With a freshly planted pinwheel garden already turning heads outside of <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/regina-city-hall/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">city hall</a>, a Regina organization wants as many people to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/452840362587904/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">wear blue this Wednesday</a> to recognize child abuse prevention month.
&#8220;If you see a group of people wearing blue, you&#8217;re going to stop and ask some questions,&#8221; said Holding Hope founder Sarah Labadie, who pointed out a 2014 <a href="https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2017001/article/14698/01-eng.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Statistics Canada survey</a> that found a third of Canadians had experienced some form of child abuse before they turned 15.
&#8220;We thought it would be a really great way to start conversations because we know they can be tough to start. We&#8217;re just giving people as many opportunities as we can to have those very necessary conversations.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7414689/child-abuse-concerns-higher-during-covid-19-pandemic/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Child abuse concerns higher during ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: experts" target="_blank">
				Child abuse concerns higher during ongoing COVID-19 pandemic: experts			</a>
		
	

Holding Hope planted 763 pinwheels at the edge of City Hall grounds along Victoria Avenue last week. The plan is to leave them up until the end of April.
Labadie explained that each pinwheel symbolically reflects 100 Reginans who experienced abuse as a child.
&#8220;Doing the math, one-third of the population in Regina is 76,309 people,&#8221; she said.
&#8220;The pinwheels are resilient. They promote happy, childlike feelings and that&#8217;s what we want for children, for them to feel carefree, like they&#8217;re blowing in the wind.&#8221;
Labadie hopes that educating people on those and other statistics on child abuse will lead to prevention.
&#8220;One of the biggest contributors to my silence was lack of knowledge. I didn’t know that what I was experiencing was abuse and that I should tell somebody,&#8221; Labadie said.
&#8220;Had I known my rights and had more knowledge about what is and isn’t okay, I truly believe that I would have spoken up sooner, saving myself from further abuse and years of suffering in silence.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7715820/seven-women-killed-quebec-domestic-violence-spike/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Seven women killed in 7 weeks has Quebec sounding alarm over domestic violence spike" target="_blank">
				Seven women killed in 7 weeks has Quebec sounding alarm over domestic violence spike			</a>
		
	
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNaxgSiAQXm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNaxgSiAQXm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank" target="_blank"> 










 View this post on Instagram






















</a>
<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CNaxgSiAQXm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank" target="_blank">A post shared by Holding Hope (@holdinghopesk)</a>

</blockquote>

Labadie founded Holding Hope in 2019 after she shared her own experience with abuse for the first time.
&#8220;I didn&#8217;t say anything about my experience for a really long time,&#8221; she recalled.
&#8220;In my grade 11 English class, I wrote an essay talking about my own experience. One of the things I was really pointing out was what schools and what everyone can do better to protect kids. It was really helpful for me to come out and share my story.&#8221;
Holding Hope has since grown to about 15 members from around Saskatchewan. One member even joined from Manitoba. Members include survivors and friends of victims.
Labadie said that beyond April, she plans to continue promoting Holding Hope&#8217;s message on its <a href="https://www.instagram.com/holdinghopesk/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">social channels.</a> The group is also hoping to work with educators to teach schoolchildren about abuse.
&#8220;Knowledge is power, and that is what Holding Hope is trying to demonstrate. Through education and difficult conversations, we can ensure that every child gets the safe and nurturing childhood that they deserve. It shouldn’t hurt to be a child.&#8221;

Holding Hope first recognized child abuse prevention month by planting a symbolic pinwheel display at City Hall. The group’s founder hopes Wear Blue Day sparks more conversations. Continue reading →

Canada

Health

News

Abuse

Abuse Awareness

Child Abuse

Child Abuse Awareness

Domestic Abuse

Holding Hope

Regina City Hall

Sarah Labadie

Sarah Labadie Holding Hope

Sexual Abuse

‘Start conversations’: Wear blue this Wednesday to raise awareness of child abuse

Flying Eze

Canada is nearing the peak of the current wave of <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/COVID-19" target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">COVID-19</a>, the country&#8217;s chief public health officer said Sunday as Ontario reported a new single-day record for new infections and provinces brought in new restrictions to contain the virus&#8217; spread.
Dr. Theresa Tam described the current rash of nationwide infections as the pandemic&#8217;s second wave, though public health officials in several provinces are describing their recent daily case surges as a third wave.
&#8220;With the current acceleration of COVID-19 activity, approaching the peak of the second wave, and a concerning rise in the proportion of cases that involve more contagious variants of concern, strong public health measures and individual precautions must be sustained where COVID-19 is circulating,&#8221; Tam said in a statement.
Tam said intensive care admissions across the country increased by 23 per cent over the last seven days compared to the week before, noting the spike is straining the country&#8217;s health-care system.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/pfizer-submission-vaccine-youths" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Pfizer to seek Health Canada approval for COVID-19 vaccine use in kids 12-15 within weeks" target="_blank">
				Pfizer to seek Health Canada approval for COVID-19 vaccine use in kids 12-15 within weeks			</a>
		
