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In March 2020, I watched a video that was shared via Facebook about the importance of sanitizing groceries. I was concerned that the COVID-19 virus could be on the food packaging, so I started wiping down my groceries before I brought them in the house. (This is not the original upload but I think it's pretty similar to the original video I watched: https://youtu.be/sjDuwc9KBps) In the spring of 2020, I often tried to order my groceries as usual for curbside pickup at the grocery store, but the store I shopped at had opened up their click and collect service to everyone for free, so it was nearly impossible to get a time slot. I would have to wait up until midnight when new time slots opened up to order groceries online TWO WEEKS in advance. After a few frustrating weeks of this, I started ordering my groceries from Instacart grocery delivery service. It cost a bit more, but it meant I could get my groceries within a few days, sometimes even the same day! I continued to wipe down my groceries and wash all of my fruit in soapy water before consuming the food. I can't remember when I stopped, but I eventually did. These are photos of me on April 9, 2020 wiping down my groceries on my front step after I received a delivery from Instacart. I also included a screenshot of a Facebook post of the video I watched and shared.
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My husband Daniel Titone is shown holding a 40th birthday sign our children made for my husband's colleague Shaun Bos. With restrictions preventing people from gathering with people from outside of their own household, many people who celebrated birthdays in the spring of 2020 held drive-by celebrations. Shaun's wife Lisa is in the background holding one of their children.
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In the spring of 2020 (and further), many employees were on mandatory work-from-home. Both of my children were also sent home because their Montessori school closed. They didn't return that school year. One video is of my four-year-old daughter Nola at home with me practising how to count in French (March 25, 2020). The other video (April 28, 2020) is me at my makeshift desk on my main floor (which is open concept with kitchen, dining room and front living room combined) trying to work at my computer while my children Enzo (6) and Nola (4) run around behind me chasing each other. Working from home with young children at home was very distracting and it often felt as if I was working around the clock. In addition to working during regular 8:30 to 4:30 office hours, I would work late nights trying to catch up on time/work I missed during the day while I was caring for my kids. It took a toll on my mental health.
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In March 2021, my children participated in a children's exercise program at Club Jump in St. Catharines. Participants were physically distanced (often called social distancing) from each other by using marked lines on the floor. The instructors wore face masks but the children were not required to wear them when physically exerting themselves. Despite my children not being able to get close to other participants, it was nice to have them engage in a physical activity and see other children in a somewhat social environment. My son, Enzo, is the boy in the vertical photo (March 9, 2021) wearing black pants and a cream coloured long-sleeve shirt bending to the right with his left arm in the air. In the horizontal photo (March 16, 2021), you can see my daughter Nola on the left wearing pink and my son Enzo in the middle wearing a light blue T-shirt and blue pants.
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My son Enzo was experiencing COVID-19 symptoms (I can't recall exactly what they were. Likely a runny nose and sore throat and/or cough). To be allowed to attend school, he was required to get a PCR test. We were able to book one through my family doctor's office at Montebello Medical Clinic on Lake Street in St. Catharines. This photo shows a doctor swabbing my son's nose while he sits in his car seat. We were in the parking lot of Montebello Medical. My daughter Nola looks on from the front seat (so she was out of the way). Enzo was six years old at the time. Nola was four.
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The month WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, playgrounds were closed and sectioned off with caution tape. In a post I wrote on Facebook, I wrote that although my children and I knew the playground was closed, seeing the yellow caution take and red COVID-19 warning sign made the pandemic very real. The child in the photo is my son Enzo. He was 6 at the time. https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/niagara-region/2020/03/27/st-catharines-shuts-down-playgrounds-and-dog-parks.html
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The Pen Centre Walmart added six extra Online Grocery pickup spots, making the total number of sports go from eight to fourteen.
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After NMUN•NY was cancelled due to COVID-19 in 2020, the conference went digital in 2021. Delegates from Brock Model United Nations engaged in the conference from the comfort of their own homes while continuing to work towards diplomacy and networking with students from around the world. The club has been working towards the conference online throughout the whole year, and the club was just as successful and engaging online as it is in person.
Brock Model UN maintained their Top 10% Distinguished Delegation award for the online conference.
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This is located at the Pen Centre Walmart (Store #1164)
All non essential items have been blocked off to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The store has been much emptier as of lately, meaning these precautions are working as intended.
You will see shelf hangers covered, shelves wrapped, and aisles blocked.
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Question 1: What is your earliest memory of the COVID-19 virus arriving in the Niagara area? How did you initially feel? How do you feel now?
My earliest memory of covid-19 in Niagara happened the day before the lockdown of Ontario. I remembered I had a night lecture/seminar. I remember when the class ended I asked my professor if covid-19 was going to affect my graduation ceremony in June. The next day it was announced that we were entering lockdown and I had a feeling that my ceremony was going to be cancelled/postponed. Unfortunately it was, and to this day I am hoping that we can still have our university graduation ceremony. I initially wasn’t scared of the virus. I actually enjoyed the first lockdown as the city was quieter and cleaner. Now I am still not scared of the virus but I am worried about the variants.
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I build a snowman with my dog after a great snowstorm hit Niagara early in 2021. The snowman is wearing a mask to remind us in the future of this difficult but fun winter.
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Question 1: What is your earliest memory of the COVID-19 virus arriving in the Niagara area? How did you initially feel? How do you feel now?
On February 26, 2020 my husband heard a news report on NPR as he was driving home from work in Buffalo which specified that families should consider preparing an emergency kit in case Covid took hold in the US. He was moved enough by the gravity of the report to suggest that we go to the store and gather supplies - that night. At that point, Covid seemed very far away - a distant reality unlikely to strike close to home. I texted a picture to my husband of my cart - mostly staple items and, in retrospect, not very many - stating that I felt ridiculous buying all this stuff, but that hand sanitized was already gone from the shelves. I remember asking the cashier if people were doing this - preparing - and she said that she hadn't seen too much of it. After that, life seemed like it would continue as normal, but by March 13th both of us were working from home, and then school was closed....and now, we're still in it. Still staying home, still sticking mostly to ourselves. We've stick pretty close to public health guidelines the whole time - no one has been in our house, we haven't been in anyone else's house, we order our groceries for curbside pickup. We've barely been in a store in over a year. We desperately miss family from out of province. We feel sad that our daughter has had to miss swimming lessons and skating lessons and gymnastics and playdates and birthday parties. We hope that the third wave will not be to bad. We look forward to a day when the vaccines have done their job and we can slowly loosen the reins and begin to live a more 'normal' life.
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Friday, March 13, 2020 I celebrated my birthday with family at The Keg. That weekend things progressed rapidly into shutdown. A year later birthday celebrations are captured no better way than by the attached photo!
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Question 1: What is your earliest memory of the COVID-19 virus arriving in the Niagara area? How did you initially feel? How do you feel now?
Living in Florida for the season, we started to hear stories and were overwhelmed by family and friends urging us to return to Canada in case we’re not allowed by border restrictions. Daily we kept up to date with PM news conferences. We were anxious then. Now I am just sad and angry that this reduction of our freedom and rights have continued. I am not afraid of the disease. I am afraid of my loss of rights and the consequences of friends and family being injected with an experimental product that does not prevent disease. What will their lifelong health be like. What will my rights be when I decline to be jabbed with some unknown and untested product.
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Question 1: What is your earliest memory of the COVID-19 virus arriving in the Niagara area? How did you initially feel? How do you feel now?
I heard about the virus in late January at a business conference. I soon realized that due to everyday travel that it wouldn't be long before it was here. Fear did not kick in until school were closed and life as we knew if has forever changed. I was afraid because I was 5 months pregnant. With such little knowledge of the virus I was concerned for myself, my family and my baby.
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Question 1: What is your earliest memory of the COVID-19 virus arriving in the Niagara area? How did you initially feel? How do you feel now?
I initially felt worried about my family and loved ones.
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Question 1: What is your earliest memory of the COVID-19 virus arriving in the Niagara area? How did you initially feel? How do you feel now?
At work with my colleagues watching the PMs announcements and wondering how it would impact the sector (LTC ).
Then: unsure
Now: tired, satisfied with the work the team has done to prevent the vulnerable residents from getting covid
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Alcohol wipes sold out. Green based one's were still there
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This is an image I took while out on one of my daily walks, I don't know who send it up but I felt it needed more attention
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Submission of this photo is required for part of my final course mark in COMM 2P90.
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Keeping our masks on as we visit a hotel for New Years Eve
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A huge thank you sign to frontline workers hanging atop City Hall in St. Catharines.
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A social distancing family photo.
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Question 1: What is your earliest memory of the COVID-19 virus arriving in the Niagara area? How did you initially feel? How do you feel now?
I went out to dinner to a Niagara Ice Dogs game on March 7, 2020 with a friend and the only sign of covid was my friend and I joking about having watched those hand-washing videos and paying more attention to our hand hygiene. Otherwise everything was the same. Then, I have a journal entry from a year ago, March 14th 2020, reassuring myself that we only have one case in Niagara and the actions we are taking at Brock (in Residence, specifically) are preventative and not reactive. Initially it felt very far away, then it progressively got closer (literally and figuratively). A lot of the initial feelings were anxiety and trying to manage panic. There was (and still isn’t) a precedent to this. What other experiences did we have to compare this to? What past event caused us to react like this? Even SARS or H1N1 (our closest references) did not have or call for this kind of reaction.
A lot of what felt foreign then now feels normal, a year in. The anxiety is still there, but it’s a baseline or an undercurrent of anxiety, not the sharp sense of panic that happened in the early days. I almost miss the naïveté that I had in the early days. The belief that it would be over soon, just a weird blip on the radar, not a major life event. That all we had to do was wash our hands, not isolate ourselves from our family and friends and take precautions to do the most everyday tasks. That working from home was an interesting change, not an isolating and lonely experience.
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Melanie and Clara Sebastianelli donated their time sewing buttons on lots of headbands (for the mask earloops)for a local company "Pippa and Peach". These headbands were donated to local hospitals in Niagara.
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Grandpa meeting his first grandson mask on.
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While walking the dog along the Welland Canal, I saw this painted rock heeding that people stay home to stop the spread of COVID-19.
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Question: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
In March 2020, I was a 4th year Brock Student and I was sent home to continue my semester and Fall 2020 semester remotely. I am now working full-time Jan. - Aug. 2021 as an HR Coordinator and work in person. It was a transition starting work in person again, and it is still not back to complete normal, as many HR tasks revolve around COVID policies and prevention in the workplace. In Sept. 2021, I will be starting my Masters at Brock. I am hoping that COVID will be in a better place to allow at least some students to be back in in-person classes. Of course, I will abide by all government rules and school policies surrounding COVID, but I hope that we get to have some in person classes for graduate school. I can imagine it will be very difficult to do this from home, and I frequently question myself and worry that my graduate school experience will be more difficult or worthless if done online. I trust Brock but I can't help but worry we will be in a worse place with the pandemic by September. I can only hope that things will improve, and in all honestly, I am still going to go to school in September, but I can't help but think about the future.
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The Butterfly Conservatory is open but following pandemic protocols.
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Signs at Michael’s store
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Various signs found at the outlet mall in NOTL in the summer of 2020.
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This showed up at our door today. My wife is a public health nurse specializing in infectious diseases. The COVID-19 outbreaks have been very hard on her, her coworkers and others in the medical profession. This kind note from a neighbour brought a smile to her. We do not know who sent it.
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Photos of some of the signage found in the Fairview Mall in St. Catharines.
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The book check kiosk at Chapters / Indigo books is closed due to COVID-19.
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Today is day 4 of the latest lockdown. I went for a walk around 4:45pm. There was more traffic on the main streets than there was pre-COVID at this time on a Sunday. Where are all those people going if they aren't supposed to be out?
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Today is day two of the second lockdown. I went to the bank this afternoon and based on the traffic, number of people out, etc., it felt like any other day. We had over 150 new cases today and 1208 in the past week. This is far worse than during the original lockdown in March 2020, yet people don't seem to be taking it seriously. People were out protesting masks again, while not physically distancing. It is hard not to get angry when you see this, especially if you have lost a loved one during COVID. It does make you wonder about our future as a species.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Masks are an easy way to protect those around us and I fully support their use in all indoor public spaces. I think they should be mandated by the provincial governments - there is no economical or political reason not to.
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Vineland winemaker, Megalomaniac, made a special wine and label for the frontline workers - “Much Obliged”. Seen at the LCBO.
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The Brock campus has changed to accommodate needs for COVID-19 control. These images were taken during sporadic visits to campus through September and October.
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For the first time since the Winter, we went to the movies in St. Catharines. Not too many people lining up. Directional and safety signage and stickers were everywhere. We saw the New Mutants - one of the first new movies released in Canada since March.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Yes
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Masks are about compliance and obedience rather than public health. They do not protect the wearer from a virus. If they worked, public health would have recommended them during every flu season. Masks on children are child abuse.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
I disagree. I don’t feel they are effective, and if anything give a false sense of security as everyone comes a lot closer. Also for the numbers, I don’t think it’s justified. I don’t do this for any other illness. I don’t want to for this one.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
They may help, they may not. There have not been conclusive scientific studies done to support their effectiveness and whether or not they they are safe for prolonged public use. If there are studies, they have not been made public. The science (if there was science) used to make the decision about the mask mandate by regional council was not made available to the public, therefore they should not be mandated.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
I do not agree with face masks. I think they should not be mandated. The government is overstepping its reach by forcing everyone to wear them .. if you are sick, by all means wear them or stay home, if you are healthy, there should be no need for a mask.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Yes, masks should be mandatory. The science shows they are very effective. People should wear comfortable, well fitted ones that cover nose and mouth. This is a minor inconvenience and the whining and drama needs to stop. It’s common practice in Asian countries and they have quickly adapted with better infection control. It’s a shame we dithered so long and gave mixed information initially.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
I’m for them, but you can’t really enforce it.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Should not be mandated.
Assuming masks help prevent the spread of covid, if you're wearing a mask you're assuming you yourself has covid. You wear the mask to prevent yourself from spreading covid to someone else. If you're assuming you yourself has covid, you should be isolated and quarantined. If you don't have covid, you wouldn't need the mask at all. If you wear the mask because you need to go out and want to be considerate to others because you *might* have covid, then the problem is people not being able to access resources from home which should be the actual focus and not masks.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
I don't mind having to wear a mask. It's a small inconvenience that can have a huge impact. It surely doesn't hurt to be cautious. Everyone who can, should wear one.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Masks are slightly uncomfortable and a pain in the ass but I gladly wear one whenever requested or I can't social distance.
They should be mandated. People refusing to wear them should be fined if they don't have a valid reason.
I've seen enough data to believe they are effective in reducing risk.
They certainly are effective in showing who the Darwin winners are as well as the people who don't care about their community.
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I believe that masks should be mandatory only for the sick and for people in customer / client / patient service positions.
The government should have limited power to mandate mask usage as it is not in their capacity or responsibilities to protect all people from all ills or risks. Individual people are best left to make decisions based on information available to them through whatever channels they choose. Governments rarely give up control of their constituents rights once they have taken them, and we see ample evidence of this already today in Canada. Totalitarian regimes always begin with someone saying “in the best interest of the people” before destruction of personal freedom.
The choice of mask or no mask in the first half of the year saw a huge decline in cases from the peak in the spring. The masks create a false sense of fear that the disease is more prevalent than it actually is, and are destroying the fabric of our culture, that of families, neighbours, and friends gathering and living in community. The fallout of this fear of each other Wil last for decades. We as a culture will be less willing to enter into new relationships or ventures in business.
Trust is so important to community, and few now trust academics, media or governments, as they see the constantly changing “truth of the day”
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Masks should be optional, they should not be mandated. Data shows that covid has an extremely high survival rate. Those that are vulnerable should definitely be protected, just like we would with the regular flu. The CDC itself and popular medical journals show that masks are not effective for the general public.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Yes masks should be mandatory and enforced
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
I don't think masks should be worn by the public, I think you should maintain your distance, use proper sneeze and cough etiquette and wash/ sanatize your hands often
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
No problem wearing masks. I have 3 people at home with low immune system and I can't afford to bring it home.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Masks are vital especially now as September ends and the risk of getting the virus is worse than ever. Sure it's not pleasant to wear one but so what - masks save lives!
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Not sure about the effectiveness but as we still know little about this virus do not think that we should have a problem wearing a mask. It is a small price to pay to protect not only ourselves but our loved ones.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
I dont know anyone that likes wearing masks, however, I do believe they help limit the spread. I myself have been wearing masks since March, as I work in a long term care facility.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
I have been wearing a surgical mask since April. I believe it should be mandated. Anything that slows the spread. It definitely slows the spread
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Masks are okay, they save lives
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Masks do not work against COVID. They case more harm than protection. There is a more than 99% survival rate, this is tyrannical behaviour to dictate us to wear masks. Only reported cases not DEATHS. This is fraud.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
My feelings on masks are they of course help to stop the spread of COVID-19. However, I also think it is unrealistic to expect everyone to wear them. From people claiming to have “medical reasons” they can’t, to conspiracy theorists thinking this is about government control, to young kids not being able to keep them on, to ignorant people who simply don’t get it... so yes it helps - but how effective is it... I’m not too sure.
