It has been two years since an invisible but formidable foe shook up our lives. Since the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, we have all learned a great many things. We learned to bake bread, sew masks, use videoconferencing not only to get through our workday but also toContinue reading “Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic”
Tag Archives: Covid
Help wanted in the hospitality industry
There is a scarcity of hospitality workers in Alberta and across Canada. According to Statistics Canada, the number of unfilled hospitality jobs in Canada have almost doubled since before the pandemic. How can we reconcile the labour shortage lamented by the hospitality sector with high unemployment rates across the country? A recent study by theContinue reading “Help wanted in the hospitality industry”
COVID-19 vaccine policies explained
Following a worrisome wait for a renewed supply of COVID-19 vaccines, many Albertans now have the opportunity to receive their vaccine much sooner than expected. Many are pleased at the accelerated timelines and are ready to roll up their sleeves, but some are anxious or confused about the evolving COVID-19 vaccine recommendations. COVID-19 vaccine guidelinesContinue reading “COVID-19 vaccine policies explained”
Resilience and self-reliance key to pandemic recovery
COVID-19 vaccine shipments to Canada were reduced in recent weeks and Canadians have felt frustrated and helpless at being asked to wait. We have watched with envy as other countries manufactured vaccines and inoculated their citizens. Canada was similarly vulnerable at the beginning of the pandemic when countries scrambled to procure adequate supplies of masks,Continue reading “Resilience and self-reliance key to pandemic recovery”
COVID-19 vaccine brings hope for the new year
Last week, Health Canada announced approval of the first vaccine against COVID-19 infection for use in Canada. The development of highly effective vaccines against a virus that we couldn’t name a year ago will surely go down in history as an unequalled biomedical triumph. The vaccine development process normally takes decades, not months, to accomplish. Continue reading “COVID-19 vaccine brings hope for the new year”
Basic Income: An idea whose time has come
The Canadian Emergency Relief Benefit comes to an end in a few weeks, putting many Canadians in a state of anxiety and insecurity about how they will pay for basics such as food, housing and transportation. Rather than moving back to the Employment Insurance program fraught with problems, the Government of Canada has the opportunityContinue reading “Basic Income: An idea whose time has come”
Impact of COVID-19 on children
Seniors are at highest risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 infection but children may suffer effects from the pandemic over an entire lifetime. The direct impact of COVID-19 on children is usually asymptomatic or mild infection with only rare hospitalization or ICU admission. But, the impact of school closures, economic shutdowns and socialContinue reading “Impact of COVID-19 on children”
A new vision for our towns and cities
Our small mountain towns are joining the ranks of world-class cities in pedestrianizing streets in the downtown core. The Towns of Banff and Canmore are mirroring actions in big cities like Paris, New York and Milan to make more space on downtown streets for people to maintain social distance while enjoying the commercial and recreationalContinue reading “A new vision for our towns and cities”
Re-imagining Work: We can do better
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a great revealer. While creating new challenges, it is also shining a light on those problems in our society that we have chosen to ignore. The pandemic has opened our eyes to the plight of seniors in long-term care, inadequate housing on reserves, and crowded shelters for the homeless. AsContinue reading “Re-imagining Work: We can do better”
Confidence during the COVID-19 Crisis
In times of crisis, we reap the benefits of the society we have built around us. This is why knowing that I live in Canada lets me sleep better at night. Although the novel coronavirus causing the global pandemic is virtually identical in all parts of the world, it is having dramatically different consequences inContinue reading “Confidence during the COVID-19 Crisis”
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