	
She said COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations are increasingly affecting younger people, adding figures show a jump in the number of hospitalizations among those 40 to 59 years old.
&#8220;These data also show that an increased number of adults in this age group were admitted to intensive care units (ICU) and received mechanical ventilation in March 2021,&#8221; her statement said.
The percentage of patients in intensive care who were aged 18 to 39 also doubled from January to March, from 7.4 per cent to 15 per cent of the total.
Tam&#8217;s statement came as Ontario reported a record 4,456 cases of COVID-19 in a 24-hour period.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7751962" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7751962/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7751962" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i2.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/up1mflp33k-bewmdgbzyw/0411_jennifer.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: U.S. COVID-19 cases surge, hospitalizations soar in the Midwest"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
The latest figures showed 21 additional deaths associated with the virus and a sharp rise of new cases in Toronto, which jumped by nearly 400 to 1,353.
Hospitalization rates in the province have been climbing steadily, prompting the province to order facilities to scale back elective surgeries starting on Monday.
A hospital at the centre of an outbreak in northwestern New Brunswick is also feeling pandemic-related strain, with seven of its nine intensive care beds filled with patients fighting COVID-19.
Local health authorities said the Edmundston Regional Hospital had 13 patients sick with the virus, with seven in intensive care and five on respirators.
	<a class="interactive-link hide-all" target="_blank" href="https://static.globalnews.ca/content/interactives/corona/graphs/curve/v7/index.html?prov=ca&#038;data=cases&#038;iframe=global-iframe-1" target="_blank">
		View link &raquo;
	</a>
	
		
	

	
Parts of the northwest were placed in lockdown as of Sunday following a recent rise in cases. In the afternoon, health authorities announced that municipal elections would be suspended in regions under lockdown, which include Edmundston, Upper-Madawaska, Lac Baker, Riviere-Verte, Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska and Saint Leonard.
Rules are also being tightened in Quebec, where a nighttime curfew is being moved to 8 p.m. from 9:30 as of Sunday evening in Montreal and neighbouring Laval to stave off a rise in cases.
The province reported 1,535 new infections on Sunday, as well as a 25-person jump in hospitalizations &#8212; numbers the province&#8217;s health minister described as &#8220;worrisome.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/covid-coronavirus-employment-jobs-numbers-qualtrough" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Canadians will lose jobs amid COVID shutdowns, but may rebound &#8216;quickly&#8217;: employment minister" target="_blank">
				Canadians will lose jobs amid COVID shutdowns, but may rebound &#8216;quickly&#8217;: employment minister			</a>
		
	
Premier Francois Legault already imposed the 8 p.m. curfew in some other hot spots including Quebec City and Gatineau, which are currently under special lockdown measures.
In British Columbia, health authorities announced they will offer vaccines to all adults living in the ski community of Whistler beginning Monday. Whistler residents account for the majority of cases in Howe Sound, which has the highest rate of COVID-19 of any local health area in the province.
Saskatchewan said it continues to set new records for the number of vaccines administered in a single day with 13,170 on Saturday.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7751885" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7751885/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7751885" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i2.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/9x4g1iq39i-bm0hsnv742/kat_ward_april11.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: Managing COVID-19 risks outdoors"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
Authorities said half of Saskatchewan residents who are 50 and older have now received their first dose, after recently expanding the provincial booking system eligibility to everyone 55 and up.
That province reported 321 new cases on Sunday, while Manitoba logged 112 and Alberta counted 1,183.
Atlantic provinces continued to record comparatively low infection rates, with New Brunswick reporting nine new cases and Nova Scotia adding five to its tally.

The chief public health officer’s statement came as Ontario reported a record 4,456 cases of COVID-19 in a 24-hour period. Continue reading →

3rd Wave

Canada Covid

Canada Covid Deaths

Coronavirus

Coronavirus Cases

Covid

Covid-19

Covid-19 Canada

Theresa Tam

Third Wave Canada

Canada nearing peak of current COVID-19 wave, Tam says as cases surge across provinces

A school district in central B.C. is making a big pivot towards outdoor learning during the pandemic.
The Cariboo-Chilcotin School Board planned and built 20 log classrooms for students in the Williams Lake area.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7237414" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7237414/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7237414" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/fv4agprvgy-z1d3e8wmm6/530_OUTDOOR_CLASSES_SUSAN_JUL30_THUMBNAIL00000000.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: Outdoor education specialists launch outdoor classrooms for learning in COVID-19 era"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
Local trades workers were hired for the unique project, which was approved by the district last month.
Marie Sharpe Elementary in Williams Lake and Alexis Creek Elementary and Junior Secondary in Alexis Creek are two of the schools benefitting from the new outdoor learning spaces.
B.C. education ministry lauded the school board&#8217;s ingenuity, saying educators there have &#8220;successfully adapted to new, dynamic learning environments and are finding students are engaged and excited to be learning outside.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/covid-variants-transmissible-outdoor-gathering-rules" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="COVID-19 has changed. Should our outdoor behaviour shift too?" target="_blank">
				COVID-19 has changed. Should our outdoor behaviour shift too?			</a>
		
	
Health officials have long advocated for people to congregate outdoors rather than indoors whenever possible to lower the possibility of <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/bc-coronavirus/" target="_blank">COVID-19</a> transmission.
The district says the log shelters will outlast the pandemic and be used by teachers and teaching assistants in the future.

The district says the log shelters will outlast the pandemic and be used by teachers and teaching assistants in the future. Continue reading →

Alexis Creek

Bc Outdoor Classroom

Bc Outdoor Classrooms

Bc Outdoor Log Classrooms

Canada Coronavirus

Coronavirus In Canada

Coronavirus News

Coronavirus Update

Log boom: B.C. school board builds 20 outdoor classrooms amid COVID-19 pandemic

Alberta Health reported 1,183 <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/covid-19/" target="_blank">COVID-19</a> cases and one more death connected to the virus on Sunday.
The death was a woman in her 70s in the Edmonton zone who had comorbidities.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/alberta-covid-19-vaccine-rollout-2c" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Alberta&#8217;s COVID-19 vaccine rollout expands to front-line health-care workers on Monday" target="_blank">
				Alberta&#8217;s COVID-19 vaccine rollout expands to front-line health-care workers on Monday			</a>
		