The government making the rules about masks - that is the governments job.. anyone who thinks this is over reach needs to give their head a shake. They mandate masks like they’ve been mandating other health related issues for many years, like driving, seatbelts, alcohol, tobacco, sanitation... of course they need to mandate masks.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
I think masking is taking away our rights. There is no scientific proof they do not cause harm and that they are actually effective. If people want to wear them go for it, it should not be mandated !! The only masks that could work are surgical masks that are worn in a sterile environment and even at that changed every 4 hours. It is not effective when it makes it hard to breathe, cases are rising and people don’t wear or care for them properly.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
I'll do what it takes to keep myself and others safe, yes mandatory, maybe not 100% but it helps and its peace of mind.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Yes to Masks
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Masks should be mandated and followed. Every thing helps to curve this pandemic.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Yes I agree that the government should be able to mandate us to wear a mask for our health. Just wear one. It protects you when others wear one. Lets not be selfish and whine about rights and freedoms. Think of just one person other than yourself and wear a mask.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Blanket mandates ignore people's individual health needs and impacts hundreds of thousands of lives. They encourage distrust and suspicion between once friendly neighbours, and they invoke division between people. The government has absolutely no business mandating anyone to do anything besides make their own choices for their own health. Why the hell haven't we mandated masks in every other flu season if they're so fantastic for everyone? Why are they our only saving grace now? It does not make sense to me, or many, many others.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Yes I think they should make it mandatory. Every bit of extra precautions help.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
They should not be mandated. Give people straight forward facts, no changing every few days. If masks work, then give the studies that prove the need for them, not the wishy washy maybes and leaving it up to the individual areas.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Yes, masks are a must!!! If you can't wear a mask, you should be wearing a shield! Anyone can say they have a health issue or claustrophobic and can't wear a mask. It's these people that are putting the rest of us at risk.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Yes as some people are not understanding the science behind what is best for the community
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Although I have COPD I will wear the mask as I believe it will offer protection to the people I come in contact with.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Health care experts say they work, and it is a minor inconvenience, so me and my family will wear them until told not too.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
I don’t mind, if it gives the older generation a better chance of survival or even just peace of mind, then it’s worth it to me
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Yes I think they should be mandated.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Distancing , Masks and hand washing helped with the first wave so yes if science and common sense are used the government it needs to lead.
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Not effective and should be a personal choice.
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"Virus Under the Microscope" by Robert Hicks is an educational story that identifies crucial societal views and responses in 2020. The associated patterns of behaviour are depicted in virus form detrimental to mankind. Although very serious in nature, the story is woven with hope and a call for your participation in the future of humanity.
Act one:
Racism Prejudice Discrimination Bullying Bigotry
and RPDBB-20 (Raceprejdisbullybigotism) Viruses
The Antidote
“Let's Bake a Loaf of Peace” Poem
Act two:
Societal Indifference and Police Brutality Viruses
“Like the Bombs” Poem
“I Tap For You” Poem
Act three:
Inaction Virus
“A Whole New Day” Poem
Act four:
Climate Change Virus
“The Music of Reason” Poem (written by Climate Change)
“Letter written to Global Climate” Poem
Act five:
Words about Protests and Compassion
“Ode to Protesters” Poem ( a true story )
A Surprising Letter of Apology and a Thank You Letter
The next act:
Written by You …
(Closing remarks and comments about the Author)
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A play-with-a-play for teachers, parents and students about the COVID -19 virus with the introduction and naming of more viruses. This educational story (play) concludes with hope.
COVID-19 has brought us closer together. For the first time in the history of the world, all of humanity,
informed and assisted by the unprecedented reach of digital technology, has come together to focus
on the same existential threat. A terrible pandemic that is very infectious and deadly. It has shaken us
all. It has also shown us that we can come together in a global effort.
We can broaden this experience to work together to confront the issues (climate change, racism and
inequality) that plague our earth and require urgent attention. The previous four acts have been
building to this conclusion. Act five of this play-within-a-play is being written to tell you how, and why, I
feel we can succeed. It will be up to you to decide if this play-within-a-play is fiction or reality.
At the end of Act Four, Lab Tech #1 said, “The next time we meet I would like to document our
findings. The conclusion is surprising. It is powerful. I promise it will give you hope.”
Tech # 2 responded with, “I’m looking forward to it. Next week I will introduce you to a new member of
our team, Lab Tech #3; she is a brilliant technologist. Before we meet, I will update her on our
discussions. We must take action to address the viruses. I think she can help us.”
And to this Tech # 1 responded, “Great! I look forward to meeting her. Until next week, I tap my heart
for you with four fingers to wish you Goodwill, Compassion, Respect and Justice!”
Act Five begins...
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Aren’t we all tired of Covid 19? The play, Sew Sisters, was written in hope that life will get back to normal soon. It starts after the pandemic with a group of quilters and spills into friendships, rivalry, aging parents and questions the meaning of art and love. It’s a lighthearted look at community and our connections with each other.
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A play-with-a-play for teachers, parents and students about the COVID -19 virus with the introduction and naming of more viruses. This educational story (play) concludes with hope.
Act Three was completed August 05, 2020. Lab Tech #1 and Lab Tech #2 had been assigned to different labs. Ten days have passed since they have worked together.
As of August 15, 2020, according to the Worldometer.info website:
- World-wide there have been 18,954,433 cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19), an increase of over 2.5 million in the last 10 days, and 766,027 deaths, an increase of 46,000, and 14,243,436 recovered, an increase of 2.1 million.
- In Canada there have been a total of 121,760 cases, an increase of 3,500 in the last 10 days, and 9,021 deaths, an increase of 59, and 108,044 recovered, an increase of 5,271.
The Coronavirus isn't going away.
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My name is Jesse Finlayson-Finlay-Sellman, at the time of posting this I am currently 20 years old. I grew up in St. Catharines Ontario all my life until I was 16 and moved to Thorold Ontario. I work as a security guard and let me tell you.. a lot has changed from March to August already.. Let's go back to March 8th 2020, I was with my family and my girlfriend having a good birthday weekend at Great Wolf Lodge, the Monday (March 9th) was my birthday, it was all good and the world was still a very happy place... until Friday, March the 13th, it's where it all went down hill from there. The way we all have to wear masks, talk to others through Plexiglas, or not even be able to visit family or friends has been a huge change. Because of this pandemic, everyone got a lot more upset, or angry and sometimes violent while at my work. It has been stressful day in and day out having to work everyday during these hard times because of the way people view Security Guards. I have been spit on, screamed at, had things thrown at me and my partners while trying to maintain a positive attitude. I am proud to do the things that I do, and I hope one day we can all be happy once again and live life to the fullest. I also hope people have been keeping their heads up and know that we will all get through this mess one day! May everyone who has lost family or friends due to Covid-19 Rest in Peace.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
It's encouraging to see the numbers go down for sure. At first we were all waiting for things to go back to normal but I think for the most part I've accepted this as the new normal.
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This pandemic that has rocked our world in 2020 will be remembered by many as a time of loss...loss of employment, loss of income, loss of freedom to go where we would like, loss of contact with family and friends, and loss of control over our own lives. For me, the greatest loss suffered was that of my beloved father, Charles Hudson, who passed away on April 11th at 4:45am. Covid19 robbed me of my daily chat companion, my Jeopardy buddy, and of course, my Toronto Maple Leaf cheering partner. My dad Charlie, who was described by everyone who came into contact with him as a man with "kind eyes and an infectious smile", was a resident at Lundy Manor Retirement Residence. He moved into retirement living after suffering the loss of his beloved wife Lucinda in January of 2019. Although he was 91 at the time, he was still very active, still drove his big red pickup truck, and loved to frequent the casino. He just didn't want to live alone in a big empty house, with too much time on his hands, and nothing but sadness and loneliness to fill the hours. He decided to try it for a month before deciding whether to make it permanent, so in April of 2019, he moved in. He thrived in the environment, made many friends, and after a couple of months, it was as if he was home again. I visited him usually twice a day, after work in the afternoon, and always for Jeopardy at 7:30. Every Tuesday night, I would join him in the resident's bingo game. We would laugh and talk, and quite often win a few bucks. Life was wonderful for Charlie until the dark cloud that was "the virus" made its way here. I was last with my father on March 13th at Lundy Manor for my afternoon visit; when I returned for my evening Maple Leafs game, signs had been placed on the door stating that no visitors would be allowed in for the protection of the residents. After that, I would visit my dad 2, and sometimes 3 times a day at his window, as he was lucky enough to have a ground floor room. I would call him on my cell phone, he would put his phone on speaker and put it in his lap, and we would talk and be able to make eye contact. It wasn't perfect, but it worked. On March 30, he informed me that they were all being quarantined in their rooms because there were a few residents who had tested positive for Covid19. I could tell he was concerned, but he never wanted me to worry about him. I continued my daily visits, but then we starting hearing about friends passing away. It was getting very worrying for me, and for my dad. On Friday, April 4th, I noticed that my father had developed a cough. My heart sunk, as I knew what potentially could be coming next. Then he started with a low-grade fever that would come and go. By Saturday night, as we spoke through the window, I could see his chest heaving up and down quickly, and his cough had worsened. Again he tried to reassure me that he was fine. Sunday morning came the call I had been fearing; he was struggling to breathe and they wanted him to go to the hospital. I rushed over and watched through the window as the ambulance attendants took him away. That was the last time I saw my dad until the day he passed. We spoke on the phone from his hospital room numerous times a day, and at first, we thought he was going to beat this. However, it proved too hard of a battle for his 92-year-old body to fight. On April 10th I was allowed to be with my dad in the hospital. We talked, we laughed, I played Johnny Cash songs for him, and we both knew how much we were loved by the other. I held his hand for hours, and I could see him slipping away before my eyes. It just seemed so cruel, that a man who had worked so hard and fought so hard for his whole life, ended up suffering in this way. As the day rolled into night, his moments of consciousness grew less, and he slipped peacefully away to be reunited with his wife. My life will never be the same, nor will the lives of my son and grandchildren, who talk about Grandpa Charlie all the time. My 4-year-old grandson Oliver says "Grandpa Charlie died, but we just need to find him and hug him and then he will be back". Oh Oliver, if only it were true. I know this has been a horrible time for everyone in the world, but when people talk about not being able to get a haircut, or go eat at a restaurant, or go to the casino, I would gladly trade all of those luxuries and more, forever to have my dad back with me...just to be able to find him and hug him and bring him back. I will never forget how Covid19 robbed me and my family of a wonderful soul.
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A play-with-a-play for teachers, parents and students about the COVID -19 virus with the introduction and naming of more viruses. This educational story (play) concludes with hope.
Lab Tech #1 and Lab Tech #2 had been assigned to different labs. Over 6 weeks have passed since they have worked together.
According to the Worldometer.info website, as at August 05, 2020, 23:34 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) worldwide there has been 18,954,433 cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and 710,022 deaths and 12,139,005 recovered. In the US there has been 4,971,644 cases and 161,571 deaths and 2,527,220 recovered. In Canada, there has been 118,140 cases and 8,962 deaths and102,773 recovered.
Fear of a second wave of infections as bad as or worse than the first wave is making everyone appropriately cautious. Canadians are increasingly wearing protective face masks as they emerge from months of isolating at home to curb the spread of COVID-19.
The pandemic's continuation is highlighting the need for people everywhere to take action to crush the
curve of cases. Regrettably, many are not taking the required action. People are failing to understand
that inaction anywhere threatens people everywhere.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Scared that it could be many years before it is safe to move around again. Scared that there are so many stupid people not wearing masks. Sad and bored - I miss playing music with my friends. Terrified that the Canada/US border might reopen and bring a flood of infected people into Canada.
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A promotional poster for the play-within-a-play "Virus Under the Microscope - Act 2" by Robert Hicks.
This play-within-a-play for teachers, parents and students about the COVID -19 virus with the introduction and naming of another virus. This educational story (play) concludes with hope.
Act One was published on April 25, 2020 on the Brock University COVID-19 Archive. Act Two was added on June 21, 2020 to honour the life of George Floyd.
This play, now with act 2 added, is even more powerful. It is a play that is needed now. The world has been having a hard time articulating many of today's problems fluently and coherently. This play does that in a succinct and profound way in one place. It is my work of art for the world, at a time when a work of art in words is very much needed. This archive inspired me to write this story. I thank the Brock University Library for that.
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Audio of Episode 34 of Steering the Digital Scholarship: What's been happening in the Makerspace?
In this episode, a chat with Tab from the Makerspace, Carefree times, then it happened, PPE, Name dropping, Next Semester
Music "Digital Pedestrians" by Blanket Music
Originally found: https://soundcloud.com/brock_dsl/steering-the-digital-scholarship-ep-34
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A play-with-a-play for teachers, parents and students about the COVID -19 virus with the introduction and naming of another virus. This educational story (play) concludes with hope.
Act One was published on April 25, 2020 on the Brock University COVID-19 Archive. Act Two was added on June 21, 2020 to honour the life of George Floyd.
This play, now with act 2 added, is even more powerful. It is a play that is needed now. The world has been having a hard time articulating many of today's problems fluently and coherently. This play does that in a succinct and profound way in one place. It is my work of art for the world, at a time when a work of art in words is very much needed. This archive inspired me to write this story. I thank the Brock University Library for that.
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My daughter Thea did this song (original lyrics and music) for her final home learning history project for grade 10. She chose Covid-19 vs. the Spanish Flu in Canada. Her History teacher recommended us submitting it here. I created the video to go along with the song.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
I'm soooo sick of it. I know, I know, we all r but I'm widowed 61/2yrs and I'm just so freaking tired of bein alone and lonely
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Currently I am feeling somewhat more optimistic than in March-April-May. Probably the better weather, increased knowledge about the virus, and some reopening of places are contributing to this.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Frustrated mostly. I miss the interaction with friends over lunch or while shopping. However, still maintaining my distance from everyone. Miss my volunteer work at the history room of our local library. If I need to go out I have my mask and gloves and use hand sanitizer often. Had a fall, planted face first but was unable to go to the emerg nor see my doctor. Still have trouble with my left cheek and eye.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
I'm getting weary but know I cannot relent. There is a false illusion of safety spurred by all the reopenings, my friends say things like "I'm just over it." I want to be over it, desperately, but one cannot simply choose to be "over" a global pandemic.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
It is revealing the essence of the political structures that control our daily lives. AMERICA IS FALLING APART IN PART because their presidential congressional level has no real attachment to their constituents. Brazil as well is demonstrating just how much of a failed state it is as well. The pandemic has revealed just how dangerous it can be to not be self sufficient in core areas ie medical support. It has been revealed who are the important ones in our society as far as support and guidance.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
I feel that the pandemic is very real, however I believe we have been successful in flattening the curve’.... and it’s time to open up the economy again.... with continued monitoring
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
it is time to open everything up while social distancing
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Sometimes frightened other times optimistic
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Still worried.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
It's all bloody ridiculous
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Guess I am still finding our present place unreal. I have been working mostly. My husband and I were in isolation for to weeks because I had a soar throat one morning. I went back to work and the following week my husband died. I spent a few more weeks at home and returned to work. So my life is a different story then most. We are still waiting to have a celebration of life for my husband. And not being able to grieve with family and friends.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
It's being over-blown
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
I'm pretty calm about it. I feel like things are cautiously getting back to normal, though I'm still not a fan of wearing face coverings in public. I wear them if required, but not if they're not.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
I’m hopeful seeing the cases go down but still wary of a second wave. I’m definitely uneasy seeing people drop their guards as much as they have.
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Although we have all been limited to what we can and cannot do, I am forever grateful that I live here in Canada. Our politicians care and are doing what they belief is in the best interest of all Canadians. Some believe this has been blown out of proportion and perhaps it has but we will never know. Had our leaders not taken this approach our number of cases could be much higher or maybe even lower but I’m willing to work with the approach they have taken. Better to be safe than sorry.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
I’m going to start wearing a mask so I don’t make other people upset by not wearing one. It’s gone on a really long time, and today I’ extra restless
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I fear that the virus will affect many more people as the province opens up again. I worry especially about the elderly.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Meh
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Blown way out of proportion
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
I am worried that as time goes on and more things are opening up, people are forgetting why we did this to begin with. They think that the threat is over and it isn't. As things open up I feel we need to be more vigelant and careful about our interactions with the public. I also don't like that I can go to the outlet mall, but I am not supposed to go and be with my family. Stores should expand their signage to add no mask no service.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Still a little unsure if I am safe while grocery shopping, but ordering online leads to not receiving a lot of what I need. We are spending a lot more in groceries - it seems there are not as many items that I need, on sale, as frequently. I used to buy in bulk when sales were on, but there are restrictions on how much a person can buy. I am working, so I am pleased to still have a job, but what about a social life? I am getting kind of antsy, not being able to visit friends' homes.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
It's a fact that we now deal with daily and will be dealing with 4 another 1-2yrs. Face masks and handwashing, plus hand sanitizer, will be what helps drop the #'s
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Life Changing experience.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
That people aren't taking it seriously. That there will be a second, more deadly wave in fall.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Sick of it
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
A little afraid, a bit skeptical on measures and a lot annoyed. Forced compliance to things against our nature is never fun and old habits die hard.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Just done with the whole situation. Been through anxiety, so stopped watching the news and doing what I am willing to, to protect myself and my family....and my mental health.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
It's an ongoing challenge, and while annoying, the lockdown is needed.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Slightly perturbed but doing good
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Confused, angry, stressed, irritated
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
I feel people are not taking things as seriously as they should. Although I do want to have things open, and have a 'normal' life again, I fear people are in denial. I like staying at home though, so I'm okay with that part.
