Heather Yourex-West
Network Digital Journalist: Alberta Correspondent
Heather Yourex-West is an award-winning journalist based in Calgary. As a Network News Digital Journalist, Heather contributes to all Global News platforms, covering news throughout the Prairies for Global National.
Prior to joining the network’s national team in 2018, Heather spent 10 years covering the health beat for Global Calgary. During that time, her work was recognized with a number of awards.
In late 2015, she produced a special series examining Canada’s upcoming medical assistance in dying legislation that went on to win an International Edward R. Murrow award and a Canadian Screen Award nomination.
Heather received her broadcasting education at the University of Calgary and SAIT. After a brief time working as videographer, anchor, producer and news reader at CFTK-TV in Terrace, B.C., Heather joined Global Lethbridge in 2003 before moving to Global Calgary in 2005.
In 2008, Heather’s curiosity about the AIDS pandemic in Africa took her to South Africa, where she took a break from broadcasting to help a small NGO produce videos about the work they were doing. Deeply moved by the tragedy of the orphan crisis created by the pandemic, Heather shared her experiences with the Global audiences online.
Outside the newsroom, Heather is a mother of two young girls and enjoys exploring the mountains with her husband, Dave.
Video Archives
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RCMP facing questions as hunt for B.C. murder suspects continues
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LGBTQ2 community critical of three-month wait for gay blood donors
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More hospitals in Canada becoming ‘baby-friendly’
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Calgary boy with rare disorder dashes for toys during 3-minute spree
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Flu shots available in Alberta starting Oct. 23; AHS not offering nasal spray
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Calgary group urges voters to elect pro-fluoridation candidates
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New study looks to improve emergency health care for youth and young adults
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Dementia-friendly café in Calgary working to remove stigma for those living with diagnosis
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Get your hip replaced and start walking the same day? New surgical technique makes it possible
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Advocates hopeful Selena Gomez kidney transplant will inspire more living donors
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#IBelieveYou organizers link Alberta campaign to increased support for sexual assault survivors
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Pregnant women face higher risk of stroke: study
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7-year-old kidney patient shows disease can impact all ages
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Researchers find childrens’ chronic pain can be influenced by memory
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New research finds prostate screening test saves lives but experts still don’t recommend it
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How to prevent child backpack pain
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Canadian company offers doctor’s visits online – for a price
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Faxing medical referrals has put lives at risk – so why is it still common practice?
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Young people with chronic disease at greater risk of suicide: study
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How an old federal government policy created a present-day Canadian health crisis
Author Archives
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Cold Lake is about to boom: Why that matters to millions of Canadians ahead of Alberta’s voting dayPeople who live in Cold Lake either, for the most part, work for the military or in oil and gas — but soon, the Alberta city could become major hub for clean energy.CanadaMay 25
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Alberta election: Albertans head to the polls at critical economic timeBusiness leaders warn Alberta has come to a critical juncture and decisions made now will directly influence the province's prosperity for decades to come.EconomyMay 23
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75 years ago, a Chinese-Canadian broke the NHL colour barrier. Do you know his name?In a time when Chinese Canadians did not have the right to vote, a Chinese-Canadian kid from Vernon, B.C. was excelling on the ice.CanadaMar 13
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Anti-LGBTQ2 protests are on the rise in Canada: What’s going on?A U.S. data tracker has found the number of protests against the LGBTQ2 community has risen sharply across North America, and particularly in Canada, in recent months.CanadaMar 13
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Canada’s LGBTQ2S+ safe spaces are disappearing at the worst possible time'What you're seeing is the process of gentrification ... leading to a very serious erosion to some of of the LGBT communities and spaces.'CanadaMar 2
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An intellectually disabled woman needed help. She went to jail insteadJessica Stuckey is 24 years old and lives with a permanent intellectual disability. She spent 36 days in a correctional centre because the nearest psychiatric facility was full.InvestigationsDec 20, 2022
