COVID-19 hasn’t just hit pause, it’s hit reset. What are the faithful ways we can envision what might be ahead? What can we do to help contribute to a best possible community, country, and world? On Friday, May 1, gather for our first meeting with Emily at 9:45 am (over by 10:30) for a time to share what we are thinking and dreaming about, what our guiding values might be, and what we are doing or might want to do as people of faith. Next meeting scheduled for Friday May 15th at 9:45 to 10:30am.
At our first meeting, Rev. Emily and the group listened to a portion of this podcast to get us started:
Rev. Greg Powell, Castlegar United Church
Podcast Resilience & Restoration
Episode 3 Actively Shaping Our Post-COVID-19 World (listen especially to 10:40-14:30)
At our initial meeting we isolated the following areas we could see focusing on in the future:
Calls to Action and Action Taken
Long Term Care
Equity
Abuse
The Environment
Finding Enough
Resources
Calls to Action and Action Taken
Long Term Care
/https://www.thestar.com/content/dam/thestar/business/2020/04/25/close-your-eyes-and-imagine-what-a-best-in-class-ltc-system-looks-like-then-build-it/ltc1.jpg?w=1600&ssl=1)
Close your eyes and imagine what a best-in-class LTC system looks like… then build it
By David OliveStar Business ColumnistSat., April 25, 2020
From: Ontario Health Coalition via OntarioHealthCoalition <ontariohealthcoalition@list.web.net>
Subject: [OHC] online DAY OF ACTION FRIDAY: FIX LONG-TERM CARE! pls join
Date: April 29, 2020 at 3:19:26 PM EDT
To: ontariohealthcoalition@list.web.net
Reply-To: Ontario Health Coalition <ohc@sympatico.ca>
Join us for an online Day of Action to Fix Long-Term Care!
[See event details and RSVP on the Ontario Health Coalition Facebook event here!]
Join the online Day of Action to Fix Long-Term Care
This Friday
Dear members and supporters,
COVID-19 is spreading exponentially in Ontario’s long-term care homes. The homes already suffered critical staffing shortages and inadequate levels of care before COVID-19. Now the situation is an emergency.
The Ford government has made improvements to testing, and their recent announcement to improve wages for frontline workers was a huge step forward to improving long-term care for workers and residents. We need to make sure these wage increases become permanent and get Doug Ford to address other systemic issues in long-term care.
The conditions of care for our loved ones are the conditions of work for the staff. We, the families, the residents, concerned community members, staff, health professionals, nurses, doctors, unions are speaking with one voice. We have a chance to make real progress now.
HOW CAN YOU JOIN THE ONLINE DAY OF ACTION?
- Print the poster attached to this email, or simply hold it up on a computer, tablet or other device.
- Take a picture of yourself with the poster.
- On Friday, May 1, post your photo here to the Facebook event page and add a comment.
- If you’re a Twitter user, tweet your photo using the hashtag #FixLTCFord and tag @fordnation.
- You can also post to Instagram.
- Don’t forget to include the hashtag in all your posts #FixLTCFord so that we can count you as joining in the Day of Action.
- Not sure how to share your photo on social media? Email it to ohc@sympatico.ca and we’ll share it for you!
- Share this message with everyone you know!
It takes just minutes to participate but can make all the difference for residents and workers in long-term care.
We are asking Doug Ford to:
- Immediately improved access to PPE
- Permanently improved wages + full time work
- 4-hr minimum care standard
- Better infection control
- No more for-profit care
Invite your friends and family. Spread the word and let’s make senior care a priority well after the pandemic is over.
This event is organized by the Ontario Health Coalition and many community partners (optional: when sending this out, you can insert your organization’s name here).
A printable version of the poster is attached both as a pdf and jpg. Just print off the poster, take a picture of yourself holding the poster, and post it online on social media.
We rely on donations & memberships from people who care about protecting public health care for all according to principles of compassion, equity and the public interest.
** If you can, please CLICK HERE to donate or become a member.**
The most helpful way to donate is direct monthly withdrawal for the Health Coalition’s work. CLICK HERE.
To peruse our store (filled with cool stuff!) please CLICK HERE.
~ Protecting Public Medicare for All ~
Ontario Health Coalition
15 Gervais Drive, Suite 201
Toronto, ON M3C 1Y8
ohc@sympatico.ca
www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca
416-441-2502
Click here to UNSUBSCRIBE from this email list: https://list.web.net/lists/options/ontariohealthcoalition
Equity
Greed, price gouging
Abuse
The Environment
Travel, air traffic
Cycling:
The LRA (Leaside Residents Association) wrote to the Mayor and Council on Sunday, April 26, advocating making more space available for pedestrian and cycling use, both during and beyond current COVID-19 circumstances.
In particular, the LRA cited Eglinton Avenue between Bayview Avenue and Laird Drive as a stretch of road where automobile speeds urgently need to be reduced in order to enhance safety for everyone who uses or crosses Eglinton.
The Mayor’s office responded on Tuesday, April 28, regarding recent measures taken citywide and, with respect to lane closures, stated as follows:
The advice the Mayor continues to receive from Medical Officer of Health Dr. Eileen de Villa is that full road closures or multi-block lane closures at this time should not be contemplated. She believes the City has to be focused during this key time on encouraging people to stay home as much as possible to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Notwithstanding this response, the LRA will continue to work for traffic calming efforts throughout Leaside, as well as measures to promote active forms of transportation such as walking and cycling. In the event that you write to any municipal officials about such issues, please copy the LRA (info@lpoa.ca) so that we can be informed in order to enhance community-wide advocacy.
For reference, please see the LRA website for the full text of the letter and the response from the Mayor’s office. The first few streets that the City intends to reallocate for pedestrian use, as part of its CurbTO initiative, are listed in this Toronto Star article.
The return of the car? How COVID-19 could derail Toronto’s transit future
By Ben Spurr Transportation Reporter Mon., April 27, 2020
The Return of the Car? How COVID-19 could derail Toronto’s transit future – The Star, April 27, 2020 https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/04/27/the-return-of-the-car-how-covid-19-could-derail-torontos-transit-future.html
Where should lanes be closed for pedestrians and cyclists as the city comes back to life? We crunched the data
By Matt Elliott Contributing Columnist Sun., April 26, 2020
Where Should Lanes Be Closed For Pedestrians and Cyclists As Our City Returns Back to Life? – The Star, April 26, 2020 https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2020/04/26/where-should-lanes-should-be-closed-for-pedestrians-and-cyclists-as-the-city-comes-back-to-life-we-crunched-the-data.html
Finding Enough
Resources:
Mastering the ‘miserable middle’ of change
HARVEY SCHACHTER
SPECIAL TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL
PUBLISHED APRIL 25, 2020
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