	
An additional 942 variant of concern cases were reported Sunday, with 50.5 per cent of active cases in Alberta now being VOCs.
The province has 14,293 active cases, 144,596 recoveries and 2,013 deaths.
As of Sunday, the Calgary zone has 6,600 active cases, the Edmonton zone has 3,524, the North zone has 1,885, the Central zone has 1,222, the South zone has 942 and 120 cases in unknown zones. All the zones experienced increases in active cases over the previous 24 hours, with the exception of the South zone.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
If you have a cough, fever, runny nose, shortness of breath, sore throat or any other symptom of COVID-19, please stay home and complete the AHS self-assessment to arrange for testing: <a href="https://t.co/X5zN9xoBa7" target="_blank">https://t.co/X5zN9xoBa7</a> (4/4)
&mdash; Dr. Deena Hinshaw (@CMOH_Alberta) <a href="https://twitter.com/CMOH_Alberta/status/1381359918767165443?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank">April 11, 2021</a></blockquote>

		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/alberta-covid-19-rapid-testing-schools" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Alberta government expanding COVID-19 school rapid testing program" target="_blank">
				Alberta government expanding COVID-19 school rapid testing program			</a>
		
	
Alberta Health reported 376 people in hospital, with 90 of those individuals in intensive care, an increase in both categories from the previous day.
The 1,183 cases came from 14,861 tests, resulting in a provincial positivity rate of 7.9 per cent.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7751066" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7751066/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7751066" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/szo9bx9qwv-twwa0isafo/SCHOOLS_RAPID_TESTING_THUMBNAIL.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: Alberta government expanding COVID-19 school rapid testing program"
					/>
	 	
			</a>

The death was a woman in her 70s in the Edmonton zone who had comorbidities. There have now been 2,013 deaths connected to COVID-19 in Alberta since the start of the pandemic.  Continue reading →

Alberta Coronavirus

Alberta Covid-19

Alberta Covid-19 Update

Alberta Health

Dr Deena Hinshaw

Alberta reports 1,183 new COVID-19 cases, 1 more death on Sunday

High school students were expected to return to full-time, in-person learning starting Monday, but the province <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7750485/new-brunswick-to-provide-covid-19-update-on-saturday/">announced Saturday that would be delayed for at least two weeks.</a>
Students were to be back in class at full capacity, but with variant concerns growing, the decision was made to suspend the return. The situation will be re-evaluated &#8220;during the week of April 26,&#8221; the province said in a news release Saturday.
When Riverview High School parent Caroline Budgell heard full-time, in-person learning was suspended, she felt &#8220;first and foremost, a huge sense of relief.&#8221;
	
		
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
				<img class="story-img" src="https://globalnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Courtesy-of-Caroline.jpg?quality=85&#038;strip=all&#038;w=510" alt="Caroline Budgell and her daughter Elissia. Caroline is pleased her daughter won&#8217;t be returning to a full classroom Monday.">
			
		
				
			
						 		Caroline Budgell and her daughter Elissia. Caroline is pleased her daughter won&#8217;t be returning to a full classroom Monday.
				
						 		Courtesy: Caroline Budgell
							
		
			
	
But she knows it&#8217;s not an easy decision either way.
&#8220;I feel for the teachers,&#8221; she says. &#8220;I understand it takes an awful lot of work to be able to do in-class and at-home learning.&#8221;
And it can certainly be challenging for students, too.
But one student who is also looking forward to maintaining a staggered schedule is Owen Pilkington, a grade 10 student at Harbour View High School in Saint John.
&#8220;I was a little shocked and a little relieved as well,&#8221; he says of learning the news Saturday.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7748885/covid-n-b-high-school-in-class-learning-parents/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Some parents feeling anxious as N.B. high schoolers prepare to return to class full-time">
				Some parents feeling anxious as N.B. high schoolers prepare to return to class full-time			</a>
		
	
He says it&#8217;s challenging being in school with COVID-19 concerns because it&#8217;s still a new experience. But he follows protocols to try to stay safe.
Owen&#8217;s mom, Susan, is also relieved with the delay to suspend the full classroom return. She&#8217;s been worried about what it would mean for her two high school sons.
&#8220;Owen has a heart condition and he has asthma, and he&#8217;s only 15, so he&#8217;s not eligible for the shot,&#8221; she tells Global News in a Zoom interview. &#8220;And herd immunity&#8230; I don&#8217;t know that is possible in high schools because half of those students are not eligible for the shot.&#8221;
Along with concerns in the Edmundston region, which is partially under lockdown, Health Minister Dorothy Shephard said Saturday they&#8217;re watching cases in the Moncton and Saint John regions too. And with variants of the virus being top of mind, the decision was made to suspend the return.
	
		
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
			
				<img class="story-img" src="https://globalnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/COURTESY-OF-SUSAN.jpg?quality=85&#038;strip=all&#038;w=512" alt="Susan Pilkington has two sons who are in high school. She questions if herd immunity is possible in high schools given vaccines are only available to those 16 and older.">
			
		
				
			
						 		Susan Pilkington has two sons who are in high school. She questions if herd immunity is possible in high schools given vaccines are only available to those 16 and older.
				