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
As a pregnant woman will health issues, I’m pretty scared.
There so much uncertainty and it seems like there is something new about the virus everyday. It’s upsetting to see that so many people aren’t taking this seriously and claim that it’s a ploy for government control or some silly conspiracy. It seems like everyone wants to reopen everything except me. I’m scared to go back to work, I’m scared to go into public. I worry snout local businesses but I worry about the health of people more. I feel forced to go back to work because at this point all government funding is being cut and if I don’t gain 160 more hours of employment, I won’t even qualify for maternity leave.
I don’t feel safe.
I don’t feel like the government is putting people’s health first. I feel like the only concern is to get the economy going again. But at what cost?
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
Tired of it. Feel isolated. Sadness have family member in hospital can't visit. Angry
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Question 1: What are your current feelings about the COVID-19 pandemic?
I think that the risks are still there. I am fine with going out as long as everyone is safe.
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A continuation of photo series documenting closed shops, restaurants and public buildings in Niagara-on-the-Lake on a sunny Spring day.
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A photo tour through Prt Dalhousie showing closed stores, COVID signs, restaurant limited opening, parks and school closures.
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Views of the signs and rules for shopping at Sobey’s grocery store in St. Catharines. Toilet paper, paper towels and flour are still in short supply.
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Images of signs and procedures for sending mail during the pandemic.
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The marquee sign in front of St. Michael’s school in NOTL wishing everyone safety and giving thanks.
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View if the marquee sign for the Niagara United Mennonite Church in Niagara-on-the-Lake giving online options since churches were closed during the pandemic.
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While visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake on a beautiful spring day on the weekend, you notice that very few people are on the streets which are typically very busy on days like this. A number of photos will show signs in the windows in closed stores. Approximately 85% of the stores were temporarily closed due to the measures of the pandemic. Other photos show other parts of the town.
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Thank you sign for essential workers at St. Catharines Golf and Country Club
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Views of the signs and interior of Shoppers Drug Mart during the pandemic.
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Photos of some of signs seen around town and the public library and arena in Beamsville.
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A look at some of the COVID-19 sign seen along Highway 81 through Louth Township.
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Big Valley Camping Resort offers a place for people to self-isolate especially those returning from vacations and snowbirds from Florida.
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Photos of the signage and rules for shopping at FreshCo during the pandemic.
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View of the signs and line up to pick up items at Best Buy. The store was not open to browse yet. Orders had to be online or called in. You were given a pick up time window. Items would be in the foyer of the store along with the payment equipment. This was as deep into the store you could go.
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A sign of thanks and hope on a vacant storefront in Port Dalhousie.
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As a grocery and all purpose store, Walmart was pretty busy through the pandemic. It was common to have to line up outside. These images show the varied signs and way finding measures throughout the store. Also visible is the plexiglass that surrounded the registers.
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Photos of the various signs and procedures for shopping at the Bulk Barn. Everyone had to sanitize their hands and put on supplied gloves. Workers were the ones who pushed the carts and bagged the needed items for each customer. Yeast was a very desired item through the pandemic. The sign here notes that there was no yeast to purchase that day.
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Hardware stores were one of the first commercial businesses to reopen in Ontario. Here is the signage and layout of Canadian Tire upon reopening. Attendants were at the front door sanitizing carts right before you received them.
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The clinic at the Lincoln County Humane Society had to be closed due to the pandemic.
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Signage at a road side garden / nursery store in Louth Township.
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A charming thank you sign directed at all essential workers seen in a St. Catharines community.
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With more time at home, people are getting into hobbies more. The line up was fifteen deep to get into the store as only 50 people were allowed in at a time. These are photos of the signage and way finding throughout the store.
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Visited Costco for the first time in months. These photos show the use of rope, pylons, pallets and carts to control crowds; signage promoting social distancing, staff dispensing masks and sanitizer, lots of space due to controlled capacity; even check out counters were removed to allow more space for staff and customers.
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Driving on the QEW, I saw this sign advertising testing for COVID-19.
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The COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts on student and community health and well-being have resulted in a new approach to the Fall 2020 academic term. Today, we are sharing the Brock plan for Fall 2020.
Document sections include:
- What will happen this Fall?
- What courses will be offered on campus?
- How will I know whether a course is online or in person?
- What will online courses be like?
- What kinds of technology and content will be offered?
- I’m a graduate student. What should I expect?
- I’m a first-year student. How will I get started?
- What about living in residence?
- What financial help is available?
- What’s next?
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Information and details regarding the Fall 2020 academic term;
- What does the future look like?
- When will we return to ‘normal?’
- I need to return to my lab. When will that happen?
- Staying well
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Brock youth camps cancelled for the summer;
- Brock community required to complete MFA on-boarding process;
- New features improve user experience of Microsoft Teams;
- Update from Brock Central;
- Morneau Shepell releases new resources for Brock employees;
- Mental health resources — update for students;
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Being retired has made going through the pandemic much easier I believe. If you have a partner and a fur baby it’s even easier.
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From Get Back to Come Together, A (Final) Day in the Life on this Magical Mystery Tour. It's been a blast, but this is my final Covid-19 diary entry. I think we're all tired of Covid this and Covid that, and I accomplished my purpose set out in my first entry "to record one exact moment in time" so I'd be able to recall it when I start my career as a Paperback Writer.
Wow! What a rush it was. I was working weekends only, as the tourist season started up at The Hilton in March. I worked my night shift Saturday March 7 where we had over 900 rooms in service and had my next shift Friday March 13. Tuesday March 10 over 600 guests cancelled weekend rooms. Wednesday, all 65 valet Department drivers, supervisors and management were laid off--BAM. It was so unexpected and sudden no-one even contacted me to tell me, so I showed up for my shift Friday to find a ghost town, maybe 50 rooms booked out of 1050! Totally unbelievable and it happened so fast.
Then everyone shut down, 5 million Canadians returned home and we started wearing masks and isolating ourselves. People suddenly started valuing teachers more and they REALLY started valuing the "front line workers" more. And while we're creeping back to a new "normal", air travel and tourism are a long long way from recovering. I may never work again!
We survived here quite well as I've documented and can easily encompass new habits like once-a-week shopping, and Zooming, and "tapping" bank cards, and wearing a mask in public. I wonder if our new "frugality" will last?
We haven't lost anyone we know. As of today there are 98 cases in St. Catharines with 80 of them publicly acquired--NOT from care homes or hospitals, so the virus is lurking. Last week, one staffer infected 15 patients and 6 co-workers in the Niagara Falls hospital, though, in one shift, catching Covid-19 "outside" the hospital and bringing it in.
In Tim's news, the Hartzel Road shop closed for Victoria Day!! That's a first. And in the accompanying pictures, you can see Wendy's ran out of hamburgers! Insult to injury, the Welland Ave. location also didn't have any Frosties either. Five Roses Flour has run out of printed bags so is using plain brown ones for a bit. What a new world.
I want to thank everyone who responded to these emails. The high was 15 responses, the low 3 or 4. The motto of the first newspaper I worked on was "To Inform and Entertain" and I think I've fulfilled that mandate here, too. Stay safe and ignore those other Beatles songs, Day Tripper and I Want to Hold Your Hand for just a while longer.
Bungalow Bill
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- The Government of Ontario announced Wednesday that it was taking important steps to reduce the financial barriers to post-secondary education;
- Brock to hold Virtual Spring Convocation;
- Access to campus for non-research activities;
- President Gervan Fearon looks forward to welcoming students to Brock this fall;
- Update from Brock Central;
- Printing Services working on-site to support the Brock community;
- Morneau Shepell releases new resources for Brock employees;
- Supporting high-quality online teaching and learning at Brock;
- Mental health resources — update for students
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Brock President Gervan Fearon penned an open letter to faculty, staff and students;
- Canadian scholar, academic leader to be Brock’s next Provost;
- Brock researchers seeking participants for COVID-19 related research;
- Centre for Health and Well-Being teams up with Brock students to enhance virtual fitness classes;
- In an age of cyber attacks, Brock embraces MFA to beef up cyber security;
- Academic options available for research-based graduate students;
- Student grade option choices being accepted;
- Computer Commons / IT Help Desk update;
- Mental health app for employees;
- Mental health resources — update for students;
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"Let us go then, you and I...Let us go through half-deserted streets." I guess I missed using T.S. Eliot's line, "April is the cruelest month", so I was searching for another appropriate Eliot quote, "I have measured out my life with coffee spoons" from The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, when I realized his start to that great poem seemed more appropriate in this week of The Great Re-opening. (I always knew my English degree would come in handy. Finally!)
Yes, lockdown is easing although not enough to affect Pauline and I much. So now you can go right into the hardware stores and garden centres and go back to work in construction. I used to have someone who worked for me whose greatest joy in life was to prowl hardware stores. Alan, you go for it. Me, if I never set foot in one again I could die contented. I am certified dangerous with any tool, and all things mechanical, electrical and computerical are my enemy. It took me three years to finally learn how to open the hood of my first car. Pumping gas still flummoxes me so I know every Niagara location of Gales Gas Bar which will not allow me to pump my own.
With a warm long weekend around the corner, golf courses, marinas, pet grooming, off-leash dog parks and other sundry places too, will be allowed to open Saturday, none affecting us. I remember when a long weekend really meant something. Now every weekend is a long one. This weekend is sure to cause strife in Ontario. Cottage country, with limited health care facilities and smaller grocery stores do not want city folk visiting. Lake Erie municipalities will issue fines, some Muskoka ones are refusing to connect the water. Niagara-on-the-Lake has blocked parking lots. There will be fireworks of two kinds this long weekend.
Hey, I Zoomed this week! Wow, what a trip! One of the supervisors from The Hilton set up a Zoom-in and Pauline quite helpfully did all the computer stuff for me. I think she was secretly trying to be really nice after trashing me last week about freaking out over the computer's war against me. There were about ten of us on, out of the 65 valet driver staff (all laid off). Everyone commented on my new Santa Claus beard. I loved the format with a yellow square lighting up whoever was speaking. Cool! Most of us are older so not many really felt like going back to work yet, or even venturing out, except maybe to golf. Two knew people who had contracted Covid-19. It's unlikely The Hilton will need valet service until late fall, if then. Once the conversation switched to Netflix etc. I signed off. It was fun until it lasted.
Got a long overdue oil change and check-up this week. (The car that is.) With no shuttle driver, I just waited in a converted car bay that offered strategic seating. There is no going into the dealership and no test driving of cars allowed. Niagara Motors phoned me, sent a notice, sent a $20 off coupon and ran ads saying their service department was still open. They're suffering like everyone else. They always wash the car after servicing it, but I noticed that guy was laid off, too.
V.E. Day has passed since I last wrote. We were too young to remember it in this family, but Maggie next door sure remembers it in her home town of Glasgow. She said everyone was outside and they hauled her mother's piano out of the house and into the street for the party. Because she was only eight, she still had to go to bed early but the parties continued all night, she said. There won't be that kind of rejoicing when this "war" is over, but I'm sure there will be a profound worldly sigh of relief when a vaccine is announced. Who will get to it first? The U.S.? China/Canada coalition? Germany? Britain? And THEN, who will get it first. Aye, there's the rub.
Mother's Day just passed, too. This year it was flowers from the garden and a home-made card, but I did manage some chocolates when I had to go to Shopper's. We talked to the kids and grandkids on Skype on Mother's Day, and the artist known as Maddy congratulated me on my home-made card and immediately abandoned the call to go do art. She's irrepressible and really talented. No, that's not just proud Grandpa talking. She's good. We did a book together last year, copy by Bill, 27 colour illustrations by nine-year-old Maddy.
While talking to the family, who live in Switzerland, Zeke also abandoned the call at 8 p.m. their time, to go bang pots off the balcony for the health care workers. Now I've seen this stuff on T.V. too, but there's nothing like it on our street and I'm not going to be the one to start it. We went for an evening walk around the block (about a mile) this week and the shocking thing was not a single kid outside. This is a very populous kid area, especially Vine St. North, but it was eerily dead silent. Spooky. One house had blue ribbons out for a health care worker in the family, another flew a special care-worker's flag. The only other "street" news is that Maggie next door got a new clothesline installed so I'll miss her Cirque de Soleil performances the old one required.
Tim's news. (A recurring theme in these blogs in case you hadn't noticed. I don't get out much.) I saw them piling up tables and chairs outside and asked if there was going to be a patio in the parking lot. No, they were just removing half the seating in anticipation of re-opening. My guess is June for Ontario.
Usually I try to keep my diary local. Others can trash Trump much better than I. But Celia Walden in Britain's The Daily Telegraph had a pithy take on international response to our pandemic.
Besides being the best medicine, humour's at the very root of Britishness.
It's who we are. Italians battled Covid-19 with song, the French rioted and
some in the U.S. --spurred on by Donald Trump--defended their Second
Amendment right to kill themselves and each other in large numbers.
As Pauline said last week, we're both introverts at heart so probably coping as well as most in this isolation. I'll still never get every book written read, but I'm working on it. If you want fiction recommendations let me know. We've discovered Cogeco has opened some movie channels for free as a Covid response, so we sometimes watch T.V. as well as read. I garden more, Pauline cooks exotic meals more. The times have made us more contemplative, too. Not about death, though, but about the absolute richness of our life pre Covid. We have travelled extensively, raised a family, both worked at very, very rewarding jobs and done some good in the world. We have friends, our health, and still find things to laugh about. And somehow this Covid thing has left us in awe, not fear. Who would have thought it, who could have imagined it! What's next? Just as we're cocooning, we will break out of the chrysalis to see "what's out there?" and look forward to a brand new world, just as rich I'm sure after Covid as before, just different.
Stay strong. The half-deserted streets are just starting to fill. Sunrise is coming.
Bill
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Sat May 9th was the first day that hardware stores could open for indoor shopping. I needed an urgent repair on something, so I ventured out for a part. The larger stores were encouraing distancing outside and limiting the number of customers who entered. Inside though, the staff did not wear masks and had no problem coming within inches of your face to help you. Most of the customers were not wearing masks and the over 50 set didn't think anything of brushing past - in front of me - while I was waiting at the plexiglass barrier at the service counter. On the way home I stopped at a burger franchise for take out. None of the staff behind the counter were wearing masks and they were working within inches of each other. There is no way they could physical distance during food prep. It was the first time I had purchased take-out during the pandemic and it was sad to see people putting themselves at risk for a burger.
May 16, 2020, Saturday of the long weekend. The roads are busy. It's nice to see people using the parks again, responsibly.
I stopped at a local discount chain to pick up some groceries. The staff were all working hard - masked/gloved, cleaning the carts and staying apart. The floor was taped off and they had barriers in place. The customers were acting like it was just another day pre-COVID. No masks, no sense of physical distancing at all, ignoring the marked off spaces in the lineup at the cash. At least three people were drunk and the person behind me at the checkout was high and kept coming close to me and touching everything on display. I would not be surprised if there is a spike in cases in a week or two.
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A fence display in Welland, ON
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Thank you frontline workers: lawn sign
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Playground closed.
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Positive reminders on the sidewalk: Be Kind.
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A shot of the Matheson Learning Commons in the James A. Gibson Library on May 4, 2020, almost 7 weeks after the Library was closed (closed on March 19). Inside the Library feels frozen in time with old signage, books waiting to be checked in, paper towel and spray bottle for users to disinfect their workspaces, etc.
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This photo was taken nearly two months after the closure of Brock's James A. Gibson Library. The sign on the outside remains unchanged. Inside the Library feels frozen in time.
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This is a story about seven slides examined under a microscope in a laboratory. It introduces bad viruses that can infect our bodies, minds and spirits.
A “Play within a Play" is a play that is performed in the confines of another play. The general audience is not the intended audience, the characters in the play are the audience. In this play, the characters are terrible viruses. The viruses, always silent, are watching and listening to two laboratory technicians in a research lab in Canada.
Both technicians are very experienced at microscopic examination, collecting and assessing samples,
and running different diagnostic tests. They know how to apply their advanced technical knowledge
and skills to run the most recent technologies in their field. They are smart people. They have been
in the business a long time. They have seen several viruses. They put creepy things on slides and
look at them up close all day long. They know what they are doing.
This story begins with the first technician admitting to the second technician that the COVID-19 Virus
really scares him.
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An Alternative View from the Hogan Household -- May 8
I have been informed that it’s my turn to write the weekly coronavirus musings. Bill insists that I promised to do it this week. I remember agreeing vaguely to write one sometime in the undefined future. But here I am at the computer, having lost the argument polite discussion over the issue.
I still am trying to convince myself that this really is the situation we are in. How could my previous 72 years of free movement and joyful mingling not have prepared me for this? I suppose I can see where the protesters come from – they simply refuse to believe that the life they had always lived has changed so much. Much like the men who react with anger to the idea of women in leadership, they simply refuse to let go of their grip on what the world is supposed to ensure is their right. I don’t have a lot of sympathy for these idiots, but I have a little.
My personal adjustment to social isolation has not been very traumatic. Although I spent years in activities that required extroverted behaviour, as a teacher and a camp director and a kids’ club leader, I am an acknowledged introvert. I’m quite happy, actually, to not be attending meetings or socializing – quite happy to spend my evenings reading a good book or watching a movie in the comfort and snack-laden environment of our TV room. And we have, when the sun has been shining, been able to take a few leisurely walks along the canal, nodding cheerfully as we quickly pass, at a distance, others doing the same thing.
There are a few issues. I am not used to having a husband underfoot all day long, who thinks nothing of demanding my attention or help – usually with the @#$%&* computer -- at any time, no matter what I’m involved in. Weighed in the balance of the alternative, however, I am so thankful to have a companion at home to share this time with. And, usually, he’s not too grumpy. Except when the @#$%&* cat throws up on the rug.
Thank goodness for the technology the brilliant younger generation has provided for us! What would we do without the ability to check the latest coronavirus numbers at a moment’s notice? Or to watch all those absorbing cat videos? Or penguins/goats visiting other animals? Or seeing what latest gaffe has come out of the White House? Or learning new recipes – thank you Alison Roman, and Jamie Oliver, and the many other chefs who are broadening our recipe repertoires along with our waistlines. And what would we do without the weekly Skype call with our family in Switzerland, I can’t imagine. We missed our usual Easter trip with them this year, and are holding on to hope that we’ll still see them here at the end of June. But at this point, nothing is certain. I think that’s the worst part of this whole pandemic experience, that we are so uncertain of what is going to happen next week, never mind next month.
Another technological marvel I’m thankful for is Zoom. Amazingly, I can still gather with my women’s Bible study group every week, from the comfort of my own desk chair. It’s not always perfect – and there are unexpected entertaining moments when a dog or child or husband wanders into the room. The father of our pastor’s wife can be counted on to either phone his daughter in the middle of our meeting, or wander into the room where his wife is participating in the discussion, to ask a question in his booming voice. We love him anyway. Apparently a recent US Supreme Court meeting was interrupted by a flushing toilet; we haven’t had that happen yet. So I am enjoying living in the future that science fiction when I was a child predicted would occur.
Speaking of science fiction, do you think aliens are somehow controlling the weather this spring? We had snow today – May 8, for Pete’s sake! Maybe the same aliens who are messing with our spring are also throwing the coronavirus at us. My theory is at least as plausible as some of the ones I’ve heard suggested. Cell phone towers? Bioweapon? Can it be true that we’ve just run up against nature at its most capricious, and that we have to admit we can’t control everything? Naah. When we were kids, we blamed everything on the Russians. Now it’s the Chinese. When we run out of Asians to blame, we’ll have to fall back on aliens.
We, i.e. Bill and I, are actually a lot more fortunate than many others. We have a lovely back yard, lush this time of the year with daffodils and hyacinths. We’ve planted many tulips over the years, but since we also have a heritage walnut tree in our yard, we are cursed with squadrons of squirrels, who can be very entertaining to watch, but who are convinced that every tulip bulb under the soil and every tulip bud that survives to poke its head above the soil is intended for their gourmet tastes. So we’ve given up on tulips of our own, and enviously admire our neighbour’s gorgeous display. Meanwhile, we’re grateful that squirrels dislike daffodils, so we add a few more – daffodils, that is, not squirrels -- each year, and they lift our spirits as we stroll in our yard. We are genuinely sorry for those of you cooped up in apartments.
I want to pass along some book recommendations. I’ve discovered a Canadian author who writes mysteries set in BC just after WWII. The heroine is a former British secret agent, who meets a dashing RCMP officer in the course of solving murders in her small community. Lots of fun, by Iona Whishaw. Another Canadian author, David Bezmozgis, is a lovely writer, but paints a more sober picture of the immigrant experience. And for a new look at the conflicts between East and West, dig into The Silk Roads, by Peter Frankopan. It’s non-fiction, and thick, but fascinating. You have extra time now for reading, so treat yourself to some challenging historical stuff.
I will sign off for now, and hopefully Bill will be back next week for your regularly scheduled email.
Stay safe, please.
Pauline
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Government of Ontario released more information;
- Student grade option choices being accepted;
- VIDEO: Enjoy Brock’s cherry blossoms from the comfort of home;
- Department of Residences staff continue to provide essential services;
- Brock opens its student residences to Niagara Region health-care staff;
- Don’t blame COVID for binge-watching, says Brock prof;
- Computer Commons / IT Help Desk update;
- Mental health app for employees;
- Mental health resources — update for students
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Fri 5/8/2020 5:23 PM
[This letter is the latest communication to the Brock community from University President Gervan Fearon]
Dear Faculty, students and staff,
It has now been several weeks since we made the transition to our current situation, along with colleges and universities across the country, and we remain focused on continuing to support the mission of the University, including (a) teaching and learning activities and research and scholarship initiatives and (b) public health and student, faculty and staff health and wellness.
The provincial government recently announced a three-stage process for “re-opening” Ontario. Within this context, we all yearn for signs of positivity of re-opening, and I am pleased to report that steps are also being taken at Brock as we begin planning how we could emerge from the pandemic. We are not yet in a position for absolute answers, but we are examining options for moving forward. These important forward steps are reason for optimism.
We are following this route because the province has indicated it will be taking a careful, measured approach to begin this next phase of recovery.
The coronavirus has forced businesses, schools and social organizations to drastically reduce or suspend their standard operations. At Brock, these challenges have been often met with innovative thinking, and with actions that prioritize our students, researchers, faculty and staff.
As has been the case from the early days of the virus first emerging in January, Brock prioritizes the health and well-being of the entire community in every step we take. You have each been very much a part of the successful efforts that have allowed us to make the transition, not only supporting undergraduate students in completing their academic year, but enabling us to now consider moving forward in other areas, including establishing provisions for field and some laboratory research activities.
For our graduate students and their supervisors, these times have been exceptionally difficult. Many were just weeks away from completing their graduate degrees when the province ordered our shutdown. I am pleased that the Brock Senate has approved a series of measures to help create new options for our research-based graduate students as they work through this uncertain time.
It has been clear that our researchers, among the best in the country, are eager to return to their labs. The entire University shares that eagerness. A task forced led by the Associate Vice-President, Research, and including representatives from across the University is working to determine the best and safest way for Brock to gradually re-open labs.
I am very proud of the flexibility and the innovative approach our research community has taken. I congratulate them on continuing to undertake research and scholarship even in these difficult times, and I am confident that research activities on campus and in the field will be resuming soon, with the safety and health of faculty and staff as our primary focus. I understand that this has been frustrating at times, but we are listening to your messages and we are acting to be able to resume research and laboratory activities, with your input and in line with public health principles.
Even as our world continues isolating, the University is hardly standing still. Another Brock team is working away on plans for a digital and virtual Convocation in June. You will recall that universities had to amend plans for in-person ceremonies this spring, and Brock has committed to hosting the Class of 2020 at an in-person ceremony further in the future, when conditions permit larger gatherings. However, in the near term, our online Convocation in June will be a celebration that honours the achievements of our students and the contributions made by faculty and staff during the academic year. Please watch as we reveal more details in the coming days and weeks.
Meantime, the Spring/Summer Term is being offered online, and demand from students has not only been maintained, but is stronger than it has been in recent years.
We have also made the commitment that the Fall Term will take place on schedule. We await direction in the coming weeks from public health leaders and others before we determine how classes will be held, but faculty members are already planning for a range of possibilities, including online, in-person or hybrid delivery. The most important point is that students will receive the highest-quality academic experience, from a university that is among the tops in Ontario for teaching excellence awards.
We have all tried to preserve the best experiences of the Niagara region. In March, it became apparent that protecting public safety required cancelling Cuvée, the annual celebration of Ontario VQA wines that is sponsored by Brock’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute. After some brainstorming on the part of our staff and researchers, plans for a virtual version of the event were announced this week. The Cuvée 2020 Online Experience will start on May 22.
I believe you would share the observation that Canadians have done an outstanding job in coping with the challenges of the times. We have learned how to work under new conditions, and many of us have used the time to reconnect with family and friends over the range of video-conferencing platforms. Personally, I have lost several Scrabble games, but have enjoyed every moment. I am certain that you, too, can point to some good moments during this period.
We are now moving from preparation and response into recovery (e.g., “re-opening”). There will be challenges along the way, and new information will emerge that requires us to re-evaluate choices and decisions that we made even within the best scenario planning.
Just as you have been vital in our success to date, you will continue to be our priority throughout this period. We may not be able to fully see beyond the horizon today, but we do know we are moving together in the right direction. I thank you for your support and understanding.
Surgite!
Sincerely,
Gervan Fearon,
President and Vice-Chancellor
Brock University
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Brock Central adds new service option;
- Grounds Services keeping campus ready for when Brock community returns;
- Dining Services update;
- Virtual Open House now live;
- Brock continues post-pandemic planning;
- Computer Commons / IT Help Desk Update;
- Giving Tuesday next week;
- Mental health app for employees;
- Mental health resources — update for students
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Brock continues post-pandemic planning;
- Brock mourns passing of honorary degree recipient Wilma Morrison;
- Brock faculty holding webinars for sport organizations and migrant workers;
- Virtual Open House now live;
- Computer Commons / IT Help Desk Update;
- How to contribute to COVID-19 Student Emergency Bursaries;
- Mental health app for employees;
- Mental health resources — update for students
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Brock reduces entrance points for staff and students;
- Niagara Health Navigator COVID-19 app update;
- Student Health Services changes;
- IT Help Desk access;
- Getting outside is good for physical and mental health, say Brock experts;
- Mental health supports available for students and employees;
- Brock aids local company in producing COVID-19 test kits;
- Digital vigilance critical as more employees work from home, says Brock expert;
- Brock Central updates;
- Wi-Fi drive-in available to students with no home internet access;
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20 March 2020
Dear students, faculty, staff and members of the Brock community,
I am writing today to thank all of the many individuals across the entire University community who continue to help our students and the institution manage through what is undeniably a unique period during our lifetimes.
I am also writing to express my sincere support and encouragement to all of you — every student, staff and faculty member — as we pull together and deal with each challenge as it comes up. Together, you have been volunteers, supporters and colleagues to each other and have demonstrated your capacity to succeed and triumph over adversity.
The rapid global spread of COVID-19 has led to necessary dramatic announcements and sweeping changes to our normal society, measures taken to slow the rate of infection during this pandemic. On our campus and across the country, these steps are done to protect our health, safety and well-being — and to ease the burden on Canada’s brave and dedicated health-care workers, as well as to ensure that those in the most need will have access to our health system.
At Brock, many individuals have contributed to the continued operations and activities of the University, admittedly under significantly modified conditions. Think of Brock as a city of 25,000 people. Besides having teaching, research and athletic activities that sustain hundreds of academic and student-engagement programs, we have our own retail stores, libraries, power generating facilities, campus security service, residential units, information technology, news media, food services, water mains, recreation centres, and so on.
To quickly modify the range of University activities — while minimizing adverse effects on thousands of people and many special facilities — is no simple matter, but I believe our Brock team would say it has all been an honour to conduct these activities in support of our students and faculty and staff. These dedicated people have remained composed and focused on problem-solving, on finding the best and safest methods for adjusting activities, and ensuring the health and well-being of all members of the University community.
I have been particularly moved by a cadre of people from departments across the University who have volunteered — including giving up their weekends — to help facilitate the urgent response, and help co-ordinate the departure of students moving out of residence and back to their homes. They have not hesitated to step up in an hour of need, and I am truly moved and inspired by their acts of selflessness.
It is too early to tell how long we will all be making adjustments to address the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we do know that the outstanding character and action of members of the Brock community will allow us to support each other, our families and members of our communities during this period. Brock is
a caring community, and this includes caring about the faculty and staff who comprise the Brock University team. Our decisions will continue to be centred around “putting our people first” and maintaining a sense of a caring community.
In the coming weeks, our jobs will require engaged creativity and continued efforts as we adapt to this evolving environment and situation, but the well-being of our people and our University community will remain a core principle and priority. We will continue to communicate updates to the Brock community through emails, website
updates and social media posts.
In a period of dramatic change, it is important for us all to recognize and to thank our students, faculty and staff for their outstanding effort. As an economist, I am well aware of the developments in the market and the future challenges of the economy. However, there will be time for these considerations and for action to ameliorate any
difficulties that may arise. At this time, it is important that we focus on individual and community health, safety and well-being, and continue to make decisions as a kind and caring community, and as global citizens.
Please take care of yourselves and your families, but also take comfort in knowing you are part of a special community here at Brock University. Your health and well-being are central to all our decision-making, and central to our thoughts.
Sincerely,
Gervan Fearon
President and Vice-Chancellor, Brock University
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Positive messages on the marquee of St. Anthony Catholic elementary school in St. Catharines.
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The isolation and loneliness of not seeing peers at school was getting too much for my daughter so we had a COVID-safe playdate with her friend. We packed her bike in the car and drove to their house, where the girls rode their bikes on opposite sides of the road and chatted with each other. They noticed the numbers and letters on the utility boxes on people’s lawns and made them into a code that directed them on an adventure around the neighbourhood. While they didn’t wear their masks most of the time, because they were far enough apart, they did put them on to sit on the curb and share secrets.
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I gave the kids some chalk to do art outside. Later, I looked out the window to see what they did...took my breath away....
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A large thank you banner for the essential workers at the Extendicare Nursing Home in St. Catharines, Ontario.
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[Email #6 written to friends during the pandemic by Bill Hogan]
Fri 5/1/2020 10:52 PM
A gentleman caller from down the street has been joining Pauline and I for the last few years. I don't let him sleep over, but since I'm a night owl, I often get up late in the day to find him with Pauline on the couch. I get my share of affection too, of course. But lately I've been wondering if this is really safe for us.
Perhaps I've used the wrong term, my French really isn't up to par. Isn't menage like a menagerie? Simon is a visiting cat from the cat lady down the street and he spends half his time at our house. The St. Catharines Standard reported this week that two cats in New York have tested positive for Covid-19. The grandkids love Simon and as a matter of fact the kids petting Simon was Pauline's screensaver for years. Everyone heard of the tiger with Covid, but this is new. In a separate story someone suggested the virus could come in the house on pet collars, so don't let your pets out. Try telling THAT to Simon. I've been tasked with telling him he has to wear a little mask, too. And how does someone get two cats tested when some people can't even get tested?
I think I'm ready to go back to Stage 1 in my Covid-19 emotional cycle. What's this, you say? Thought you'd never ask. In a completely unscientific analysis, a quarantined nurse, Jerilyn Gabruck from Alberta, has quantified the stages of quarantine in the style of the stages of cancer acceptance.
Stage 1 is a sense of opportunity, of motivation, of "lets get productive", of doing long-postponed home repairs, say. Remember I organized 5,000 photos and a life-time of memorabilia?
Stage 2 is incredulity, that this can't be my life, this is unreal. You give up on productivity. Remember I put all those photos in 26 small albums? Well, there's still two to go. I have the little albums, I have the 60 pictures each culled and ready to enter, but the 2019 Jordan holiday and the summer of 2019 maybe won't get archived. Maybe Pauline will do it. And I have two books and a mailer ready to go to the teacher at NCC who loves books, but...they're still on a chair in my office.
Stage 3 is called crying, but it's really just despondency and frustration. You stay in your P.J.'s. You don't look in the mirror. You feel frustrated. You can't remember what day it is. "It's April isn't it?" Michelle asked. "Is it too early to be this drunk?" someone else wrote. Pauline's at this stage, I think. Only after she got dressed for Sunday's video church service did she realize she could have stayed in her housecoat and just kept her camera off.
Stage 4 is the awful recognition that this is your new life for a long time. It's not acceptance. It's panic. I've been there. And others that have responded to me seem to be there. And then it repeats, according to a very unscientific analysis remember. I'm ready for the repeat. That garden needs some attention. Those albums need sorting out.
Oh, just in case you were wondering, Ian, no Pauline has not (yet) joined this new Tik Tok craze of videoing your boyfriend/mate's reaction as he's playing video games and you enter the room naked. Pauline showed me a bunch of those on You Tube and in almost every one the reaction is the same, the guy gets what can only be described as a shit-eating grin on his face and drops the video game. I don't think P. actually knows how Tik Tok works (nor do I or do I want to). She's still working on Zoom and this doesn't seem to be Zoom appropriate.
Community gardens are up and running now as long as they satisfy local Covid rules. Only problem, I hear there's a real shortage of seeds with folks planting home gardens, sort of like WWII Victory Gardens. Anyway, thank you Doug Ford for opening the community gardens. I must say, Doug has had a complete personality change. He's humble, concerned, thoughtful and almost prime ministerial in his reaction to this pandemic. Maybe it's all a front, but it looks good from here and I haven't liked a single Ontario Conservative leader since Leslie Frost. (Yes, Martha, I am that old.)
I read, too, of someone who invented new games played inside during lockdown. The one that caused both P. and I to laugh out loud was where one person reads a book and the other sits at the end of the couch or the other easy chair with their phone out and mutters "nice" and "how adorable" and "aww, that's so cute" until the reader gets up and leaves. Bonus points if the reader leaves and the person on the phone doesn't even notice.
No word yet from TD on my interest charges rebate but I paid my first bill ever through Easy Web. I followed the TD online tutorials and shazam, it's done. What banks have been trying to do forever, talk their older customers into doing banking online instead of with a teller, has miraculously happened almost overnight. After full-page newspaper ads about this, I'm one of over 3,000 TD customers in Ontario who have signed up in April. We won't go back to tellers, this is so easy. This is radical permanent change. Since I was at it, I bought my first thing ever (Timmies of course) by tapping my card. Instantly I realized that there was no tip! I'll have to think about this part of "banking."
But I'm still hanging on to my flip phone; they haven't broken me there yet. The way they are tracking people nowadays with I-phones is very scary to someone who grew up with talk of "Red" China, the Iron Curtain, the Cold War, the Dew Line. Admittedly I grew up an "army brat" (an actual technical term, I think) so maybe I'm a little more paranoid than some, but I distinctly remember school drills where we had to practice for a nuclear attack. (The thought of which cracked my Dad up. He told me to just bend over and grab my ass.) Anyway, no tracking device on me, thank you.
Maggie next door had an interesting Covid-19 experience. Her two year old washer broke down and when she called for repairs the first question asked was if she were working. At 85 years old--no. Then they can't come to repair it. Well her daughter phoned the place up (it shall remain nameless out of courtesy), said that she and her husband were both working (true) and her mother handled their laundry. (Well, I'll have to fact-check that another time). The machine was fixed at 9:30 the next morning.
We got out a bit this week since the weather finally turned warm. We drove over to Westview Fellowship to donate some stuff they need for their outreach ministry. As well, we went for two walks, one along the canal and the other in Queenston Heights Park. At Queenston we saw the Chief Tecumseh memorial written about in The Globe, and we saw the fairly new "Landscape of Nations" (First Nations during 1812) memorial, a tremendous installation. There was no trouble distancing at either place. Queenston Heights Park is massive so it hasn't been closed down, just the playground inside it.
On the way there we passed the magnificent Tulip trees (proper name Saucer Magnolia?) along Queenston St. Maggie's next door is in full bloom too, but I couldn't get a proper picture. I wonder, do we have Magnolias here because of the large number of Southern gentry (with their slaves) who used to annually visit the Mineral Springs in the old Welland House Hotel and other local spas?
As well as Maggie's Tulip tree, our own garden is now bursting with violets, dandelions, forget-me-nots, and the tulips the squirrels didn't dig up. With the isolation, every new blossoming seems so special.
Oh. One thing Keith noticed. "When you leave your clothes in the closet while in isolation--THEY SHRINK." This was exactly one hour before Marlene emailed for Pauline's cheesy bun recipe. Coincidence? I think not. Marlene, this week's specialties were chocolate chip cookies. I saw six printed out recipes and can report that Hershey's won out and Martha Stewart's wasn't popular here.
Well, time to get the garbage out, dawn is here. Under Covid rules only three bags of leaves, clippings, etc., per household are allowed because garbage collection is essential and so many people are at home madly gardening, that the garbage men were quitting or calling in sick for a week or two because there was just too much work with all those extra yard material bags. The "casual" employees who usually pick up the slack were staying home collecting CERB so there were no replacement workers. Talk about the law of unintended consequences. Epidemic=Lay-Offs=Lots of Gardening=Garbagemen Shortage.
In closing, yes, Brock Archives accepted this blog post, email, diary, whatever this is, and it was exciting looking it up. There were 153 entries so far and I think mine was number 1 (under a great Covid19 banner with the virus as the "O") because it was the most recent addition. I'll send the link if anyone wants, it's too complicated to type up. But now I guess I might have to watch out for nudity, coarse language, violence and mature subject matter and give out a reader discretion is advised notice. I think I got them all except the violence bit. That was happening privately as I threatened my computer again and again while typing this.
Your diarist,
Bill
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[Email #5 written to friends during the pandemic by Bill Hogan]
Sat 2020-04-25 9:17 AM
Journal of the Plague Year Week 6
Apologies to Danny Defoe (real name Daniel Foe) for ripping off his book title on the 1665 Black Death plague, but it's so appropriate. Speaking of Defoe, I suggested to Pauline that maybe instead of Hemingway, at week six I now resembled Robinson Crusoe, but she rolled her eyes, so no selfie of my current wild-man look.
I think Pauline has moved on to cute dog videos, now, because she shared a couple of videos of a British sports announcer giving a gripping commentary on his two dogs racing to finish their bowls of food, and then another of one guarding a toy bone from the other. Hilarious. Nothing is really happening here, and he made it entertaining anyway. Hopefully I'm doing the same because NOTHING IS REALLY HAPPENING HERE.
Other than my daily Tim Horton run, I didn't budge past the back yard this week. Over at Timmies every server now wears a mask and gloves and the coffees now come on a cardboard box top or in one of their recyclable trays. No hand serving. I also noticed a sign for do-it-yourself donut decorating boxes (for kids I suspect) of six donuts for $5.99. Way to keep kids occupied Tim.
I did notice a couple of "happenings" in our neighborhood, though, on my Tim's run. First of all, the church on the corner one block over has been having line-ups outside. It seems that since it's closed, and it has a ministry to the many area sex trade workers and homeless people, it offers lunches and groceries through the kitchen window three days a week. They do 500 sandwiches and 300 bags of groceries each week, and 100 cups of coffee and 100 soups each day. Hats off to Westview Centre4Women at 124 Queenston St. That was not a joke about the sex trade workers--this is a serious ministry.
Just about across the street from Westview Fellowship, the local Community Garden has been shut down since it's not an essential service, so there's no one there getting the ground ready. (Yes, I know May 24 weekend is the traditional planting date in Southern Ontario.) The 70 Niagara Community Gardens banded together this week to plead with Doug Ford to let them open with distancing guidelines and wash-up stations. 600 families count on these gardens in Niagara. I understand they're doing seedlings in anticipation of Covid rules relaxing.
On Pauline's side of the home she's watching a lot more You Tube videos and reading news from various world websites. Me, I read The Globe, the National Post and watch The National. I just don't get this You Tube, Facebook, conspiracy theory world. A side effect of these videos, though, are the great great great new recipe meals she's preparing based on those videos. We had French Onion soup to die for. And tonight it was a three-hit wonder, smothered chicken and gravy, roasted scalloped potatoes and cheesy stuffed biscuits. We don't order in at all--one pick-up Wendy's in the last six weeks.
Pauline did have a couple of new shopping experiences. She needed a new desk lamp bulb; yes a vital need. She ordered and paid online with Canadian Tire, they emailed the order was ready, and she drove to the store, parked in the letter E of the spray-painted parking lot and phoned to say what letter she was in. Out came the clerk with her tiny bag. Others had shopping carts full of merchandise being loaded so I guess do-it-yourselfers are finally getting long-postponed projects accomplished. Efficient and smart, I'd say, Canadian Tire.
At the grocery store, there are still long line-ups, still no flour and little baking supplies, the aisles are one way and now you can't use your own shopping bags. Each week a little stricter as we all adapt.
Speaking of line-ups, I remember queuing forever in England in 1952-53 when there was still rationing. I think one line was for orange juice, one for eggs, and I'm not sure, maybe one for cod liver oil. Maggie next door remembers taking two bus rides to get the weekly roast from the black market. Pauline remembers the large "Quarantine" sign tacked to the front door when her brother Harry contracted polio in the 50's. We've come full circle in our lives.
Since Air Miles expire after a year if you don't take another trip and we're not taking one, I cashed mine for $100 at Chapters and spent most of it already, and Pauline took $100 for Amazon. And in another sign of new world disorder Amazon told her it was concentrating on important shipments and her order should arrive in a month from now. Wow!
Remember I said it was important I paid off that $152 I owed on 2019 income tax? Yep, in these tough financial times the Ontario government withheld my monthly $48.50 Trillium benefit because I owed them money! Even though I paid long before the April 30 deadline. Rotten bastards.
On the other hand, the Feds ordered banks to ease up on bank card interest rates, so I contacted TD and I applied online for a kick-back of 50% of the interest each month for three months. They'll let me know in 30 days "due to the high volume of requests". I'll let you know how it ends up.
Oh. The never-ending bus sign saga. Once again I'm wrong, wrong, wrong. I was annoyed at the very large "Essential Travel Only" sign thinking it was rude and who would willingly take a St. Catharines bus (besides students) if they didn't need to. Well it seems lots of people. To protect the drivers, passengers enter from the rear and a big yellow chain separates the driver a long way from the passengers. And since revenues are down 90% anyway, no-one checks for bus passes or tickets. This became known. Enter the "non destination passenger" and the "riders exploring new areas of St. Catharines". I finally cracked the euphemism code. The homeless are riding around and around. What a gig! Warm soothing ride, a different vista each day. The bus seats are blocked now so each bus can only take ten passengers. The first eleventh passenger is told a new bus has been ordered from the depot to come for them. Thus the sign. I get it now.
One last item and I'll let you go. I started this blog April 1 after two weeks of isolation to record my life for future reference as a writer and thought it might entertain a few friends. An organization that previously compiled first hand accounts of war veterans and newcomers to Canada is collecting first person records of life during Covid-19--a living archive they call it. Brock University is collecting them for Niagara Region and has been in touch with me. Shirley from B.C. responded instantly to my first mail-out saying I should forward it to the Globe because of its immediacy--this is how it is in St. Catharines right now. I thought it over and decided the writing wasn't good enough for a national paper, but this, I think I'll go with it if they decide to use it. They want writing without the filter of hindsight. Since none of us knows how this will end, I think this qualifies.
Stay safe. I'm sure nothing interesting will happen next week either, but I'll be here reporting it anyway.
With tongue still firmly in cheek, your diarist of the plague year, I remain,
Bill
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[Email #4 written to friends during the pandemic by Bill Hogan]
Sat 2020-04-18 4:55 AM
More of Bill and Pauline’s Excellent Adventures
Well, we've both had some excitement this week--I went to the bank and P. was visited by Easter Bunnies. This is what constitutes excitement in week 5 of THE LOCKDOWN.
Now I know some are shaking their heads about my needing to go to a physical bank in this day of ATM's and online bill paying, but this was a special case. You see, I owed the government money on 2019 income tax and they requested payment by April 30 and I wanted to really make sure they got it. Even though my accountant said to ignore this, I'm hoping somewhere in the future to qualify for CERB or some other government largesse and don't want it held up because I owe them money.
So, on to the bank. Well, I hadn't been forever, and since I use a bank with great hours, 8a.m to 8 p.m. five days a week and also open Saturdays and Sundays, I arrived at 8a.m. (still a night owl, up a little later than usual) to find the bank had reverted to what we used to call banker's hours--10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oh.
Back at 10 a.m., not quite so chipper now. Long line outside in 1 degree weather, people spaced somewhat, but not really six feet apart. Now I'm feeling a little surly. But I had my homemade mask (yea, Pauline) and good gloves, so no problem. When I got to the front of the line (still outside) I met my young Walmart greeter, dressed in a TD ball cap and TD jacket and a very cheery, chipper attitude. "So, how are you feeling today?" she goes.
Now I'm no fool. This isn't Maggie and I talking over the backyard fence where the response might have included the state of the arthritis (Maggie) or the insomnia (me), this was the all-powerful border agent controlling the entry gate, smile be damned.
My attitude did a 360 degree turnabout. "Great, just great, just waiting for Spring to come."
"Have you been travelling?"
"No, no. Just cocooning at home."
"Why did you need to come to the bank today?"
I knew I'd be in trouble if I said to pay a couple of bills because I'd probably get a lesson on how to pay online, so smart as anything I said I needed some toonies for my business (well, for buying Timmies, anyway, but that's MY business.) I thought I was homefree.
Then, just inside the bank I met border guard number two. No more cheery attitude from the flinty-eyed schoolmarm confronting me. "Clean your hands!" she barked. Off came the gloves. I mean my gloves. And I meekly washed my hands with a solution in the dispenser that made my hands feeling like they were being washed in lye. My hands are very chapped and at home I use special unscented hand soap specially prepared for me at a local shop. Grimacing in pain, I put my gloves back on for round two.
"Do you have your mobile phone?" She was stunned when I said I didn't have one. "Well, starting tomorrow, you have to download our app (eyes glazing over) and stay in your car until we text you for your appointment!" It seems they haven't quite worked out what happens to Luddites like me, but I guess starting the next day I would have to stand outside by myself until someone came to get me, maybe. Or maybe not. It looks like my going to the bank days are over.
I was well-served by the teller who managed to not touch anything, using a pencil to push things around and a stamp to show my bills paid. Oh, I got my toonies of course.
Pauline's excitement was much more positive. The Easter Bunnies (two of them cleverly disguised as Rick, P.'s brother, and Becky of Nigh's Sweet Shop) came to her the day before Easter with a care package of chocolate. We always go out to get Easter chocolate for us, for neighbours, for my co-workers at The Hilton, but this year talked it over and decided to "Just Stay Home" like good little lambs. Nigh's were taking telephone orders and delivering to people's cars throughout the Easter season. Rick said they sold about a third of what they usually would.
Pauline said they talked, her in the doorway, the Nighs on the sidewalk, for a good while, and it was so exhilarating, she said. Our first visitors in weeks! I was so sad I missed it, the visit being at the crack of noon, long before I get up. Becky said she missed her grandchildren so; she felt like driving all the way to Peterborough just to wave at them through the window.
Speaking of grandkids, this was the week that the long-term reality of this epidemic sank in. The kids were due to come over from Switzerland for the summer June 27. But how will that work, now? The government rules state that everyone from a foreign country must quarantine for two weeks. If there is no written plan, the government itself will quarantine the visitors in hotels. Can they come stay with us? Will there be summer camp for them at Camp Kahquah? And will there be anything to do, yet, or will we still be in lockdown?
Similarly, I guess I have to face the reality that The Hilton is unlikely to need valet drivers this summer. All 65 in the valet department have been laid off, and until about 500 of their 1050 rooms have been rented, patrons can self-park. Hilton International policy calls for valet service to be offered, but these are extraordinary times and rules may be out the window.
A couple of other observations. Correctly so, someone chided me about my bus comment last week. I realize bus drivers have died of Covid. But no bus in St. Catharines ever has more than five people on it, it seems, unless it's Brock students and Brock is shut down. As well, riders enter from the rear doors. Still it was insensitive and I apologize.
Something else. Lindsay reports that last week, with wonderful 20 degree weather, the usually law-abiding Swiss started to rebel. Whole families went grocery shopping, people gathered in the parks. Now Switzerland started its self-isolation a week before us, but their infected and dead almost exactly mirror Canada's, at this point. So if the law-abiding Swiss revolt, what's going to happen here? Maybe we've been lucky it's so cold (snow three times this week, minus six degrees one night) so it's easier to stay in and be cosy. I guess watch out for a blowback if it ever hits 20 degrees here before things are relaxed.
Other quick notes. The Beer Store is now accepting empties (in limited quantities per person!) at one location locally since they were running out of bottles. Oh, and that demand for cash only? That was just because someone hacked their system so their machines were down for up to three weeks.
Filled up with gas for the first time in 5 weeks. At 77cents.
Our backyard flowers will wait for nothing. We've had some snowdrops, countless crocuses, billions of bluebells, dozens of daffodils, and now the forsythia is starting to....bloom. (Sorry, ran out of alliteration.) Maggie's tulip tree, correct name unknown, that gorgeous showy thing, is in bud. Picture next week.
Peace to all, stay safe, keep your spirits up. More excitement next week, too.
Bill
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[Email #2 written to friends during the pandemic by Bill Hogan]
On Sunday, April 5, 2020, Bill Hogan <billhoganantiques@hotmail.com> wrote:
Living in a Dangerous Time Take 2
Three weeks in on this self-isolation business and there's been some little changes. I'm kind of sporting a Hemingway-like look since there's no barbers open, and I think Pauline's sporting a less restrictive undergarment look since she doesn't go out and no-one visits. (Yes, I'm 76, but I'm not dead, you know. I sometimes notice things like that.)
This has been the week of Zoom. Last week I'd never even heard of it; this week it's Zoom Zoom everywhere. Lindsay has Global Fund meetings daily on Zoom; her nine year old daughter, Maddie, Zooms friends in the evenings. Australian Michelle (well, almost, her and Brad's citizenship has been postponed to August now) Zooms colleagues for work and Ian the Fireman's 16-year-old daughter Zooms with friends till 2 a.m. (Mamas, don't let your daughters grow up to be night owls!)
Even Pauline got in on it suddenly with a new Women's Bible Study Zoom-in or whatever the technical term might be. I'm never up at 10 a.m. so I didn't witness it personally, but P. said it was quite funny. Various people on mute, others frozen, then missing, children popping up, dogs interested, random husbands floating past, washroom breaks needed. But in the end a great community get-together. And technology passes me by again.
The weather has warmed up a bit, so I've been cleaning up the garden from our winter storms and got the fountain up and running. And I wonder if we'll still have our annual summer garden party.
P. has decided to make us masks since this week the information seemed to have changed and it's recommended now in some circles. She did her first grocery store run with one on, and I got a picture of her returning with it still on, carrying groceries and toilet paper. Really, we needed it. The toilet paper, I mean, not the mask. (Oops, too much detail, maybe.) She might put the picture up on Facebook, I'm not sure.
Speaking of P., I know she signed up for richer, for poorer, but did she really sign up for living on a desert island with someone 24 hours a day? I think not. (I'm not sure she thinks I'm quite as funny as I think I am.)
Interestingly, a couple of her friends, commenting on last week's blog, mentioned how loving I was to venture out to get flowers last week FOR HER. Oh. Yeah. For HER for sure. Yeah. Okay.
Although I didn't venture out this week, I noticed that in this working-class neighborhood all the cars are in their driveways all the time. So strange and so quiet.
Maggie next door reported huge line-ups--with distancing--outside the marijuana shop near Lakeshore Meats where she shops.Ian the Fireman is only one quarter as busy as usual at work. His wife, Fiona, in management in the Niagara Health system, put in 50 extra hours last week. Chris, a Toronto court room clerk, is fretting seriously at the lack of social distancing in the court system--people whispering in his ear, standing close to discuss matters.
I want to give a shout-out to some businesses and people. My local Rexall pharmacy waived my fee for a prescription because by law now they can only give me one month's supply of pills, not three, making me liable for three fees for the same number of pills. Thanks also to The Hilton which makes up a free once a week meal for all 1,000 employees to pick up in a drive-thru system with the owners and management doing the handout. As well as Fiona, others are in the health care business, too. Laurie from church is a nurse and Rick and Becky's daughter Kaity works in a hospital. Stay safe, my friends.
When I sent out last week's missive, I sent it to about a dozen people. The response was so overwhelming, I then also sent it out to about another dozen who had appreciated my Adventures in Newfoundland blog. The response was again stunning. Long letters from many. Encouragement from lots to keep writing, maybe start my theoretical novel now.
I hadn't expected that. After I hit send last week, I actually expected a number to write, "Stay at home, shithead!" because I talked of going out for snacks, flowers, etc. I guess those who thought it, didn't write it. (I didn't venture out this week, so don't start on me now.) I even took one terse reply, "Rave on, Bill." as positive, figuring it was synonymous with "Rock on, Bill" not "Rant on" or "Ramble on."
My thoughts now are that those that don't want to read these scribblings can just hit delete, so I'm sending this out to all my 35 or so contacts. I expect that for many, equally isolated, after a kind of exhilaration from the first week or two, there's a worrying or a sadness creeping in, and if my writing may bring a smile or two, it's been worthwhile. And if writing back might bring a release or two, Rave On, readers. I look forward to your replies and YOUR stories of lockdown, week three.
Bill
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[Email #3 written to friends during the pandemic by Bill Hogan]
Fri 2020-04-10 12:51 AM
Signs of Our Times – Week Four in Isolation
Let the record show that in the fourth week of the Covid -19 lockdown in St. Catharines the various governments have shut down all construction sites, barred in-store customers at hardware stores (but you can line up outside and place an order) closed off all city parks and blockaded the cemeteries. Let the record also show that Pauline has run out of cat video sites and moved onto kitten videos.
As this noose of closings tightens and tightens, it's inevitable the loss of civil liberties comes into play. There are problems, but nothing has really fussed me so far except the cemetery rule. It's cruel. Sure, no funeral gatherings, but a couple visiting a grave site getting run off? It's just coincidence, but our son Edward's birth date is April 20 and we usually visited his grave and gave the plot a good spring clean-up, adding new flowers. I guess not, this year. Twenty-three years ago, now, more years than he lived.
As well as civil liberties being hijacked, I'm just a touch bothered by a couple of things. The busses now have signs on them, "Essential Travel Only" as if anyone in this city would voluntarily get on a bus if they didn't need to. Stop with this rude signage!. I also feel sorry for the many regular customers of my local Tim Horton's who don't own cars and are not allowed to walk up to the drive-thru window. This is a poor area with low quality apartment blocks so there's lots without cars. Whatever.
There's been some great comments online on this stay-at-home stuff. Pauline was cracked up by Sharon's take on it. She says this situation is turning us into dogs; we're constantly roaming around looking for food, watching for any motion outside the front window, being told no if we get too close to strangers and getting really excited about a car ride. Rollo suggests that if you have a glass of wine in each hand you can't touch your face. My sister Karen said that today she ventured into that great forgotten place--OUTSIDE!
Oh, I've been corrected on a few items. Private Eyes was closed some time ago before the Coronavirus came, I just hadn't noticed. Maddie is ten not nine, as she strongly let me know; it was two months ago, Grandpa. Lindsay does not use Zoom, but a more sophisticated more secure cousin for her work at The Global Fund. She was just trying to dumb it down for me. And two people laughed at "The Hemingway" and suggested something like Old Order Amish would be closer.
And if I'm doing mea culpas I might add I stole that line about "the cheap price of gas and nowhere to go" from Martha and I ran with a riff from Brad on Michelle's early morning Zoom conference calls without footnoting that either. I've felt guilty for a week.
Well the first two weeks of isolation I sorted through 5,000 photos, throwing 4,000 out, and putting the rest into albums. Want to know what this family was doing in the summer of '69? There's an album for that. Now Pauline says I have to go through and identify everyone. Eeeeuw! Really? Maybe next year.
Last week I went through boxes of memorabilia, filing things properly. I'll share some of the interesting items in later ramblings, but one item tickled me. I was once editor of Canada's oldest weekly (Permit # 1), the Lindsay Watchman-Warder. Then, after marriage, I worked as the political/municipal reporter for the Etobicoke weekly. Since my regular copy ran a week after events, I also became a "stringer" for The Toronto Telegram, a Toronto daily, if there was an important Etobicoke story. I've got all these pay stubs and I just love the wages--"Four stories, June 1970, $28." (I did make page 2 once, for $25, though.) Mama don't let your sons grow up to be news guys.
It wasn't the wages that got me out of a career in newspapers, however. Council wanted to put an incinerator in Etobicoke and every NIMBY kook fought it. (My favorite quote was "Put it in the Mayor's back yard!"). I wrote and rewrote and re-rewrote The Great Etobicoke Incinerator Story 48 times. I still have nightmares about it. End of THAT career.
I've included with this blog, I guess you'd call it, some pictures of the signs from around my block--Timmies, the local hardware store, the Avondale, Confederation Park (where the rabbits are, kids) and the nearby bus stop. Yes, signs of our times.
Before I close, I'd like to mention how this plague has really sharpened our priorities. Forget the Trump impeachment, forget Trudeau's political fumbles, forget the terrible new Tim Horton's lids. We all now concentrate on the really important things, like keeping safe and keeping loved ones safer. As the Premier of Nova Scotia said, "Stay the blazes home".
Have a happy Easter.
Bill
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A thoughtful story about the COVID-19 virus, its effect on people, our human relations, and our future.
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Setting aside for a moment the global devastation that COVID-19 continues to cause and shifting focus to the experience of lockdown itself, I think there is value that can be taken from this period for all of us.
Speaking personally, the suspension of work, social pressure and other elements of life pre-lockdown have enabled me to connect with and care for myself more authentically. This period has encouraged me to forge a stronger intrapersonal connection which I look forward to manifesting after quarantine.
My hope is that when we return, we do so mindfully, and in such a way that reflects the lessons and personal insights gained from this experience. If not, we may be doing a disservice to ourselves and undermining our time spent in lockdown.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I am considered an essential worker so I am still working, but we have closed our storefront. Instead our store is offering pickup and deliveries. As for school, everything has switched to being online.
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These files are from the Town of Lincoln. They include collateral created by the Town for social media, photographs, print ads and other items around COVID-19. These items were used as posts for the community to inform the public on happenings in the town as a result of the pandemic.
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[Email #1 written to friends during the pandemic by Bill Hogan]
Wed 2020-04-01 5:18 PM
Living in a Dangerous Time
I got out today, having been cooped up for two weeks due to social isolation, and my, how the local world has changed.
Timmies now has drive-through only, with a gloved and masked person serving cheerfully. The Avondale (newspaper) has added distancing markers on the floor, plastic shields at the counter and shorter hours.
Dollarama (snacks you know--essential in a time of stay-at-home crisis) seemed to be running low on Viva Puffs, but Smartfood and creme eggs were still plentiful. No I didn't hoard up. I didn't mind bagging stuff myself. The cashier threw a hissy-fit about cash.
The Beer Store, now, was a different story. Cash ONLY, and you can't return empties anymore. (What will the beer bottle gleaners do?) The cash-out was weird, too--it reminded me of the Israeli check-point crossing into the West Bank. Yellow tape 9 feet away from the cashiers. Put your money in a cardboard box (and ID if needed) and step away while it was retrieved and change given. But thank heaven, they are still open. (I know, I know, in Doug Ford's Ontario the beer store will always be open.)
On the way to Virgil to pick up flowers at rock-bottom prices so the wholesale growers don't have to compost them all, I passed Private Eyes. Closed. I guess it's pretty hard to give lap dances during social distancing. Has anyone considered those poor girls, eh?
At the wholesale florist you don't get out of the car. You roll down your window, place your order with someone 15 feet away, the flowers are put in your trunk, and you leave exact change only. Now this reminded me of being in the English countryside during hoof and mouth disease, whatever it was called.
Since regular sources of flowers, for me the Farmers' Market or The Watering Can, were closed, I thought I'd get flowers for friends, too. But Fonthill has flowers! Not allowed to open, two places had self-serve options in vacant lots. One of them a customer of mine long ago in the barn system, copied my idea exactly! He used a red tool box with a slit in the top to leave cash in (with a bicycle chain, though). But he also added a 21st century idea. If you didn't have exact change you could transfer money by phone to his online account. Cool.
There were some masks on the streets, but not a lot. There was much less traffic. The school zone flashing lights went off at 3:15 even though there's no school and won't be for weeks. The police were still stopping speeders. Gas is down to 78 cents but there's no where to go.
The Book Depot was closed but put 10,000 books on line and offered free delivery in March.
Nigh's got Health Dept. permission to take phone and online orders and deliver out the door to your car. All their Easter chocolate was made before the lockdown.
That's the outside world in St. Catharines, in Canada, on this first day of April, 2020. This was written just to record one exact moment in time so I'll be able to recall the wonder of our world ten years from now when I start to write The Great Canadian Novel I've been forever threatening people with. By the way, when in quarantine from the plague, Shakespeare wrote Macbeth and King Lear! This will have to do for now.
In lockdown again,
Bill
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When the world around you tells you that a mask is helpful for staying healthy, naturally your stuffies need one too.
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With basic hygiene products in short supply, even for front line workers, local distilleries began producing hand sanitizer to distribute to organizations in need. Dillon's, in Beamsville, was among the first to begin producing and distributing hand sanitizer free for front line workers (and especially health organizations). This bottle was ordered online and cost $20 (plus tax).
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While waiting in line at Costco, these signs identified for soon-to-be shoppers what was already sold out. The line-up at 10AM was about 30 minutes. Notably in stock, at this time, was toilet paper.
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These photos are from just before social distancing became a requirement. There was a sense from customers, as we chatted with some incredulity, that panic buying was an over-reaction, as we all filled our carts. Few of us had seen aisles of relatively inexpensive staples like pasta or toilet paper completely sold out and empty.
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A homeowner on Lockhart Drive decided to honour front line health care workers by dressing his ornamental garden statue. Thanks for the reminders to keep health care workers and first responders in our thoughts and prayers. They truly are angels!
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The primary recreation centre in Grimsby - the Peach King Centre - is completely closed due to COVID-19 including the arena, Town Hall, sports fields, town run meeting spaces and parks throughout the town.
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Only online browsing and curbside pickup at Home Hardware in St. Catharines.
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A bulletin listing research projects and opportunities for scholars on the subject of COVID-19
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The regular bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Federal government announced plans for a $9 billion aid package to help university and colleges students;
- Computer Commons / IT Help Desk Update;
- Students’ Union looking for input on Strategic Plan;
- Canadians need to consider implications of COVID-19 surveillance, says Brock prof;
- Campus Store employees working to ensure students have necessary resources;
- How to contribute to COVID-19 Student Emergency Bursaries;
- Mental health app for employees;
- Mental health resources — update for students;
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COVID-18 signs outside of Ridley College.
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On a walk, it is nice to see evidence that young people sharing positive thoughts in the pandemic.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
Retired young - yes, I'm very, very fortunate. I worked very, very hard all my life.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I go in to work at the public archives, which is not open to the public, by answering email and working through our backlog. I have digitized files and emailed them to researchers so they don't have to come in.
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This is a snapshot of the Brock University Folders project. This is an initiative to have Brock University computing resources run the Folding@Home platform to contribute to COVID research.
This site can also be viewed on the Internet Archive Wayback Machine: https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://brockdsl.github.io/Brock-University-Folders/
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Inspirational posters around St. Catharines
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Computer Origami
In this episode: Bread & Furniture, Virus as Egyptology, Folding @ Home For Brock University: brockdsl.github.io/Brock-University-Folders/
Music "Digital Pedestrians" by Blanket Music
Originally Found: https://soundcloud.com/brock_dsl/steering-the-digital-scholarship-ep-31
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Even cemeteries are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I had been off work due to surgery and was looking for work when COVID hit. I cannot work front line retail etc right now because of a compromised immune system and am not receiving any benefits from anywhere. I've used up my savings and RRSPs. While I am looking for work and waiting for this to pass I have been volunteering for a not-for-profit from home.
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Signs and notices at the Harvest Barn in St. Catharines.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
This year I took a sabbatical from work to reestablish connections in Canada. I could no longer meet new people and start new projects
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Opinion piece entitled: "Social Cohesion and Volunteerism: How Canada will conquer the COVID -19 Virus and its aftermath." By Robert Hicks
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There are many signs around the Niagara Health System St. Catharines’ hospital. Blue ribbons were placed on trees around the site and signs are posted around the neighbourhood.
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PetValu doesn’t allow patrons to enter the building. Workers meet you at the door, take a list of your items and bring them to you. Items are placed on the table. No handover to the customer. Debit card reader is cleaned at every handover.
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An attendant assures that people wait outside and socially distant from each other. Going in or out is managed tightly.
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The regular bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Dining Services donates to local long-term care residence;
- Central Receiving and Mail Services continue working during busy time of year;
- Wellness Day 2020 cancelled;
- IT Help Desk;
- Update from the Central Academic Advising team in the Office of the Registrar;
- Spring Term book list now available;
- Return of sports leagues raises many tough questions;
- Mental health resources — update for students;
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The regular bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- President Gervan Fearon's letter to the Brock community;
- Spring/Summer courses offer diverse options for all students;
- How to contribute to COVID-19 Student Emergency Bursaries;
- Aboriginal Student Services provides calming options for students;
- Financial Services working on campus to manage payroll and OSAP;
- IT Help Desk;
- Mental health app for employees;
- Mental health resources — update for students
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Virtual playdate between two boys, Dallas and Hudson, both almost two years old. They took turns showing each other their dump trucks.