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‘We were rushed into trauma’: A look inside Canada’s RSV and flu crisisToddler Avery Harper is battling both RSV and the flu. The viral illnesses have hit young patients so hard that children's hospitals across the country have been overwhelmed.CanadaDec 2, 2022
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Alberta-developed device helps mobility-challenged kids turn thoughts into actionThe Thank2Switch device, developed by researchers at the Universities of Calgary and Alberta, uses brain-computer interface technology to turn a child's thoughts into an action.ScienceNov 28, 2022
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Inmate hunger strike highlights problems Indigenous people face in prisonFor the past five months, Faith Eagle has been in remand at Pine Grove awaiting trial for an assault charge.CanadaNov 17, 2022
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Why don’t more Indigenous communities have locally-administered police service?"We're not asking for any more than other police services get, certainly we don't want to receive less," said Tsuut'ina Nation Police Chief Keith Blake.CanadaOct 17, 2022
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Indigenous-led healing program tackling ‘epidemic’ of violence, abuse"Packing that hurt and pain around for so long instead of being able to, 'I love you. I'm scared. I'm afraid.' It cames out as anger. That's what I lived."CanadaSep 30, 2022
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‘It’s not for me’: Papal visit brings no comfort to some residential school survivorsPerry Omeasoo hopes that the Pope's visit and his planned apology on Indigenous lands come as a comfort to some, but he says the papal visit will bring no solace to him.CanadaJul 24, 2022
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Why a Southern Alberta First Nation turned off the tap to hundreds of area farmersAlberta farmers rely on water diverted from the Old Man River through the Piikani Nation Reserve. On April 12, leaders ordered the route closed to get the government's attention.PerspectivesApr 30, 2022
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Alberta’s drug poisoning crisis is escalating. Can it be turned around in 2022?In terms of the opioid crisis, '2022 will be worse than 2021 if we don't change what we do," said Petra Schulz of Moms Stop the Harm. 'Substances are more tainted than ever.'CanadaJan 30, 2022
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‘To them you are money — that’s it’: Human smuggling victim says desperation made him vulnerable"He told me, 'You can get your citizenship in Canada and get a better life and job and in two months, you get your PR."CanadaJan 24, 2022
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Evidence of racism against Indigenous patients is growing: Is a reckoning in Canadian health care overdue?Gabrielle Lindstrom, an education consultant from the University of Calgary, says racism in the health system has become a barrier to access. She believes a reckoning is overdue.CanadaJan 19, 2022
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Alberta and Saskatchewan resist calls for new restrictions as Omicron numbers riseWhile Quebec imposed a curfew and Ontario put a stop to indoor dining and working out at gyms, Saskatchewan residents have enjoyed life virtually restriction-free.CanadaJan 15, 2022
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New study to help Lytton-area Indigenous community rebuild with climate resilience after fireSix months later, the Kanaka Bar is preparing to rebuild but this time Chief Patrick Michell says he wants to be sure that homes can withstand all kinds of extreme weather events.CanadaJan 13, 2022
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Alberta surgical patients may wait months for care after COVID-19 delaysAHS has been able to increase surgical capacity once again but the system is not yet operating at full capacity and surgeries continue to be postponed each week.CanadaNov 10, 2021
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‘Happy to be here’: N.L. health-care workers help expand Fort McMurray’s ICUN.L. critical care nurse Jennifer Richard is one of a seven-person team assisting with COVID-19 patients at Fort McMurray's Northern Lights Regional Health Centre.HealthOct 13, 2021
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‘All I hear is the ventilator’: 24-year-old Alberta woman in ICU after putting off COVID-19 vaccineJilleen Oar, 24, from Slave Lake, Alta., has been in an Edmonton ICU since Sept. 10 after contracting COVID-19.CanadaOct 4, 2021
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Canada Election: Advocates hope voters think about Indigenous kids in care on election dayCindy Blackstock says if the federal government is serious about reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, this issue of Indigenous kids in care has to be addressed.CanadaSep 19, 2021
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Should I stay or should I go: Oil, gas workers consider prospects amid global energy transition'There's no doubt anymore that we are transitioning away from fossil fuels and that transition is happening faster than we expected.'EconomySep 2, 2021
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Oil producers hope next Canadian government can fund ambitious carbon capture programThe Oilsands Pathways to Net Zero proposal would reduce emissions by 68 megatonnes by 2050, but the plan comes with a hefty price tag as well.CanadaAug 31, 2021
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Reality Check: How vulnerable will children be in Canada’s fourth wave of COVID-19?While rare, Dr. Stephen Freedman says he expects to see more cases of MIS-C and long COVID in kids if the Delta variant fuels a fourth wave this fall.CanadaAug 7, 2021