						 		Courtesy: Susan Pilkington
							
		
			
	
&#8220;We need to be quite confident that we&#8217;re not going to be contributing to the problem,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And so this gives us time to watch the cases and if we don&#8217;t have more cases, then we can have more confidence going back.&#8221;
The New Brunswick Teachers Association is also worried about the variant.
‘“The presence of the variant in our communities has teachers concerned for the health and safety of their students, fellow colleagues and the public,&#8221; Rick Cuming, the association&#8217;s president says in an emailed statement. &#8220;Our K-8 teachers continue to be in classrooms that make social distancing very difficult.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7721874/covid-19-concerns-crowded-high-schools-nb-students-return-full-time/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="New Brunswick high school student says province ‘didn’t really think it through’ on back-to-class plan">
				New Brunswick high school student says province ‘didn’t really think it through’ on back-to-class plan			</a>
		
	
&#8220;Considering the increasing spread of cases, it is crucial that these teachers, including supply teachers, be prioritized for vaccination as soon as possible,” he said.
Education Minister Dominic Cardy wasn&#8217;t available for an interview Sunday, but he tweeted Saturday that he too was relieved the delay was happening.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
So relieved that high schools across NB will not return to pre-COVID operations on Monday.
A decision on ending blended learning will be made the week of April 24.
My thanks as always to the teachers and all staff, and the students and their families, for their patience.
&mdash; Dominic Cardy (@DominicCardy) <a href="https://twitter.com/DominicCardy/status/1380960094737854473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2021</a></blockquote>

Meanwhile, there are calls to keep the blended &#8212; or staggered &#8212; learning model until at least the end of the school year.
&#8220;We don&#8217;t have that much time left,&#8221; Owen Pilkington says. &#8220;I mean the 26th is almost the end of April and then [after May] we&#8217;re going into June and that&#8217;s the end of school.&#8221;
These students and parents are hoping safety takes priority with further decisions to be made.

The province announced Saturday it would delay the return of full-time, in-person learning for high school students. The situation will be re-evaluated in two weeks. Continue reading →

N.B. parents, students, minister ‘relieved’ full-time classroom learning delayed

Days after Surrey’s fire chief warned that public safety could be in jeopardy if <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/bc-coronavirus/" target="_blank">COVID-19</a> cases continue to rise among his members, Vancouver&#8217;s fire chief is joining the call to reprioritize first responder vaccines in B.C.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7247019/two-vancouver-firefighters-test-positive-for-coronavirus-others-potentially-exposed/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Two Vancouver firefighters test positive for coronavirus, others potentially exposed" target="_blank">
				Two Vancouver firefighters test positive for coronavirus, others potentially exposed			</a>
		
	
&#8220;Our staff are being compromised,&#8221; Vancouver Fire Rescue Service (VFRS) Chief Karen Fry told Global News.
The service&#8217;s more than 800 employees are already on the front lines of the overdose crisis and since March of last year, every call has come with the added risk of being exposed to COVID-19.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7742443" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7742443/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7742443" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/58690kdbr2-666dsarfxu/whisi_web.png?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: Whistler mayor calls for community vaccination program to assist threatened essential workers"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
“We don’t have Plexiglas in front of us,&#8221; Fry said.
&#8220;We&#8217;re hands-on on the streets and we&#8217;re in people’s homes.”
Fry said they are seeing presymptomatic or asymptomatic staff unknowingly bringing the virus into fire halls after being exposed in the community.
“It appears to be getting worse,&#8221; said Fry, who wants to see firefighters and police vaccinated now.
<a href="https://twitter.com/Karen_Fry/status/1380681780928245762" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/Karen_Fry/status/1380681780928245762</a>
“We can’t work from home, this environment is our home.”
At Fire Hall No. 2 on the Downtown Eastside, 11 staff are on duty 24/7 in very tight quarters.
When there are positive COVID-19 tests in the workplace, close contacts must self-isolate — a situation that is currently affecting the organization&#8217;s mechanics shop.
Despite the impacts on staffing, VFRS must maintain its essential service to the public.
“We are doing our best to try and be as proactive as we can to reduce the risk to our staff, but we can never reduce it all,&#8221; Fry told Global News.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/covid-19-cases-whistler-firefighters-call-vaccinations" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="COVID-19 cases among Whistler firefighters prompt call for vaccinations" target="_blank">
				COVID-19 cases among Whistler firefighters prompt call for vaccinations			</a>
		
	
The province&#8217;s plan to give first responders priority access to COVID-19 vaccinations stalled when federal officials halted the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in people under the age of 55 due to concerns over blood clots.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7706120" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7706120/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7706120" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/34tqh4h37h-0g5x6bmhxg/NH_BC_IMMUNIZATION.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: B.C.&#8217;s front line and essential workers move to the front of the line"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
&#8220;We want to obviously get them immunized,&#8221; B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix told Global News on Saturday.
&#8220;No one could control what happened with the AstraZeneca.”
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Thursday that B.C. is in the process of ramping up its program to immunize workers, with a focus on first responders.
“I know it’s difficult to be patient,&#8221; added Dix.
&#8220;They are high priority for us, first responders, we made that clear several weeks ago and they continue to be high priorities.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/surrey-firefighters-covid-19-vaccinations" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Surrey fire chief calls for first responder vaccinations as COVID-19 cases rise among staff" target="_blank">
				Surrey fire chief calls for first responder vaccinations as COVID-19 cases rise among staff			</a>
		
	
Chief Larry Thomas of the <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/surrey-fire-department/" target="_blank">Surrey Fire Service</a> said he hopes the province will resume its program to immunize essential workers.
Eight firefighters and police officers in Surrey have contracted COVID-19 recently while 18 others are in self-isolation, according to Thomas, who is concerned that rising cases could impact staffing levels.
Members of the Vancouver Police Department would also like to see the restart of the priority vaccine rollout. Ralph Kaisers, the president of the union representing more than 1,450 front-line police officers, jail guards and special constables, said only a few have received the shot mostly due to being in the right place at the right time.
Meanwhile, many other workers in the Downtown Eastside are already immunized, according to Fry.
&#8220;There&#8217;s a little bit of a feeling of when’s it our turn?” she said.
Fry said she has no criticism for the B.C. government&#8217;s vaccination plan, she is just asking the province to pivot in order to renew the prioritization for first responder vaccinations.

Chief Karen Fry said they are seeing presymptomatic or asymptomatic staff unknowingly bringing the virus into Vancouver fire halls after being exposed in the community. Continue reading →

Fire

Politics

World

Bc Coronavirus

Bc First Responder Vaccinations

Covid Firefighters

Covid First Responders

Covid-19 News

Karen Fry

Vancouver Fire

‘Our staff are being compromised’: Vancouver fire chief joins calls for first responder vaccinations

MONTREAL &#8211;  On a sunny and hot spring morning, Peter Scoufaras enjoys the company of his wife and daughter, keeping his distance while sitting in his backyard in Montreal.
Sixty-five-year-old Scoufaras savours spending time with them, knowing that just a few months ago, his life was in danger, his body wracked by COVID-19.
&#8220;It&#8217;s like a roulette in the casino; you could get a very simple dose or you can get what I got, and I never wish it on anyone to get what I got,&#8221; Scoufaras said.
Last Christmas, Scoufaras contracted the virus. He isn&#8217;t sure how, as he was following all health and safety guidelines.
His three children weren&#8217;t worried about him, however, assuming he would get over it quickly.
&#8220;When we first heard my dad had COVID, I did not think it was a big deal,&#8221; said his daughter, Elizabeth. &#8220;My dad is a very healthy 65-year-old with no underlying conditions.&#8221;
The golf-loving and non-smoking Scoufaras was fine at first. But then very quickly, he deteriorated, struggling to breath.
&#8220;It was like lighting speed the change,&#8221; he said.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7746324/toronto-covid-survivor-recovery-coronavirus/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Toronto COVID-19 survivor says &#8216;dying alone&#8217; was her greatest fear">
				Toronto COVID-19 survivor says &#8216;dying alone&#8217; was her greatest fear			</a>
		
	
He was admitted to the Cite de la Sante hospital in Laval, where doctors initially gave him oxygen, then placed him in a coma and on a ventilator. His body started breaking down.
&#8220;It just happened so quickly and I think it was just the worst day of our lives when he went on the ventilator,&#8221; said Elizabeth Scoufaras.
Peter developed myriad complications while in the coma, including blood clots and double pneumonia. He had a trachea inserted, and lost 40 pounds. In all, he lay unconscious for five weeks, fighting for his life.
&#8220;It did not look very good, I  was in a very bad condition,&#8221; he said.
His daughter added, &#8220;It was devastating. It was very difficult, I could not grasp what was happening.&#8221;
Scoufaras&#8217; family never gave up hope he would recover. And slowly, he did. He eventually started breathing on his own, and woke up from his coma. Nurses helped him learn to eat and walk again, after losing so much weight and muscle.
He was finally allowed to return home after spending almost three months in hospital. Doctors were never able to explain why the virus attacked him so savagely.
READ MORE: <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7750346/quebec-covid-april-10/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quebec reports 1,754 cases of COVID-19, 13 more deaths as hospitalizations rise</a>
&#8220;He has great lungs,&#8221; his daughter said. &#8220;How could this happen? They just said it can happen.&#8221;
When Peter finally left the hospital, relieved ICU staff clapped as he left, relieved he survived. He now faces a long road to recovery.
He says he feels indebted to the many nurses and doctors who helped secure his survival.
He told Global News he believes the support of his loved ones helped him survive. &#8220;Well I don&#8217;t think I could have gone through it without them,&#8221; he said, wiping away tears.
The family is now urging people to take the virus seriously.
&#8220;He was very healthy with no other conditions,&#8221; Elizabeth said. &#8220;This happened to us, it could happen to anyone.&#8221;
&#8220;(Some) people do not understand how difficult and what debilitating a disease this is,&#8221; Peter said.
			
				
						
												
						
						
		
			
				<h4>Return of 8 p.m. COVID-19 curfew in Montreal met with confusion and consternation</h4>
				
					
					<img width="640" height="360" src="https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/szfafhs429-pazfku4umo/web_COVID_CURFEW_CONFUSION_SPECTOR_.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" class="story-img">
				
			
		
								
					

						
														
									
											<a class="video-thumb video-thumb-image" href="https://globalnews.ca/video/7749630/return-of-8-p-m-covid-19-curfew-in-montreal-met-with-confusion-and-consternation" title="Return of 8 p.m. COVID-19 curfew in Montreal met with confusion and consternation" data-vid_id="7749630"
								data-miniplayer="miniplayer_607360db51e64"
			data-miniplayer-video="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/playlist/7749630,7744987,7746224,7744473,7747471,7746971/#autoplay"
			>
				<img 
			src="https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/szfafhs429-pazfku4umo/web_COVID_CURFEW_CONFUSION_SPECTOR_.jpg?w=300&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
			alt="Return of 8 p.m. COVID-19 curfew in Montreal met with confusion and consternation (02:08)"
		/>
	</a>
	
		<a 
			class="video-thumb video-thumb-info video-title-link" 
			href="https://globalnews.ca/video/7749630/return-of-8-p-m-covid-19-curfew-in-montreal-met-with-confusion-and-consternation" 
			title="Return of 8 p.m. COVID-19 curfew in Montreal met with confusion and consternation" 
			data-vid_id="7749630"
		>
			
				
					
						
								
						
					
						
						02:08
					
				

								Return of 8 p.m. COVID-19 curfew in Montreal met with confusion and consternation
			
		</a>
	
									
								
																
									
											<a class="video-thumb video-thumb-image" href="https://globalnews.ca/video/7744987/ontario-and-quebec-battle-highly-contagious-covid-19-variants" title="Ontario and Quebec battle highly contagious COVID-19 variants" data-vid_id="7744987"
								data-miniplayer="miniplayer_607360db51e64"
			data-miniplayer-video="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/playlist/7744987,7746224,7744473,7747471,7746971,7749630/#autoplay"
			>
				<img 
			src="https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/vw8155ysb3-v4n9b4g798/AARON_WEB.png?w=300&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
			alt="Ontario and Quebec battle highly contagious COVID-19 variants (02:20)"
		/>
	</a>
	
		<a 
			class="video-thumb video-thumb-info video-title-link" 
			href="https://globalnews.ca/video/7744987/ontario-and-quebec-battle-highly-contagious-covid-19-variants" 
			title="Ontario and Quebec battle highly contagious COVID-19 variants" 
			data-vid_id="7744987"
		>
			
				
					
						
								
						
					
						
						02:20
					
				

								Ontario and Quebec battle highly contagious COVID-19 variants
			
		</a>
	
									
								
																
									
											<a class="video-thumb video-thumb-image" href="https://globalnews.ca/video/7746224/montrealers-over-55-line-up-for-astrazenecas-covid-19-vaccine" title="Montrealers over 55 line up for AstraZeneca&#8217;s COVID-19 vaccine" data-vid_id="7746224"
								data-miniplayer="miniplayer_607360db51e64"
			data-miniplayer-video="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/playlist/7746224,7744473,7747471,7746971,7749630,7744987/#autoplay"
			>
				<img 
			src="https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/tkcrqouh82-r6h8mgypev/ASTRAZENECA_VACCINE_CLI_TOR1ITDI_thumbnail_1280x720.jpg?w=300&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
			alt="Montrealers over 55 line up for AstraZeneca&#8217;s COVID-19 vaccine (01:59)"
		/>
	</a>
	
		<a 
			class="video-thumb video-thumb-info video-title-link" 
			href="https://globalnews.ca/video/7746224/montrealers-over-55-line-up-for-astrazenecas-covid-19-vaccine" 
			title="Montrealers over 55 line up for AstraZeneca&#8217;s COVID-19 vaccine" 
			data-vid_id="7746224"
		>
			
				
					
						
								
						
					
						
						01:59
					
				

								Montrealers over 55 line up for AstraZeneca&#8217;s COVID-19 vaccine
			
		</a>
	
									
								
																
									
											<a class="video-thumb video-thumb-image" href="https://globalnews.ca/video/7744473/quebec-opens-up-vaccination-to-more-priority-groups" title="Quebec opens up vaccination to more priority groups" data-vid_id="7744473"
								data-miniplayer="miniplayer_607360db51e64"
			data-miniplayer-video="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/playlist/7744473,7747471,7746971,7749630,7744987,7746224/#autoplay"
			>
				<img 
			src="https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/b6yi356c2x-1qlpjwfbky/web_QC_VACCINATION_UPDATE_FLETCHER_.jpg?w=300&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
			alt="Quebec opens up vaccination to more priority groups (01:58)"
		/>
	</a>
	
		<a 
			class="video-thumb video-thumb-info video-title-link" 
			href="https://globalnews.ca/video/7744473/quebec-opens-up-vaccination-to-more-priority-groups" 
			title="Quebec opens up vaccination to more priority groups" 
			data-vid_id="7744473"
		>
			
				
					
						
								
						
					
						
						01:58
					
				

								Quebec opens up vaccination to more priority groups
			
		</a>
	
									
								
																
									
											<a class="video-thumb video-thumb-image" href="https://globalnews.ca/video/7747471/one-dead-hundreds-infected-after-covid-19-outbreak-at-quebec-city-gym" title="One dead, hundreds infected after COVID-19 outbreak at Quebec City gym" data-vid_id="7747471"
								data-miniplayer="miniplayer_607360db51e64"
			data-miniplayer-video="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/playlist/7747471,7746971,7749630,7744987,7746224,7744473/#autoplay"
			>
				<img 
			src="https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/l2r60ufot8-7rb4ez84lf/GN210408AMANDA.jpg?w=300&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
			alt="One dead, hundreds infected after COVID-19 outbreak at Quebec City gym (02:05)"
		/>
	</a>
	
		<a 
			class="video-thumb video-thumb-info video-title-link" 
			href="https://globalnews.ca/video/7747471/one-dead-hundreds-infected-after-covid-19-outbreak-at-quebec-city-gym" 
			title="One dead, hundreds infected after COVID-19 outbreak at Quebec City gym" 
			data-vid_id="7747471"
		>
			
				
					
						
								
						
					
						
						02:05
					
				

								One dead, hundreds infected after COVID-19 outbreak at Quebec City gym
			
		</a>
	
									
								
																
									
											<a class="video-thumb video-thumb-image" href="https://globalnews.ca/video/7746971/quebec-extends-covid-19-lockdown-in-3-cities-brings-back-8-p-m-curfew-in-montreal-laval" title="Quebec extends COVID-19 lockdown in 3 cities, brings back 8 p.m. curfew in Montreal, Laval" data-vid_id="7746971"
								data-miniplayer="miniplayer_607360db51e64"
			data-miniplayer-video="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/playlist/7746971,7749630,7744987,7746224,7744473,7747471/#autoplay"
			>
				<img 
			src="https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/frqqe06fy1-ofyunhbbo8/quqbe.jpg?w=300&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
			alt="Quebec extends COVID-19 lockdown in 3 cities, brings back 8 p.m. curfew in Montreal, Laval (02:27)"
		/>
	</a>
	
		<a 
			class="video-thumb video-thumb-info video-title-link" 
			href="https://globalnews.ca/video/7746971/quebec-extends-covid-19-lockdown-in-3-cities-brings-back-8-p-m-curfew-in-montreal-laval" 
			title="Quebec extends COVID-19 lockdown in 3 cities, brings back 8 p.m. curfew in Montreal, Laval" 
			data-vid_id="7746971"
		>
			