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One of my best friends announced her pregnancy to friends and family in early January. Yesterday, I received an invitation to the baby shower her family had originally planned with an update notice included. There are already a lot of stresses that come with being a first-time parent, I can't even begin to imagine how hard this has been for everyone who's dealing with this during what should be a happy and exciting time.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I'm writing this on the last day of my fifth week working from home. I work at Brock as an administrative coordinator, and a lot of my job roles have disappeared due to COVID. For example, right now Brock only wants us to share COVID-related updates and stories on social media, so I don't do much posting anymore. I used to coordinate events and liase with guest speakers and create all of our marketing for events, that's now out the window. I still have work to do, but it's not nearly enough to keep me busy. I'm afraid to ask for more work because I don't want to be seen as "non-essential" to my unit and get laid off.
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Shopping at the LCBO is a lot more orderly these days. Follow the arrows and mind your distance.
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Off work since March 16 /2020. Receptionist at a dental office
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A first in History to see an absolutely bare Casino. This is the Fallsview Casino Niagara Falls. Took a few images through the windows to show the empty halls etc. And, on the grounds, devoid of all traffic and people!
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I don’t work or go to school. It’s been a month of lockdown and I’m hating it. Really missing my aging mom, kids and grandkids
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I took these images right after the beginning of the Isolation. Up until this time the ferris wheel was still lit up even though everything was shut down. Alot of the buildings of the falls displayed a lit sign of Hope & Hearts. When the falls were lit up yellow, this is the color of hope!
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While photographing the bleak emptiness of Niagara Falls area, I looked across the water to states side and saw up top of the Seneca Casino were these words. See You Soon. Stay Home. Stay Healthy. Proves it's not just us, the whole world is at a stand still!
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This is an image of the corner of ferry Street and Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls ON. During this Covid Pandemic, this sight has never been seen in History. Clifton Hill and surrounding area has always been a bustle of people and vehicles everywhere. Now it's empty, everywhere. I could stand in the middle of roads to catch photos of the starkness and take my time taking them. People are now starting to feel this emptiness in their daily lives.
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This little girl's mom had to work daily during COVID-19; she had to stay with her Grandma for weeks and could not return home to mom for as long as mom worked. Grandma was the only one available to provide care and is vulnerable, the child could not go back and forth from working mother to vulnerable grandmother. This was a small visit from mom, standing very far away, so her momma could tell her she loved her in person. Separation. Sadness. Worry. The child covering her face, in tears, missing her mom and worrying about the pandemic.
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Wishing her Aunt, living in a St. Catharines retirement home (fifth floor), a Happy Easter.
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Signs during COVID19, all from North St. Catharines
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The thoughtful people at Canadian Tire in St. Catharines had this message, Lysol spray and paper towels at the entrance of their store.
This was days before CT was determined to be non-essential by the Ontario government.
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My wife is an infection control nurse with the Niagara Public Health Unit. Since the pandemic began in earnest in Niagara, she has been working 10-12 hour shifts, six or more days a week, and thinking of little else when home. Her colleagues are all the same. They are exhausted. But they never stop. True professionals and heroes.
Two friends left these flowers at our door to lighten her day. It worked.
Purchasing the flowers also supported local nurseries who had large orders for Easter and Mother’s Day cancelled due to restrictions and financial uncertainty due to the pandemic.
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The frequent bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Parking permit holders to get pro-rated reimbursements for April;
- Clarification around the use of non-medical face masks;
- Now is the time to learn a new skill, says Brock professor;
- Brock further limits access to University buildings;
- Questions answered about Library services and resources during COVID-19;
- Accessing Microsoft Teams by telephone;
- IT Help Desk;
- Mental health supports available for students and employees
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A public message to the Brock University community announcing emergency funding for students in need during the COVID-19 crisis.
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The frequent bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Convocation update: Degrees to be conferred, future in-person celebration to be planned;
- Portal now open for student grade options;
- Parking permit holders to get pro-rated reimbursements for April;
- Ergonomic tips to create a healthy home office;
- Brock invited to join Well-being Wednesdays on Facebook;
- The show must go on: Brock prof encouraged by theatre’s resiliency in midst of cancellations;
- Broader public invited to provide feedback on Provost candidate;
- Brock further limits access to University buildings;
- IT Help Desk;
- Mental health resources — update for students;
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Episode Notes:
n this episode: An interview with Brock Archivist David Sharron, pie talk, distant hugs, and poems.
Please check out the Niagara Covid Archive: exhibits.library.brocku.ca/s/COVID-Niagara/ and contribute a memory of this whole experience.
Music "Digital Pedestrians" by Blanket Music
Originally Found: https://soundcloud.com/brock_dsl/steering-the-digital-scholarship-ep-30
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Song lyrics by a nine year old about her experiences/feelings during the pandemic.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
Unable to care for our grandchildren....miss them!
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A mom to a 16 month old looks at empty medicine and milk shelves as a result of many people’s panic buying. Signs posted by the city, reminding us in case some of us forgot or didn’t watch Trudeau’s or Ford’s weekly Covid briefings - to please stay off public playgrounds to prevent further spread of Covid-19. Amber-like alerts ringing through our cells, reminding travellers to quarantine themselves for 14 days to keep the rest of us safe from what they may have brought back home with them. This is our new normal these days.
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My father, a WW2 veteran , died on March 10th, at 96 years of age.The funeral was on March 14th, and that was the last time I was able to hug my children or my grandchild. Grieving as a family can't happen for us right now. Life, as a family, can't happen right now.Being positive about the situation is a façade, but it's all I have to keep my sanity.I want this over with so very badly. I want to hug my grandson. I want us to mourn together , the loss of a father,grandfather, and great-grandfather.I want to cry.
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Holy Rosary church sign in Thorold on Easter weekend.
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The park benches are out of order after the City of Thorold declares a state of emergency.
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These grandparents missed their little ones so much that they drove from the Niagara area to Toronto for an Easter visit. They didn’t break the rules - a chalk bubble was drawn to keep them socially distanced. Little Eddie cried because he couldn’t hug them. It’s so difficult for the little ones.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
COVID-19 has shut down all schools including mine and cancelled my summer job. My savings from last summer are running out and paying rent is becoming difficult.
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These are my grandchildren - their other grandmother made masks for them, but didn’t hand them to them directly - they are all keeping their distance. No hugs.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
Initially I started working from home, then a week later my husband followed suit. Two weeks later I was laid off. Thank goodness my husband is still working. One daughter is unemployed at the moment and the other is an nurse working in a long term care home with 6 confirmed cases in the Ottawa area. I worry every single day. The emotional turmoil from being laid off is something I'm still struggling with. The feeling of helplessness is difficult - sleep doesn't come easy.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
- It just happened that my job contract ended at the beginning of April. NO ONE is hiring as the unemployment rate is at an all time high. Today it was announced it was at 7.8%.
- grocery stores have line ups to get in the stores. Limiting the amount of people in the stores. Limiting how you walk around the store. Limiting how you pay (no cash allowed and self check out only)
- school is online. My school had to fill out a form and request to the law society to do online schooling
- my coop was suspended for weeks before they allowed us to do online co-ops
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In a world full of overwhelm and uncertainty, we as parents find ourselves learning to lean on no one; but ourselves. Now, simultaneously preparing, parenting, teaching, homemaking, working, all while trying to keep peace and positivity in the home. It’s a lot. And all of it combined may feel like too much.
Yesterday I was having a conversation with my (almost teenage) son. We talked about how much he’s maturing into such a fine young man. And he said to me “Mom, you’ve done a really good job at raising me.” *Que the water works please* And that folks, that right there was every-SINGLE-thing I needed to hear yesterday. It was a BAD day. I was overwhelmed. Anxiety filled my mind. And those sweet words made my world stop dead in its tracks.
It’s a gentle reminder to all of us laying awake at night worried, wondering if you are enough, if you are capable of all of this. YES, out of the mouth of my son; YOU ARE DOING AMAZING!!!!!💜 We’ve all asked the clocks to stop, for the world to slow down, and to freeze little moments in time. These moments are right in front of us in our homes. Maybe it feels like we are in a bad dream, but there will always be a silver lining. The ones that remind us that we are okay.
So, since I cannot think of a way to properly show my support and gratitude for every single essential worker through this time. We painted the windows! Its not great. Its not perfect. Can’t really see it from the sidewalk, but this is our way of saying thank you; from a distance. 🌟
So, thank you to everyone working right now. Thank you to everyone staying home right now. Thank you to all my friends and family that have endured endless phone calls due to my panic and anxiety.
Thank you, world, for support us through this time of chaos and uncertainty.🌎✌🏼
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I've been out of work since March 13th.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I don’t work outside my home. My husband does. His workplace is much stricter with who can enter the building and keeping people a safe distance apart from each other. My son lost his job and has no income. We are supporting him. My daughter lives in Europe. She is one of two people left working in her workplace.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
Right now I am working from home as a medical call centre employee. It has honestly been very hard going from a 2 income household to just one. I also find it very stressful to be working when we are not 100% an essential medical service. My fiance and I have concerns as our Stag and Doe and wedding are scheduled for this year and we have no idea what to do. We also have lost a family member to non covid 19 related illness but they cannot hold a funeral yet.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I continue to work. I deliver prescriptions to people's homes.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I stopped working since March 11 which is hard because without my job. I will not be able to keep afloat and survive.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
Work: self employed
Child care: for 2 children
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I lost my job at a local restaurant due to this pandemic.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
Extremely stressed. Theres no control over all the changes being made hourly. Staffing, schedule, cleaning protocols, etc.
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We made this flag to display proudly in front of our house.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
Schools moved to online classes
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
Work: I am a seasonal worker laid off since last November and have not been called back to work. Last year I returned the beginning of March. I have 1 more EI payment, not sure what will happen after that.
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I am currently writing my exam online at home. It is weird and alienating thinking that I am writing an exam and doing final projects with no direct access to assistance from professors.
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Watching the city shut down during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic. Quiet streets of downtown, businesses closed indefinitely. Some humor found in the seriousness of the situation.
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Not a soul in site at the falls, St. Patrick’s Day 2020
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I am currently a Graduate student at Lakehead University and working full time as a RN. I am working overtime hours, in addition to my studies, to support my community.
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Closed sign recently added to DSBN playgrounds. This one was at William Hamilton Merritt Public School in St. Catharines.
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My sister Jamie and I who are both in the Medical Science program have set up a box on our front porch where we put the masks we have made. We posted that we were making masks on Facebook and received hundreds of responses. We have already sent out multiple to Toronto and are continuing to make masks throughout the exam period. In the box in the picture, a nurse from St Catharines General ICU requested 20 of them to place under their N95’s to reduce redness as well as multiple orders for elderly parents and healthcare workers. We made 20 for our friends at Food Basics Fonthill and many for our parents’ friends. There is no price on the masks, so people can donate how much they see fit. We are not pocketing the money but are reinvesting it into more material and supplies. In total we have made over 70 masks and are making more daily as supplies last.
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What started with signs and police tape (March 28), escalated to snow fencing (April 3), and now access blockages (April 7) at Shauna Park in St. Catharines.
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Children using sidewalk chalk to write "be safe" messages in a St. Catharines neighbourhood.
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I went to buy groceries the evening of March 10th 2020 in Hamilton/Stoney Creek and the toilet paper isle was already bare! #PanicBuying #COVID19
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Even Soup Kitchens and Churches are closed. This was the weirdest part. They aren't deemed essential for health reasons, but my soul feels it.
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Covid closes public beaches and pier in Port Maitland
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Posters and social media presence of the Rent Strike Niagara group who are advocating for rent leniency during this challenging time.
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Neighbourhood party in support of the Health Care Workers
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With the disruption of classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Brock University has given their enrolled students three options to help them complete the Winter 2020 semester:
Option 1 - Students choose to maintain the alpha/numeric grade assigned for the course (the default option).
Option 2 - Students choose to replace the alpha/numeric grade with a designation of Credit/No Credit Grades During Disruption.
Option 3 - Students choose to replace the alpha/numeric grade with a special withdrawal code: “WDD – Withdrawal During Disruption.”
This digital poster explains each process.
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Brock further limits access to University buildings;
- Brock provides students with new options for final grades;
- Computer Commons changes;
- Accessing Microsoft Teams by telephone;
- IT Help Desk;
- COVID-19 phishing scam warning;
- Mental health supports available for students and employees
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Brock provides students with new options for final grades;
- Brock further limits access to University buildings;
- Quality time with family is key amid COVID-19, says Brock researcher;
- Financial Services working to prepare for fiscal year-end;
- Central Receiving and Mail Services;
- Brock ITS offers employees improved option for remote connectivity;
- IT Help Desk;
- Online fitness classes now available to Brock community;
- COVID-19 phishing scam warning;
- Mental health supports available for students and employees
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- University sends supplies to Niagara’s front-line workers;
- Brock employees help heath-care providers fight COVID-19;
- Niagara community encouraged to contribute to Brock’s COVID-19 archive;
- Computer Commons changes;
- IT Help Desk;
- Accessing Microsoft Teams by telephone;
- All outdoor recreational facilities closed;
- Online fitness classes now available to Brock community;
- Dining Services update;
- Residence update;
- Campus Store update;
- Brock Central (Office of the Registrar) updates;
- COVID-19 phishing scam warning;
- Student Health Services changes;
- Mental health supports available for students and employees
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Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I am now working from home. It is not bad for me as my kids are older and can fend for themselves while I am "at work." I do worry that the longer this goes that there will be enough work to sustain us. A big component of my work is interacting with others and working with resources that are now locked up.
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These COVID-19 things were seen while walking through the downtown and Western Hill areas of St. Catharines. Includes: teddy bear scavenger hunt in windows, notices and messages of hope, closed down Montebello Park, and a movement to suspend rental payments.
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An emergency alert sent to cell phones at 2:02 in the afternoon reminding you to stay at home, go out only when necessary, and to practice social isolation.
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April 4, 2020 - St. George's Church has a digital display out front letting people know that in-person worship services are cancelled, but they will be live streaming the Good Friday service.
-Yesterday, in an effort to reduce the number of people out in public, the Government of Ontario announced it would be shortening the list of businesses deemed essential. Today the roads and stores are busier than they have been in weeks. People with money seem to have taken this as their cue to stock up.
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Two thoughtful and optimistic posters in the windows of Pirie Appliances in Merritton.
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What a difference a week makes. St. Catharines has placed snow fencing around playground equipment at Shauna Park. A week ago, it was just warning signs and police tape. I guess it wasn’t working.
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These pictures show the local park all boarded up so kids can't play on the structure or swings. I'm so thankful we have a play structure in our backyard!
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April 2, 2020 - I walked to get some groceries this afternoon. It was a beautiful spring day and a couple in their 80's was out for a walk. As I approached them I moved out onto the roadway to give them some space. When I returned back down the street the elderly lady was stopped speaking to a neighbour in their late 60's. They were about 18" apart. I wondered why the younger of the two didn't think to step back and give her some space.
- As I crossed a parking lot I noticed a man putting groceries in the trunk of his car. He was standing very close to an elderly woman with a walker, so I hoped that they lived together. As I got closer I realized it was a cab driver putting things in a taxi. He helped the very fragile woman into the back seat. I realized then how taxi drivers put themselves at risk with every fare. And how seniors put themselves and others at risk trying to do the simplest of tasks.
-The Giant Tiger on Welland Avenue is one of the few places within walking distance for people to get groceries. As I entered I noticed a woman in her late 40's casually browsing the curtain rack and later carrying a tea towel. She didn't seem at all in a hurry and it didn't look like she was there to buy groceries. I wondered why she was putting herself, and possibly others at risk.
-The store recently installed plexiglass cough shields at the checkout. The shields are quite large and high. Oddly, they did not leave an opening at the bottom for hands to place items on the conveyor belt, or to pass money through. This means that all the customers have to walk to the end of the cough screen to speak to the cashier, hand money over etc. It completely defeats the purpose of the screen and may even be making the situation worse, by forcing everyone to a confined space at the end of the screen. When I mentioned it to the cashier, it was clear she was exasperated by the faulty logic of it all. (The cough guards have a built in opening at the bottom, but it was closed up.)
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Four COVID-19 related social media / Facebook posts. Trying to keep things light.
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Quiet mornings of reading, schooling online and stealing away in what they’ve been calling “social distancing”.
This is our new, hopefully temporary, daily reality.
When I pause the flow of what has become the new, daily ‘normal’ I am speechless and words aren’t enough. I find myself absolutely dumbfounded at how our society has been so quickly brought to its knees by an unseen force that has travelled from afar; an entity so small, yet powerful enough to create panic, greed, and devastate giants of flesh, of currency and politics.
Yet, it has also turned our hearts back to the simplicity found in connecting with another, while letting go of false pretenses. When misfortune finds us as a whole, it turns out that there truly are helpers of kindness to be found. Hearts answer the unexpected call to rally hope, even in the most unexpected of places.
Why do we take for granted the things that deserve our gratitude the most? ‘Enjoy the little things in life, because someday you will look back and realize they were BIG things.’ Like being able to hug my best friend, instead of throwing her a package of toilet paper from 15 feet away, in an effort to ‘crush the curve’ but still let her know I love her.
We look up from our many screens and awake from an intangible realm, and open our doors so hungry for Mother Earth, like we had forgotten she was there; all the simple, everyday gifts that we take for granted. And while we are forced to slow down, and retreat to these simple blessings, she silently and gently heals.
While at first I found panic in the chaos of feeling like my life was out of my control, I have come to find a quiet joy, and a gratitude like I haven’t known since childhood.
Joni Mitchell crooned that, “Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'till it's gone”. Turns out that we did know what we had, we just never figured that we’d come to lose it.
And so as we patiently wait, with creeds of hope, may we realize that what we are truly yearning for most, is the ability to physically embrace the people we love most, instead of losing ourselves in our online ‘presence’ of self-importance.
So, stay home, reflect on the things we have taken for granted and flatten the curve so that my friend doesn’t get a chance to use all of that toilet paper before I wrap her in the biggest, most obnoxious hug.
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Return from Australia
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Following 4 flights and 40 hours of travel from Australia to Canada.
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With this whole pandemic going on, and seeing all the photos from people on Facebook and news paper articles. I thought we would go down and take a drive to check out the Hill for ourselves. Knowing the circumstances of going out, we just wanted to get out for some fresh air. We stayed in the car and just drove around. We just couldn’t believe how much of a ghost town it looked like. We were really in shock and at a loss of words...
It gave me the idea to take a couple video clips and make up a little mini documentary. The information I used in the voice overs was from the St.Catharines Standard article “Pandemic dimes down the lights on Niagara Falls tourism district”.
The first couple aerial clips with it being busy, are used from Clifton Hills YouTube channels videos. After a nice friendly chat with them they gave me full permission to use some parts. Which I couldn’t thank them enough for.
Hope you like it and everyone is being safe out there!
Wash Your Hands.
Social Distance.
Stay Home.
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Finally, we started making a dent in our collection.
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We drove home from Pearson International Airport in Toronto just after the Federal Government announced all Canadians and Permanent Residents should return. The drive home on the 400-series highways and the QEW left me in awe (early Tues March 17th)! We passed maybe 10 cars the entire drive. I was so struck by it, I had to take a video. I hope to never witness such an occurrence again in my life. #isolate #staywell #COVID19
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We flew in to Pearson International Airport in Toronto around 12am on Tues March 17th 2020 and they were social distancing planes by 30 minutes! It was a thing of beauty... I was so struck by it, I had to capture it on video (too big of a file to upload so I have cut it down in size). I was in awe! I also have video of the drive home where the 400-series highways were almost barren!
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Thirteen photos showing the ways Costco in St. Catharines is combating the spread of COVID-19 including:
- using pallets and carts to manage store occupancy and proper social distancing;
- signage throughout the store on shopping and adhering to the rules;
- Quick publishing! A stack of coronavirus prevention handbooks;
- The checkout area of Costco at 5:00pm is usually a wild, sea of people. It is hardly full at all
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Episode notes;
In this episode: Scholarship in the Times of COVID-19, HoCo, walks for well-being, depressing books, one way stores.
Music "Digital Pedestrians" by Blanket Music
Originally found: https://soundcloud.com/brock_dsl/steering-the-digital-scholarship-ep-29
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On March 20, 2020, my workplace received 3 skids of toilet paper from our distribution center. We had been out of the product for one week, due to panic buying caused by the announcement of the pandemic.
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Province of Ontario enacted stricter rules around public gatherings;
- Niagara community encouraged to contribute to Brock’s COVID-19 archive;
- Medical Sciences students help with COVID-19 screening;
- Brock ITS offers employees improved option for remote connectivity;
- Reminder: Reduced entrance points for staff and students at Brock;
- Dining update;
- Brock Central (Office of the Registrar) updates;
- IT Help Desk access;
- COVID-19 phishing scam warning;
- Student Health Services changes;
- Wi-Fi drive-in available to students with no home internet access;
- Mental health supports available for students and employees
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Empty canned goods and pasta aisles at Walmart in St. Catharines as panicked shoppers flood the store to stockpile in the wake of the Ontario extended March break announcement
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Children (and their parents) are adjusting to learning from home. The idea of limiting screen time is almost impossible as the vast majority of their learning will be done online.
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Enjoying a moment of peace along the Niagara River Parkway. As the outside world becomes increasingly desolate during this pandemic, I’m reminded of the importance and fragility of our environment. When the timing is right, I hope that people feel encouraged to reconnect with and appreciate nature in light of this global experience.
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Every day I have to walk past the beer store on Welland Avenue. Every morning men are lined up outside before opening with the cans they have collected the day before, from people's trash, or wherever. One person told me they can earn up to $150 a day that way. When the beer store stopped collecting cans during COVID-19, which is understandable, then men were gone and so was their source of income.
-The only way I can bank is in person at TD on Queen Street. I don't have a car. I went to the bank and discovered that the branch was closed, with no warning. When I turned around to leave I ran into a woman heading to the front door with a deposit book. She was stunned to discover it was closed and asked me what she was supposed to do. She worked for a lawyer's office and was supposed to close two deals that day. She was dumbfounded and asked if she would have to get a draft at the post office. I suggested she check their web site for an open location. When I checked it myself I discovered there was no open branch within walking distance.
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A closed playground in a Port Dalhousie park.
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A game of X's and O's taking place on a window between neighbors
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Two brothers from Niagara Falls, Ontario...Joseph (14 yrs old on guitar) and Nicholas (11 years old on drums) Ferraro playing their re-make of the Twisted Sister song "We're Not Gonna Take It"...called "We're Not Gonna Get It (COVID-19)". The 2 brothers want to get their message out there to Stay Home and Stay Safe.
Here's the YouTube link to their video:
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This is shields that are put up in Walmart shopping store
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Was shopping and couldn’t believe how empty the shelves were. I never thought I would see this. It didn’t matter which store you went to, it was the same thing.
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National Model United Nations New York City conference cancelled. Brock Model UN students were sad, but they understood. At the time of the cancellation NYC only had just over 200 cases. As I type this (March 31st, 2020 at 16:33) they have 36,221 cases.
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It’s a lot of sitting.
And seeing the glaring reality
that America isn’t the saviour
they always thought they were.
They like to pretend
They set the walls between us
But this time, we want them
To keep the zombies out.
And by zombies I mean
the ones who let this
happen in the first place.
A nation that elected a leader
so unprepared to deal with
a real world crisis
so in denial.
So full of untruths.
We are still here
Still sitting
24 hours later
24 days later
Hoping it won’t last
24 weeks later
Pretending that won’t happen
But it all seems fake anyhow
I keep thinking I have some
place to be.
Working 8 hours a day
to maintain normalcy
When I’d rather be writing
When I’ve always hated 9-5
Does that even make sense?
None of it does,
But that’s humanity for you.
They up and do the thing
you least expect.
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In the early stages of the COVID-19 situation the first thing to disappear from store shelves was toilet tissue.
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Isolation
What day is it?
Does it matter?
I strain to hear life
No traffic, just birds.
What shall I wear?
Nobody cares.
If you succumb
I won’t be there for you.
Surreal, barren landscape.
Cower behind smudged windows.
Sometimes I walk
Alone and distanced.
Faces obliterated,
Fear hidden by masks.
Places that teemed,
Ghost towns now.
A cough!
Dirty looks, stepping away
Help your neighbours,
But keep your distance.
We were social ants.
Now, pixilated
Chatting to cyber images.
Don’t touch.
Your plans disintegrated
No work
Unless you’re essential
Therefore, vulnerable.
Your well-planned wedding,
Nobody will be there.
Wash your hands,
Isolate.
Children wonder
Why friends and grandparents
Have abandoned them.
Playgrounds are silent.
No travel,
Trying to keep sane,
Confined with faithful pets.
Reading statistics.
Some think it seems like a plot,
A social experiment,
Who’s laughing
At our expense?
Readjusting norms
With harsh measures
What will we be
When the cloud lifts?
Anne Adams
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The sign greeting customers to Antipasto’s grocery in St. Catharines asking for safe behaviour and options for shopping.
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Five photographs of safety measures and signage at the Superstore grocery in St. Catharines. Customers had to line up outside to avoid overcrowding. Pylons and an attendant ensured proper distancing and order. Signage includes practicing good social distancing, adjusted store hours, and discouraging hoarding certain items.
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Brock gears up to contribute to COVID-19 response;
- Indigenous Studies instructor helps elders in need;
- International students receive enhanced support from Brock;
- Brock ITS offers employees improved option for remote connectivity;
- IT Help Desk access;
- Dining update;
- Brock Central updates;
- Student Health Services changes;
- Wi-Fi drive-in available to students with no home internet access;
- Mental health supports available for students and employees;
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Six photos showing signs and hazard tape warning against COVID-19 and social gathering posted at Shauna Park in the Western Hill neighbourhood in St. Catharines.
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A screenshot of the booking page of St. Catharines’ Orangetheory gym. No workouts for a while. 😕
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A poster designed by Brock University's Communications Office on the ways to stay healthy on campus.
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Coronavirus: A message to the Brock community:
Brock University Communications <universitycom@brocku.ca>
Tue 3/10/2020 4:53 PM
To: Brock University Communications <universitycom@brocku.ca>
1 attachments (1 MB)
Stay Healthy at Brock poster.pdf;
As cases of Coronavirus / COVID-19 spread in parts of Canada and around the world, academic and administrative staff here at Brock are focused on monitoring developments, keeping the campus clean and educating the Brock community on the importance of strong personal hygiene.
For up-to-date information on developments at Brock, please visit the [brocku.ca/coronavirus]Coronavirus web page, which is updated regularly, and also watch for items in the Brock News and on social media.
Please stay informed, take sensible precautions, and be kind to one another.
• • • • • • • •
Message sent by
Brock University Communications
Located at Mackenzie Chown A 205
universitycom@brocku.ca
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Brock suspending face-to-face classes and moving toward alternative forms of delivery
Brock University Communications <universitycom@brocku.ca>
Fri 3/13/2020 12:36 PM
Brock University is suspending face-to-face classes and exams for the rest of this academic term and is working on a plan to move to alternative forms of class and exam delivery, including online. The academic term is not at risk.
In-person classes will be suspended at the end of classes Friday, March 13.
Faculty members will be asked for alternatives for course delivery, and the goal will be to resume virtual classes the week of Monday, March 23 for those instructors who are able to mount their classes in a virtual environment.
The University will encourage faculty members to consider re-distributing the assessment for a course based on the material and work already completed.
This decision provides time for faculty to move final exams to an alternative format, including take-home and virtual exams, which would run during the regularly scheduled exam period from April 6 to April 23.
Instructors of Spring/Summer Term courses can begin planning for alternate modes of delivery prior to the start of classes on May 4, should they become necessary.
The University campuses in St. Catharines and Hamilton will remain open and operational and staff are expected to attend work as scheduled. Researchers and grad students will have access to their labs. However, all members of the Brock community are encouraged to be mindful of health and well-being.
Brock’s on-campus residences will remain open. Students who are able to head home are encouraged to do so, but will still be expected to continue their studies online on March 23 for the remainder of Winter Term if course instructors decide to require it.
This follows an announcement on Thursday, March 12 that Brock was prohibiting all student, faculty and staff travel outside Canada that is not vital to the academic mission. This includes banning travel to academic conferences, meeting colleagues and collaborators, and attending professional development events and classes.
The University is also updating and clarifying its travel cancellation policies.
Where travel is allowed, Brock will continue to adhere to the travel advisories as issued by Global Affairs Canada.
Additionally, the University has cancelled all discretionary events and programming not required for academic courses or credit through June 1. This includes events such as March Break tours and Spring Open House, and other non-academic events organized by or hosted at Brock, or events organized by Brock but held off-site such as Cuvée and the Brock Sports Athletic Banquet. Events organized or hosted at Brock by third parties are also cancelled. All recreational programs are also cancelled.
University officials continue to closely monitor the situation locally, nationally and internationally. Brock staff are in regular contact with public health experts to ensure that we have current information about any risk levels in this community.
To help inform our responses and actions in this rapidly changing environment, Brock takes direction from health officials at the Public Health Agency of Canada and Niagara Region Public Health.
For more information on Brock University’s COVID-19 response, please visit our dedicated webpage brocku.ca/coronavirus that is updated regularly with the latest information available.
Message sent by
Brock University Communications
Located at Mackenzie Chown A 205
universitycom@brocku.ca
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Significant parts of Brock operation to work from off-site starting Tuesday, March 17
With the COVID-19 pandemic quickly evolving and the need for rapid and dramatic steps in Ontario and across the country, Brock is transitioning to a modified operational model that will see significant parts of the University working from remote locations.
The model will focus on an on-site/off-site model, where some staff will work on-site in a significantly modified schedule and most other faculty and staff will work remotely off-site.
While the Brock campuses in St. Catharines must remain open, it is important to ensure that steps are taken so that the University is doing its part to mitigate risk, encourage social distancing and protect the health and wellbeing of faculty, staff, students and the community.
Effective Tuesday, March 17, the following on-site services will be operating at reduced staffing levels. Minimal on-site staffing will be scheduled to prioritize services and supervisors will be initiating reduced working schedules for the following on-site services:
Campus Security
Centre for Pedagogical Innovation
Facilities Management (maintenance, trades and custodial services)
Food Services
Graduate Studies
Infrastructure Technology Services
James A. Gibson Library (First floor only)
Mail Services
President’s, Vice-President’s and Deans’ Offices
Registrar’s Office
Research Enterprise
Residences
Student Health Services
Services and departments not listed will be moving to full off-site campus operations and supervisors will be directing staff to work remotely from home. For services not listed above, there may be times supervisors will request employees to come to campus for specific duties. The aim will be to keep these exceptions to a minimum.
A guide to creating temporary telecommuting work arrangements will be available in the FAQs on the Brock COVID-19 website.
Additionally, the Hamilton campus will be closed.
Given the evolving situation, please note that periodic updates will be provided which may also result in changes in the schedules and activities of these services.
In the coming days, watch The Brock News for more details and tips on how to use the tools available to Brock employees for remote operations such as OneDrive and Microsoft Teams, which are available free through Sharepoint.
Employees who will work remotely are encouraged to share any questions with their supervisors.
For a full list of FAQs and the latest updates on Brock’s COVID-19 response, please click here.
Message sent by
Brock University Communications
Located at Mackenzie Chown A 205
universitycom@brocku.ca
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Residence update;
- Dining update;
- Public Health guidelines for self-monitoring and self-isolation;
- Message to Deans from the Provost;
- Spring/Summer Term information;
- Work-from-home tips for Brock employees;
- Tips to keeping children occupied while they’re off school;
- Library closure / Computer lab access;
- CPI working to help make online transition easier;
- Mental health supports available for students and employees
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- A message from President Gervan Fearon;
- Residence update;
- New on-site service hours;
- Campus store ramping up online sales;
- Parking changes;
- Dining update;
- New health and well-being tool launched for Brock employees;
- Public Health guidelines for self-monitoring and self-isolation;
- Message to Deans from the Provost;
- Library closure / Computer lab access;
- Mental health supports available for students and employees;
- COVID-19 Phishing scam warning
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Welcome back (online) students;
- What you need to know about the continuation of classes;
- Library moves services online;
- Computer lab / IT Help Desk access;
- Campus store ramping up online sales
- Access being restricted to MIWSFPA;
- New on-site service hours;
- Dining update;
- Public Health guidelines for self-monitoring and self-isolation;
- Mental health supports available for students and employees;
- Participate in Provost selection process
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Brock updating and assessing plans after Province tightens closures;
- Ontario enhancing COVID-19 screening;
- COVID-19 Phishing scam warning;
- IT Help Desk access;
- Brock Sports to celebrate Awards Gala on Instagram Live Wednesday;
- Information for researchers;
- What you need to know about the continuation of classes;
- Library moves services online;
- Mental health supports available for students and employees
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- Brock Makerspace producing face shields for local health-care workers;
- Brock aids local company in producing COVID-19 test kits;
- Digital vigilance critical as more employees work from home, says Brock expert;
- Brock Central updates;
- Student Health Services changes;
- Wi-Fi drive-in available to students with no home internet access;
- IT Help Desk access;
- Mental health supports available for students and employees
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Diary page of Winnie Beam
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Beds with patients in an emergency hospital in Camp Funston, Kansas, in the midst of the influenza epidemic. The flu struck while America was at war and was transported across the Atlantic on troop ships.
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The daily bulletin to the Brock University community on the University's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This issue includes details on:
- entrance points to the University;
- Student Health Services changes;
- Interactive learning supports available online; Sakai / Online learning update;
- IT Help Desk access;
- A message from Chancellor Shirley Cheechoo;
- Brock researchers examining how parents are talking to kids about COVID-19;
- Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being supporting members virtually;
- Ontario enhancing COVID-19 screening;
- COVID-19 phishing scam warning;
- Mental health supports available for students and employees
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Message of hope in chalk - COVID-19 pandemic
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Banner image for website to document experiences in Niagara stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
