I have reached out to some of my friends around the globe who are originally from the “604” area to see how they’re doing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is the second in the Vancouverites in Isolation Elsewhere series:
Vancouverites in Isolation Elsewhere: Duane in Spain
Name: Duane (Website, Twitter) Hometown: Chilliwack Current City/Home: Valencia, Spain
What is your city like right now?
Spain declared a state of emergency 10 days ago. We are on almost a country-wide lockdown: we are only able to get groceries, visit the grocery store, or walk a dog. Some people are renting their dogs for a few hours (true story).
TED Connects is a free, daily conversation series featuring experts whose ideas can help us reflect and work through this uncertain time with a sense of responsibility, compassion and wisdom. As COVID-19 sweeps the globe, it’s hard to know where to turn or what to think. Hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson and current affairs curator Whitney Pennington Rodgers, the theme of the Facebook Live series is TED Connects: Community and Hope
TED Connects Speaker Schedule
The first on Monday, March 23rd with Susan David, TED speaker and Harvard Medical School psychologist, who talked about emotional agility and the ways you can be your best self in a time of crisis. Watch the archive on Facebook here »
Tuesday, March 24, 9:00am PT Bill Gates, Business leader and philanthropist Topic: The healthcare systems we must urgently fix
Wednesday, March 25, 9:00am PT Gary Liu, CEO of the South China Morning Post Topic: What we can learn from China’s response to the coronavirus
Thursday, March 26, 9:00am PT Seth Berkley, Epidemiologist and head of GAVI, the vaccine alliance Topic: The quest for the coronavirus vaccine
Friday, March 27, 9:00am PT Priya Parker, Author, The Art of Gathering Topic: How to create meaningful connections while apart
Extended Schedule:
Monday, March 30, 9:00am PT Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, former Chief Rabbi of the UK and Commonwealth Topic: We cannot let this divide us
Tuesday, March 31, 9:00am PT Sonia Shah, science journalist and author of Pandemic and The Next Migration Topic: The smart ways we might respond to this pandemic
Wednesday, April 1, 9:00am PT Matt Walker, neuroscientist and author of Why We Sleep Topic: Why sleep matters now more than ever
Thursday, April 2, 9:00am PT Elizabeth Gilbert, author Topic: It’s OK to feel overwhelmed. Here’s what to do next
Friday, April 3, 9:00am PT A very special (secret) musical guest
Follow TED on Facebook to see upcoming speakers and to tune in.
I have reached out to some of my friends around the globe who are originally from the “604” area to see how they’re doing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is the first in the Vancouverites in Isolation Elsewhere series:
Vancouverites in Isolation Elsewhere: Steffani in Ottawa
Name: Steffani (Instagram, Twitter) Hometown: Vancouver Current City/Home: Ottawa
What is your city like right now?
I live on the 14th floor. It’s a light snow today, so it’s hard for me to see the bridge leading into Gatineau, but yesterday the traffic was really reduced. Very few people are out. Ottawa came out like gangbusters against COVID-19 and while the province shut down schools and daycares as of March 13th, the city of Ottawa closed all libraries, museums, galleries, recreation centers, etc, as of March 13 too. Theatres are now closed. Restaurants have been only doing takeout for over a week, I think.
A group of philanthropically minded local chefs, most of whom have been temporarily laid off due to COVID-19 restaurant closures, are working with Dan’s Legacy to transform surplus food into delicious soups and meals for those in need in the community.
Surplus Food to Feed the Homeless
Chefs TJ Conwi and Bruce Nollert from Ono Vancouver, Chef Warren Chow of Bauhaus Restaurant, Executive Chef Alessandro Vianello of Kitchen Table Restaurants, Chef Mike Boshart, Sous Chef Scott Milton, Chef Sean Macdonald and Chef Jefferson Alvarez are using their culinary expertise and big hearts to create healthy meals from donated ingredients that are then re-distributed back into the community to feed the hungry and the homeless.
Dan’s Legacy has been collecting surplus food from grocery stores and food wholesalers for over 25 years, and feeds more than 300 people in the community each month who face food insecurity. Part of the surplus food collected by Dan’s Legacy is delivered to the chefs, who create 600 litres of soup that they donate back to the non-profit as well as other charities in Metro Vancouver.
The meals and food hampers are handed out at Dan’s Legacy’s Sunday Haven dinner at Aunt Leah’s Place in New Westminster – normally a sit-down meal but now being served as take out until social gatherings are permitted again.
