After three highly successful Personal Protective Equipment (“PPE”) donation drives in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver, Conquer COVID-19 invites the community to support a contactless PPE donation drive in Surrey this Saturday (April 25, 2020).
Where: Canstar Restorations (9377 193rd Street, Surrey) When: Saturday, April 25, 2020 from 11:00am to 4:00pm
Conquer COVID-19 is a grassroots organization is a collaboration between Canadian physicians, business leaders, entrepreneurs, celebrities and volunteers who are working together to ensure Canada’s frontline workers are equipped with the necessary protective gear to battle COVID-19.
The campaign is elevated by Olympic hockey gold medalist Hayley Wickenheiser who has a clear affinity for Surrey, where she hosts Canadian Tire WickFest annually. Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds is also heavily involved in the initiative, praising Canadian cities for their support on social media.
“Ensuring we have a high-quality supply of PPE to protect our vulnerable front-line workers is vital as we continue to battle COVID-19,” said Hayley Wickenheiser.
“The nurses, doctors, paramedics, police and fire services in our communities are our lifeline in fighting this virus. We must do everything we can to protect them, so they can continue to save the lives of thousands of Canadians. Even the smallest donation can impact saving lives, and I ask you to step up and support this cause if you can.”
The campaign calls on businesses and individuals to bring sealed and unused: masks, gloves, gowns, face shields and other PPE equipment for a contactless drop off donation.
Supplies from the drive will be going to local hospitals, family physicians, nursing homes, elderly care facilities, women’s shelters and other community health groups. In addition to PPE supplies, the organization is also collecting baby monitors, diapers, wipes, formula, and hygiene products for local women’s shelters.
Restrictions in movement, social isolation, coupled with increased social and economic pressures including job losses, women and children are ‘locked down’ in their homes with abusive partners.
Rendered vacant as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, Easter Seals BC/Yukon has entered into a partnership with Atira Women’s Resource Society which allows them to temporarily use the Easter Seals House facility as a transition house for women and children fleeing violent homes.
Easter Seals House for Women and Children Fleeing Violent Homes
As British Columbians deal with a crippling health emergency, critical care resources are in greater demand than ever before including the need for additional women’s shelters as reports confirm a surge in domestic violence.
Easter Seals House provides short-term accommodation for families and individuals with disabilities or other medical needs who are travelling to Vancouver from across BC for medical services and treatments. Because of COVID-19, there was a decline in demand for this type of accommodation as patient appointments were cancelled and postponed resulting in the suspension of operations at Easter Seals House for approximately three months (June).
“During a time of such devastation, we are comforted and very thankful that our Easter Seals House facility continues to serve the community and can play a key part in the prevention and redress of violence against women and children,” says Lisa Beck, President/CEO of Easter Seals BC/Yukon and BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities (Society).
“Our mission is to help individuals with diverse abilities, society’s most vulnerable, and while we are actively seeking creative alternatives to our usual programs this year, we believe we must work together to help everyone who is in need now.”
Seeking refuge in a women’s shelter is more difficult during the coronavirus pandemic as physical distancing measures puts limits on their capacities forcing some facilities to turn women away. Easter Seals House is uniquely suited to be used as a temporary women’s shelter as it features self-contained suites each with its own kitchen and bathroom thereby meeting COVID-19 isolation guidelines.
How You Can Help
You can donate online to support Easter Seals. The charity is also seeking online/virtual program options that can be offered now during the COVID-19 interruption and later this year in place of the regular summer camps. The Society relies on the generosity of its donors to fund its programs and services and is still seeking donations during this global health emergency.
Follow Easter Seals BC/Yukon on Facebook for more information.
The Vancouver Mural Festival is bringing life to boarded up Downtown Vancouver, Robson Street and South Granville with 40 new artworks during COVID-19 isolation.
40 New Murals in Vancouver To Bring Life to a Boarded Up City
A few weeks ago, as local grassroots art projects began popping up on boarded up businesses in Gastown and the Downtown Eastside, Vancouver Mural Festival (“VMF”) approached some of the City’s other impacted neighbourhoods to see if there was an opportunity to collaborate.
“Many local stores and restaurants may be temporarily closed for business due to COVID-19, but they remain open for inspiration,” says Clayton Buckingham, Chief Financial Officer at Vancity.
The result is these 40 murals with all artists paid and their supplies covered thanks to the incredible support of the local BIAs as well as key funding from Vancity Credit Union who will be matching all artist honorariums. Paint is provided by the City of Vancouver’s Mural Support Program.