				
					
						
								
						
					
						
						02:27
					
				

								Quebec extends COVID-19 lockdown in 3 cities, brings back 8 p.m. curfew in Montreal, Laval
			
		</a>

A Montreal man tells of his brave and difficult struggle with COVID-19, and his remarkable story of survival Watch video →

Montreal man tells of incredible recovery after COVID-19 left him near death and in a coma for months

Saskatchewan officials added another 321 <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/covid-19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" target="_blank">COVID-19</a> cases on Sunday and one new death.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/regina-drive-thru-vaccine-clinic-opens-to-51-year-olds-on-sunday" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Regina drive-thru vaccine clinic opens to 51-year-olds on Sunday" target="_blank">
				Regina drive-thru vaccine clinic opens to 51-year-olds on Sunday			</a>
		
	
The deceased resident was in their 60s and the death was reported in the central east zone. The province’s death toll now sits at 454.
Of the new coronavirus infections, 120 were reported in Regina followed by Saskatoon with 78 new cases.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7750748" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7750748/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7750748" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i2.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/yln00hq8s6-r4wfood67e/2021.04.10_Vaccine_Selfies.png?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: Why vaccine selfies are causing a digital divide"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
The remaining cases are located in the far north west (6), far north east (2), north west (21), north central (8), north east (6), central west (4), central east (12), south west (3), south central (17) and south east (36) zones.  Eight new cases have pending residence information. Three cases with pending residence information have been assigned to Far North West (1) and North West (2) zones.
There are 2,504 active cases in Saskatchewan and the seven-day average of daily new cases is 249 or 20.3 cases per 100,000 population.
Nearly 200 people are in hospital with COVID-19, including 46 people in the ICU.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/pfizer-submission-vaccine-youths" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Pfizer to seek Health Canada approval for COVID-19 vaccine use in kids 12-15 within weeks" target="_blank">
				Pfizer to seek Health Canada approval for COVID-19 vaccine use in kids 12-15 within weeks			</a>
		
	
For the second day in a row, Saskatchewan set a new record for single-day COVID-19 vaccinations. A total of 13,170 doses were administered on Saturday. Regina administered the most doses with 3,085, followed by Saskatoon with 2,072.

Saskatchewan reported another COVID-19 related death on Sunday, a resident in their 60s. The provincial death toll now sits at 454.  Continue reading →

Covid-19 Saskatchewan

Covid-19 Vaccine

Sask Coronavirus Update

Saskatchewan reports 321 new COVID-19 cases, 1 new death

A number of Hamilton-area hospitals will begin reaching out to patients to reschedule elective surgeries starting Monday after an order from the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA).
The move to &#8216;ramp down&#8217; all elective surgeries and non-emergency activities was announced on Friday by the OHA in order to preserve critical care capacity and staffing levels amid rising admissions tied to <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/covid/" target="_blank">COVID-19</a> cases.
“Please understand these decisions are not made lightly. We are still facing significant challenges related to COVID-19 and the need to prepare for critically ill patients is greater than ever,” St. Joseph’s Healthcare President Melissa Farrell said in a release on Friday.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/ontario-hospitals-ramp-down-non-elective-surgeries-covid" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Ontario hospitals told to &#8216;ramp down&#8217; all elective, non-emergency surgeries due to COVID-19" target="_blank">
				Ontario hospitals told to &#8216;ramp down&#8217; all elective, non-emergency surgeries due to COVID-19			</a>
		
	
St. Joe&#8217;s, Hamilton Health Sciences and Joseph Brant in Burlington all revealed the deferral of procedures and say anyone with a postponement will be directly contacted by their healthcare provider. Patients need not contact hospitals.
Patients are also being told to attend any appointment as scheduled if they have not been contacted about a rescheduling.
All the hospitals say patient visits will continue with current COVID-19 restrictions.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7749782" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7749782/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7749782" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i2.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/jn5v1f7lko-je4digee0j/STILL_KEEPING_NUMBERS_DOWN_BINGLEY_APR_9.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: COVID-19: Ontario hospitals suspending non-emergency surgeries"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
&nbsp;
Last week, two of Hamilton hospital execs said the agencies did the best they could to handle massive backlogs that accumulated amid the first and second waves of the coronavirus pandemic.
&#8220;We were operating at about one hundred and six percent by doing everything we possibly can to to increase that throughput,&#8221; said Farrell &#8220;We&#8217;re back down. We&#8217;ve had to ramp back down to eighty two percent of our surgical cases.&#8221;
The city’s two hospital systems have a combined 100 patients being treated for COVID-19: 65 at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) facilities and 35 at St. Joe’s.
St. Joe&#8217;s hospitals are reporting acute care occupancy at 92 per cent as of Friday with HHS reporting 94 per cent occupancy.
In the last few weeks the hospitals say they have been redeploying staff to support high occupancy levels within&#8217; acute care units and ICUs.
In March 2020, regional hospitals put a <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/6948692/covid-19-pandemic-elective-surgeries-canada/" target="_blank">hold on non-essential surgical procedures</a> to make room for a potential influx of COVID-19 patients in addition to limiting the spread of the virus by reducing traffic at facilities.
That directive was lifted in late May 2020 and some Hamilton-area and Niagara hospitals gradually resumed elective surgeries in June.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7091794/hamilton-niagara-surgery-backlog/" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Hamilton-Niagara hospitals need time to clear backlog of non-essential surgeries" target="_blank">
				Hamilton-Niagara hospitals need time to clear backlog of non-essential surgeries			</a>
		
	
In the fall, a <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/7310078/coronavirus-ontario-surgery-backlog/" target="_blank">study</a> from the the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggested it could take more than a year and a half to clear the backlog of surgeries in Ontario hospitals caused by the pandemic.
Modelling estimated the time needed to clear surgeries was at about 84 weeks, with a target of 717 surgeries per week.
President and CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences Rob MacIsaac said the agency&#8217;s hospitals have also dropped surgical activities down to about 84 per cent as of last week.
&#8220;So that 16 per cent, in theory, reveals the amount of surgery that we&#8217;re not able to get at, that we would have gotten to had it not been for COVID,&#8221; said MacIsaac.
In an effort to find opportunities to optimize non-emergency surgeries, MacIssac says a regional committee with chiefs of surgery for the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant local health networks has been set up.