Ensuring the youth have nutritious meals is crucial, as they are some of the most vulnerable in society. Most are dealing with anxiety, depression, self-harm and hard drug use. Many are homeless and malnourished with compromised immune systems, making them vulnerable to COVID-19 and other opportunistic diseases. As an essential health service organization, Dan’s Legacy’s therapists are continuing to provide mental health counselling and other wrap-around supports during the current Coronavirus crisis to ensure these young people get the critical help they need.
Working in partnership with Aunt Leah’s Place in New Westminster, the two charities joined forces to provide housing, life-skills, and trauma-informed therapy to at-risk youth in Metro Vancouver.
You can text DANS to 45678 to send $10 right now and online donations are being accepted here »
Follow Dan’s Legacy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn more about their work in our community.
Get local wine delivered and support a great cause! The BC Hospitality Foundation (“BCHF”) and Township 7 Vineyards & Winery have announced that the BCHF will receive partial proceeds from the sale of Township 7 wine until April 17, 2020.
Township 7 Delivers Wine for a Cause
In light of the tumultuous times, many hospitality workers are facing severe financial distress. To help meet their needs Township 7 is donating $10 per online order to the BCHF (minimum 4 bottles per order). Included in this offer, Township 7 is providing free delivery across Canada. The wines are available online under the code SUPPORT10 (at checkout).
“We’re all feeling the tremendous impact of the COVID-19 crisis and that is particularly the case with the hospitality industry. We wanted to find a way to give back to the community as well as continue to support our customers and employees. We hope our $10 donation for each online order will help provide a lifeline to hospitality workers,” said Mike Raffan, General Manager, Township 7 Vineyards & Winery.
The BCHF’s Executive Director, Dana Harris, says, “I am always amazed by the generosity of individuals and businesses like Township 7 in the hospitality sector. We’re grateful for the support we receive from the public, but support from within our own community is essential for us to deliver on our mission, which includes not only providing financial assistance to hospitality workers who are facing financial crisis due to medical circumstances, but also scholarships for up-and-coming individuals in the field.”
BCHF is a registered charity that raises funds to support those in the hospitality industry facing financial crisis due to a health issue. In addition, the BCHF offers a scholarship program to foster the development of the next generation of workers and industry leaders.
Follow Township 7 on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
Yesterday, the City of Vancouver issued a PSA to “enjoy our parks but stay apart” and unfortunately the message didn’t reach everyone. In fact I heard from a source that those trying to distance on trails were actually laughed at. Now, in the North Vancouver District, Quarry Rock and Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge are now closed due to the inability to ensure physical distancing on those trails and narrow passages.
A District of North Vancouver Park Ranger took this photo on March 21, 2020 at Quarry Rock
Quarry Rock and Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge Closed
From the North Vancouver District on Facebook: “Quarry Rock and Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge are closed until further notice. Enforcement will take effect as of 7:00am Sunday, March 22, 2020.
The District of North Vancouver has taken this unusual step as visitors are not following orders of the provincial health officer to maintain a physical distance of 2 metres, despite on-site signage and staff enforcing physical distancing at trail entrances. These two public spaces also have spots on trails or bridges that make proper distances a challenge to keep. Please ensure you remain two arms’ lengths away from others.”
Mount Seymour and Cypress Provincial Park Closures
BC Parks has announced that at Mount Seymour and Cypress Provincial Park, access is restricted to some lower elevation trails; parking and road access closed.
The Stawamus Chief has been closed on March 22nd. On March 21st hikers were still using the trail and all climbing the same ladder to reach the peak.
Metro Vancouver Regional Parks
There is a full closure of Brae Island Regional Park in the Township of Langley and the closure of parking lots at Boundary Bay Regional Park, Deas Island Regional Park and Delta Heritage Airpark in the City of Delta; both within municipalities that have declared a local state of emergency. All other Metro Vancouver Regional Parks are currently open, though park facilities such as playgrounds, docks, rental facilities and picnic areas are closed.
Playgrounds and Outdoor Recreation
Most cities and municipalities have closed access to their playgrounds and on March 22nd the City of Vancouver announced that they were closing all public outdoor recreation facilities within parks and beaches. Volleyball, skate parks, field sports, tennis, and more are now closed.
In Delta, Fred Gingell Park is entirely closed because of its stairs. On Sunday afternoon the City of Coquitlam also confirmed it has closed sport fields, sport courts and skateparks, as well as public washrooms in parks.
BC Hydro is closing Buntzen Lake and Hayward Lake Recreation Area facilities including picnic areas, docks, beach and boat launch.
Stay in the Know
Here are links to your local parks Facebook pages (since they are frequently updated) so you can get all of the latest information:
