As Canadians do their part to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak, families and teachers are adjusting to the new reality and working to provide educational and diverse content to children at home. Starting today, the National Film Board of Canada (“NFB”), the country’s leader in audiovisual learning resources, is offering FREE online learning resourcesthat will give Canadian families and teachers new tools to keep young minds engaged.
Parents can access a special collection of acclaimed NFB films and learning resources at NFB.ca/education. All teachers across Canada, from now until June 30, 2020, have FREE access to CAMPUS, the NFB’s online media portal.
The NFB Education screening room will be featuring daily films and learning resources chosen by the NFB Education team for K–12 level children, including:
Films and playlists for primary and secondary-level students;
Educational interactive projects or apps;
Mini-lessons that are built around NFB films using curated film clips, paired with activities to encourage deep learning;
225 minutes of groundbreaking experiences from the NFB’s immersive and interactive Ocean School, transforming how we learn about and engage with the ocean. Ocean School is the result of a dynamic partnership between the National Film Board of Canada, Dalhousie University and the Ocean Frontier Institute.
Nearly 4 million Canadian K–12 and post-secondary students currently have access to CAMPUS, thanks to agreements with provincial education ministries and school boards. From now until June 30th, the NFB is opening CAMPUS to all educators who are looking for stimulating educational content for distance learning during the outbreak.
A rich collection of 1,300 exclusive documentaries, animated films, interactive productions and shorts;
Mini-lessons built around an NFB film using curated film clips, paired with activities, to encourage deep learning—written by teachers in the NFB’s educator network;
Study guides, a chaptering tool, and the ability to share chapters and create your own playlists;
Content organized around three key themes: the environment and sustainability; Indigenous voices and reconciliation; diversity and inclusion.
In order to register, teachers just need to contact NFB Customer Service at 1-800-267-7710 (from anywhere in Canada) or 514-287-9000 (Montreal region). Or by e-mail: [email protected]
A message from the NFB: “Your health and the health of your loved ones is the most important thing. As Canada’s public producer and distributor, the NFB has stood with Canadians for more than 80 years. Now, as families and teachers work to ensure that Canada’s children are safe, happy and well-cared-for during these long weeks at home, the NFB is proud to stand with them once again—with the best from its collection and its committed team of education specialists.”
Don’t worry kids (and adults with a sweet tooth), the Easter Bunny hasn’t lost your address! In fact you can make specific requests for treats sent right to your front door with these delectable Vancouver Easter chocolate delivery options:
Vancouver Easter Chocolate Delivery During COVID-19 Isolation
Mon Paris Patisserie Easter Collection. Photo Credit Nora Hamade
Owner Elena Krasnova has developed an online ordering system for deliveries, as well as a pre-order by-phone service with curbside and in-store pickup options. In addition to a limited selection of breakfast pastries and special occasion cakes, the Mon Paris 2020 Easter Collection, featuring colourful chocolate eggs and adorable chocolate ducks and a do-it-yourself (DIY) Easter cookie decorating kit, is now available for takeout and delivery (free delivery on orders of $40 or more).
BETA5 marks the impending arrival of Easter with a blast of prism colours. Available now, chocolate lovers can indulge in edible rainbow art in the form of BETA5’s trademark polygon silhouette in chocolate eggs, mini eggs, chocolate bunnies, and chocolate lollipops.
Chez Christophe Take Out & Delivery (4717 Hastings St, Burnaby & 1558 Johnston Rd, White Rock)
Chez Christophe Easter Collection
Chez Christophe offers take-away at both of their locations and free home delivery within 10km of their Burnaby Heights store on orders over $35. They have a selection of care packages and Easter bundles including. The Egg-cellent Easter Care Package ($35.95) includes a Petit Poulet Showpiece, three Mini Milk Chocolate Hens, three Easter Bunny Lollipops and a tube of Dragee (assorted flavours).
Headgehogs, White Chocolate Wooly Lambs, Peanut Butter Eggs, Truffle Eggs, Dark or Milk Chocolate Whiskers Bunnies and more! Order by April 5th to guarantee delivery by Easter.
