Emergency

It was 11 a.m. when science class started on Monday, August 17. A group of about 15 students was doing what students usually do before class starts: happily chatting about what they did on the weekend. There was nothing out of the usual until you looked closer and noticed the students ranged from a very young age to their senior years, and everyone was taking part in the class from their own home through a videoconferencing app. “It’s good that there are adults, teenagers, and children,” said Gail Berman, a 64-year-old student. This heterogeneous group is connected by a condition that is common to all of them: everyone has autism spectrum disorder.
 

The Alexandra Community Health Centre, also known as The Alex, is a Calgary-based non-profit that aims to deliver innovative and accessible health and social solutions to vulnerable residents.
When COVID-19 was declared, The Alex, like many other organizations, searched for ways to continue providing services in a safe manner.

Hear from Louisette Trahan, a support aide part of the Red Cross humanitarian force deployed to long-term care homes, and what it's like to help out during the pandemic.

In an average month, personal disaster assistance teams respond to about 6 requests for assistance. But this July, our Winnipeg volunteers supported a massive 21 personal disasters.
 

Transmission of COVID-19 in healthcare facilities in Saskatchewan’s most northern region has been limited thanks, in part, to a federal government funding program administered by the Canadian Red Cross. The Athabasca Health Authority has used funds distributed by the Red Cross to purchase personal protective equipment to help keep their staff and clients, healthy.

Chapados is doing a virtual walkthrough of the COVID-19 isolation centre she’s worked to set up for members of the five Nations that make up the Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council. On the other end of the line is the Canadian Red Cross. A two-person team made up of experts in emergency response and health. This is the Help Desk for Indigenous Leadership in action.
 

As COVID-19 infection numbers began to rise earlier this year, it quickly became evident how serious the situation was as workplaces and schools were forced to shut their doors. No one could have predicted the challenges and emotional hardships faced by teachers, parents and guardians, and children. Now, as everyone prepares for a new school year, new challenges have surfaced, leading to uncertainty about what lies ahead.
 

Since well before the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Canadian Red Cross has been present in countries aroundthe world, working with local Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to strengthen their response to natural disasters and health emergencies. However, with the arrival of COVID-19, 2020 has become an unprecedented year and has led to a shift in our work from an international to a more domestic focus.