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

Monday, April 6, 9:00am PT
Danielle Allen, Professor and activist
Topic: Here’s how we might save both lives and the economy

Tuesday, April 7, 9:00am PT
Esther Choo, Emergency physician and public health advocate
Topic: Life on the medical front lines of the pandemic

Wednesday, April 8, 9:00am PT
Ray Dalio, Hedge fund chair and philanthropist
Topic: The economic impact of COVID-19 (and what to do about it)

Thursday, April 9, 9:00am PT
Gayathri Vasudevan, Social entrepreneur
Topic: Spotlight on India: A country’s response to the coronavirus

Fareed Zakaria, Journalist and author
Topic: A bird’s-eye view of the global pandemic

Friday, April 10, 9:00am PT
Jacob Collier, Musician, artist
Spectacular, glorious, musical wizardry

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.