The the first wave of murals is going up over the next week, throughout 40 locations across Downtown, Robson Street, and South Granville and will feature images intended to spark joy, inspire hope and celebrate resilience.
Participating local artists Mark Illing & Tierney Milne in front of a previously completed mural on the Irish heather in Gastown
Photo by: Dylan Hamm
The team behind the VMF has always believed in the power of public art to connect communities, inspire creativity, support artists, and bring smiles to everyday lives. Over the past 5 years, VMF has transformed blank walls in Mount Pleasant and throughout Greater Vancouver into over 200 murals by artists from our city and around the world. You can search them all online here.
Mural by Medianeras. Photo via Vancouver Mural Festival on Facebook
VMF wishes to stress that City of Vancouver COVID-19 social distancing rules remain in effect. All artists will be following health and safety regulations. Please respect all guidelines for physical distancing.
Follow the hashtag #makeartwhileapart to see the art in progress and the final before and after shots via the @vanmuralfest Instagram and Facebook.
This year’s tulip festivals may be cancelled due to COVID-19 but organizers have found a safe and exciting way to ensure that at least a few people get to experience the popular springtime event. Starting today on Instagram, you can win a day alone with BLOOM Abbotsford Tulip Festival‘s millions of tulips!
Win a Day Alone with BLOOM Abbotsford Tulip Festival’s Millions of Tulips
“We wanted to find a safe way to allow at least a few people from the same household onto the site to enjoy the tulips while still adhering to provincial COVID-19 guidelines,” said Alexis Szarek, founder of BLOOM, the Abbotsford Tulip Festival. “It will give us great joy to welcome the winner of this contest to BLOOM for this once in a lifetime experience.”
Enter to win a prize package that includes up to three hours alone in the BLOOM tulip fields at anytime of the time of the winner’s choice, including the popular sunrise or sunset times. The winner and their household may attend. In addition, the winner will have the chance to fill their own bucket with as many tulips as they can pick during their visit to BLOOM!
To enter, “like” the contest post on BLOOM’s Instagram and follow @abbotsfordtulipfestival, plus tag one friend. Both receive entries. The winner will be chosen Friday April 24th and will be contacted by direct message. The winner can only attend the festival along with members within their own household. Prize must be redeemed by May 1st, 2020.
Unfortunately, this year the pandemic has forced the cancellation of the beloved festival but the tulips had already been planted and now through to early May, acres of fields are in full bloom creating a stunning display along HWY 1 near the Sumas exit in Abbotsford. The event remains closed to the public until the BLOOM 2021 season.
At this time of year, as BC Youth Week‘s longstanding social media partner, I would be scrolling through dozens of events all scheduled for May 1-7, 2020. Due to COVID-19, BC Youth Week will look quite different this year but a handful of organizations have found clever ways to continue to celebrate and engage with youth through online initiatives. One of such campaigns is CityFest at Home in North Vancouver.
CityFest at Home in North Vancouver
To promote physical distancing and limit the spread of COVID-19, the original event CityFest at the Shipyards, is now CityFest at Home.
The event will take place virtually on Instagram on Saturday, May 2, 2020 and will celebrate youth on the North Shore ages 10-24, especially to showcase how resilient and creative they are during these challenging times.
This online youth celebration will feature over 150 awesome prizes, including Apple AirPods, longboards, skate merchandise, Disney+ and Skip the Dishes gift cards — for the best youth-submitted content (ages 13 to 24).
To enter to win, show how you are making creative use of your at-home time, for the betterment of our community. The categories are: skateboard + longboard, visual arts, performing arts, and baking/cooking. Share your content on the CityFest Instagram with #CityFestAtHome. Youth ages 10-12 are encouraged to enter through an adult or guardian’s Instagram account.
Another Online Contest!
Throughout April, there’s also a #CityFestPhysicalDistancing contest to highlight and award youth who are making creative use of their time at home. Leading up to CityFest, there are weekly giveaways every Friday on the @nvcityfest Instagram account.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-0GRlwH56b/
Youth are encouraged to upload an unlimited amount of photos of how they are spending their time during physical distancing, #cityfestphysicaldistancing, tag a friend in the post, and follow @nvcityfest.
What makes BC Youth Week so great is that it’s for youth, by youth, and it’s encouraging to see this community celebration persevere. Follow BC Youth Week on Facebook and Instagram for more info.