The measure was announced by the OHA on Friday to preserve critical care capacity and staffing levels amid rising COVID-19 cases. Continue reading →

Hamilton

Hamilton Health Sciences

Hamilton News

Joseph Brant Hospital

Melissa Farrell

Ontario Hospital Association

Rob Macisaac

Hamilton-area hospitals begin ‘ramp down’ of elective, non-emergency surgeries due to COVID-19

The <a href="https://globalnews.ca/tag/bc-human-rights-tribunal/" target="_blank">British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal</a> dismissed a complaint by a worker who was fired for refusing to wear a mask.
The worker alleged that his religious beliefs prevented him from wearing a mask, and his dismissal constituted discrimination based on religion, a claim that tribunal member Steven Adamson rejected.
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7718124" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7718124/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7718124" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/vxda7fct8v-ipoblt2o95/metrotown_spit.PNG?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: Man accused of spitting on someone when asked to wear a mask at Metrotown"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
<a href="http://www.bchrt.bc.ca/shareddocs/decisions/2021/apr/41_The_Worker_v_The_District_Managers_2021_BCHRT_41.pdf" target="_blank">According to the screening decision</a>, a recently hired worker arrived at an unnamed facility where he was told by a manager to wear a mask.
The worker refused, saying it was against his &#8220;religious creed.&#8221;
A manager confirmed that the worker could not enter the facility without a mask. A senior manager then terminated the worker&#8217;s contract for not wearing a mask.
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/anti-mask-human-rights-code-bc" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="Human Rights Code can&#8217;t protect anti-maskers making unproven claims: tribunal" target="_blank">
				Human Rights Code can&#8217;t protect anti-maskers making unproven claims: tribunal			</a>
		
	
According to the decision, the worker said, &#8220;We are all made in the image of God, a big part of our image that we all identify with is our face. To cover up our face arbitrarily dishonours God.&#8221;
The worker also said that the mask requirement infringed on his &#8220;God-given ability to breathe.&#8221;
In his decision, tribunal member Steven Adamson said the complainant failed to establish that his objection to masks was &#8220;grounded in a sincerely-held religious belief.&#8221;
						<a 
				class="story-img-link" 
				data-displayinline-featured="" 
				data-displayinline-type="video" 
				data-displayinline-stickyiframe="video_7659126" 
				data-displayinline-ratio="16:9" 
				data-displayinline="https://globalnews.ca/video/embed/7659126/#autoplay&#038;stickyiframe=video_7659126" 
			 target="_blank">
	 	
					
					<img 
						width="640" 
						height="360" 
						src="https://i0.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/g5ffrgyosd-9pbdzdvv8x/JPEG_COVID_CONFLIX_SMACDONALD.jpg?w=670&#038;quality=70&#038;strip=all" 
						class="story-img" 
						alt="Click to play video: COVID-19 conflicts and B.C. business operator&#8217;s rights"
					/>
	 	
			</a>
					
&#8220;Rather, his objection is based on his opinion that wearing a mask does not stop the transmission of COVID‐19,&#8221; he wrote.
&#8220;This is not a belief protected by the [B.C. Human Rights] Code.&#8221;
		
			Read more: <a class="c-readmore__link" href="https://www.flyingeze.com/p/bc-covid-19-restricitons-astrazeneca-rollout" data-track-region="content-read-more" title="COVID: Sweeping new restrictions in place including in-person dining at B.C. bars and restaurants" target="_blank">
				COVID: Sweeping new restrictions in place including in-person dining at B.C. bars and restaurants			</a>
		
	
The identities of the workers and employers were not revealed due to a publication ban.
Screening decisions are among the first steps in a tribunal investigation and are normally not made public, but Adamson said this decision was published due to a large volume of complaints alleging discrimination in connection with the requirement to wear face coverings indoors.
&#8212; With files from The Canadian Press

The worker also said that the mask requirement infringed on his “God-given ability to breathe.” Continue reading →

Flying Eze

Flying Eze

MAIN SECTIONS

YOUR ACCOUNT

About Flying Eze

Flying Eze

Health

‘Start conversations’: Wear blue this Wednesday to raise awareness of child abuse

Canada nearing peak of current COVID-19 wave, Tam says as cases surge across provinces

Log boom: B.C. school board builds 20 outdoor classrooms amid COVID-19 pandemic

Alberta reports 1,183 new COVID-19 cases, 1 more death on Sunday

N.B. parents, students, minister ‘relieved’ full-time classroom learning delayed

‘Our staff are being compromised’: Vancouver fire chief joins calls for first responder vaccinations

Montreal man tells of incredible recovery after COVID-19 left him near death and in a coma for months

Saskatchewan reports 321 new COVID-19 cases, 1 new death

Hamilton-area hospitals begin ‘ramp down’ of elective, non-emergency surgeries due to COVID-19

B.C. worker who said he refused to wear mask due to religion has complaint dismissed by tribunal

Flying Eze

Main Links

Your Profile

Features

Flying Eze