effects of a local outbreak. 

When the pandemic began, health providers throughout my riding worried about the lack of equipment and PPE in our hospitals and clinics. 

 Seeing this vulnerability for his community in Bella Coola, James Hindley, a local 3D printing expert, worked together with local doctors, the Bella Coola Makerspace and a global online community of creators, to make hundreds of face shields and other PPE for the local hospital staff. 

James spent hundreds of hours using 3D printers at the community's Makerspace, and on his living room floor, to make these face shields, while all the materials were donated by local businesses. 

 Thanks to the efforts of all British Columbians and his own community, the virus has not entered the central coast, and these masks haven't had to be used. He has donated over 50 masks to the Nuxalk First Nation to stockpile, and he has kept another 200 masks at home in case the hospital needs them for a future outbreak in the community. 

James Hindley is just one of the thousands of people across the province who stepped up to fight this pandemic and ensure our communities remain safe. I couldn't be prouder of his work and that of all British Columbians who have come together, at a distance, to fight this pandemic. 

 To everyone who chose solidarity and kindness over self-interest and despair in the face of this pandemic, thank you. You are all heroes in my book.



As noted in her remarks, Mr. Hindley is part of the Bella Coola Makerspace you can explore some of their work here.

In his own Social Media post, Mr. Hindley deflects some of the praise while providing a bit of background to the project, noting that his work was designed as a worst case scenario.

Modest as he is, Mr. Hindley's efforts do showcase however how British Columbians have pulled together in many cases during these uncertain times and such efforts do deserve the recognition that was delivered in the Legislature on Wednesday

For more notes from the Legislature see our archive page here.