Charlie’s Chocolate Factory Order online for curb-side pickup at both locations: 3746 Canada Way, Burnaby and #2 – 1770 McLean Avenue, Port Coquitlam.
Chocolate bunny ears, chocolate carrot pops, the traditional hollow chocolate Easter bunny and more! Crispy crunch egg, flat egg candies, and jelly bean surprise.
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 sixth in the Vancouverites in Isolation Elsewhere series:
Vancouverites in Isolation Elsewhere: Richard and Francesca in Singapore
Name: Richard and Francesca (Twitter) Hometown: West Vancouver Current City/Home: Singapore
What is your city like right now?
It’s a very strange time because while the rest of the world is shutting down Singapore remains open however, restriction are increasing. When I tell people this their first instinct is to tell me to stay at home with some form of expletive in there. The reality is we have been battling this since early/mid January when it broke out in China. When Singapore activated its response system to covid-19 it included incredibly strict (and impressive) tracing measures which have, until the last few days, meant that there was no community spread and that assertion could be backed up with evidence.
What this has meant is that hawker centers, malls, and most things have remained open and we’ve been encouraged to live life while practicing caution, hand-washing etc. Strict quarantine measures on all people entering the country were put in before there was evidence of community spread and that in turn has meant all imported cases were caught from point of entry and during mandatory quarantine periods. Apart from two separate incidents of panic buying things are available and there is a sense of calm. Local businesses are hurting and a lot of Grab divers (Singaporean Uber) tell me their business is down 40-60%. Small businesses are struggling.
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 fourth in the Vancouverites in Isolation Elsewhere series:
Vancouverites in Isolation Elsewhere: Patricia on Salt Spring Island
Name: Patricia R. Hometown: Montreal (Vancouver from 1989 – 2013) Current City/Home: Salt Spring Island, BC
What is your city like right now?
Even for a rural place which is relatively quiet, it is QUIET now! I only go to the village once a week to shop and I see very few people walking about, but the big stores (Thrifty’s, Country Grocer) are busier.
The Gulf Islands have requested that visitors stay away during this time, as half the population here is over 55 and so more vulnerable. On Saltspring we are lucky enough to have a full-on hospital (Lady Minto Hospital), but it is small, and they would be quickly overwhelmed if both locals and visitors were being admitted with covid-19.
Even BC Ferries has asked people not use ferries unless it’s for essential travel. I never thought I would see the day when BC Ferries would discourage people from travelling!
Organizations in the Downtown Eastside are uniting more than ever to ensure this unprecedented threat does not disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in our communities. DTES Response is a coordinated groundwork effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“The situation is serious and it is urgent. In a neighbourhood where space, food, supplies, and everything is shared, if we have one infection, it could decimate this entire community,” says Wendy Pedersen, Organizer, DTES SRO Collaborative Society. “Living conditions are already dire, and this is only going to get worse if we don’t act now.”
There are approximately 15,000 people at risk in the DTES. 3,000 are homeless and 4,700 are at high risk in privately run Single Room Occupancy hotels (SROs).
Under these conditions, self isolating and social distancing is extremely difficult. SRO tenants share bathrooms and many do not have access to soap, making regular hand washing impossible. SROs do not have kitchens, soup kitchens have shut down, food banks have limited stock, and disruptions in informal economies creates loss of income. Additionally, many SRO tenants don’t have cell phones, so in self-isolation, they can’t stay connected, communicate, or get necessary information.
DTES Response is mobilizing resources and coordinating operations to mitigate the challenges. They are activating networks in the community to create a stop-gap plan for the most urgent needs. For instance: providing food, cellphones, and money for loss of income. “We’ve been seeing community amenities closing,” local organizer, Erica Grant says, “and on the weekends, there is no food available.”
DTES Response Fund
The DTES Response has set up a collective fund to raise $100,000 for immediate needs. It will benefit: DTES SRO Collaboration (SRO-C), Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society (WAHRS), Friends of CCAP (Carnegie Community Action Project), and Overdose Prevention Society (OPS) who are supporting and connecting directly with people in the neighbourhood.
How you can help
Individuals, foundations, and corporations can help right now by:
Not visiting the DTES: Everyone is practicing social distancing and want to minimize the risk of introducing COVID-19 to the population.
