Notebooks, pencils, binders, laptops — and face masks. As families get ready for a new school year in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic, face coverings are likely to be on the back-to-school shopping list, at least for children who are heading back to the classroom.
The federal government has yet to release mask guidelines for children, which chief public health officer Theresa Tam has promised by the end of the week. But some provinces like Ontario and Alberta have established students in grades four to 12 will be required to wear masks. In Ontario, that’s mandatory anywhere indoors on school property, while in Alberta it’s a requirement whenever social distancing is not possible.
Masks for children in kindergarten to Grade 3 are “encouraged” in Ontario and “optional” in Alberta.
Students in the Northwest Territories will also have to wear a mask whenever physical distancing cannot be maintained, such as when moving through hallways, going to the restroom or riding the bus.
2:35 Coronavirus: Dr. Tam says ‘layers of protection’ needed for back-to-school safety
Coronavirus: Dr. Tam says ‘layers of protection’ needed for back-to-school safety
What makes a good face mask for kids?
Don’t get too fussed about the various options, says Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at Toronto General Hospital.
“Cover the mouth and nose, that’s all that matters,” he says.
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But face coverings should also be comfortable so that kids will wear them, he adds.
That’s where parents may want to do some research.
Face coverings for kids should be easy to put on and take off and allow for ease of movement as kids horse around and play, says Suzanne Willard, associate dean of global health at Rutgers University’s School of Nursing.
That’s why gaiters, neck tubes that can be pulled up above the nose, may be a good option, says Willard, who used to work in paediatrics.
While many gaiters aren’t meat to be face masks, some manufacturers and local designers are starting to make double-layer neck tubes intended to work as face coverings amid the epidemic.
“Is it as good as a regular cloth mask? I don’t think so,” says Willard. “But is it better than nothing? Yeah.”
Cloth masks for COVID-19 should be made of at least two layers of tightly-woven fabric such as cotton or linen, according to Canadian government guidelines.
Willard adds the material should be breathable, too.
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“When you start getting into the nylons — the non-natural fabrics — then it increases the chances of you sweating,” she said.
That, in turn, causes your mask to get wet and lose its integrity, making it easier for viruses and bacteria to move back and forth, she added.
A face-shield, in addition to a mask, may also be an option for parents concerned about protecting the eyes, says Willard. Although, she adds, “if a kid has an itchy eye, they’re still going to scratch their eye.”
9:42 Parenting Playbook: Return to School
Parenting Playbook: Return to School
How many masks should parents buy?
Buy as many masks as you’d buy underwear for your child, Willard says.
Kids get messy, so it’s a good idea to toss their cloth masks in the laundry at the end of every school day, just like parents would with the rest of their clothes, Willard says.
And since accidents happen at school, it’s good practice to make sure they have an extra clean mask at hand in their backpack or cubby, she adds.
5:37 Coronavirus: Is it safe for kids to return to school?
Coronavirus: Is it safe for kids to return to school?
Where to buy kids’ masks
You can buy kids’ face masks from major clothing retailers, Canadian designers as well as a wealth of small businesses selling through Etsy or Instagram.
You may want to browse customer reviews for feedback on fit as well as masks shrinking or losing their shape after being washed.
Features: This Edmonton-based company makes cotton masks with elastic that secure behind the head, not the ears. The inner layer is made of organic cotton, and there a filter pocket.
Features: Sold over Instagram, these masks have a distinctly Torontonian flair with Blue Jays and Raptors prints (although you’ll also find Batman and princess themes). Made of 100 per cent cotton they come in three kiddie sizes: baby, small kid, and big kid.
Etsy is full of local craft makers producing and designing fabric masks for adults and children. It’s also one of the few places online where you’ll find neck gaiters meant to serve as face masks. Below is a double-layer cotton and spandex model made by Pennsylvania-based Weehourshandmade. One size fits most kids aged three to 13 and costs $16.73 plus cross-border shipping.
Will my kid wear a mask?
Social media threads suggest many parents are skeptical about whether their little ones will tolerate a piece of cloth over their nose and mouth for several hours a day.
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Willard, though, is optimistic.
While adults have a hard time taking to things they’re not used to, kids are often much more adaptable, she says.
“I have seen kids take on the mask, as this is what you do.”
VANCOUVER – Contract negotiations resume today in Vancouver in a labour dispute that has paralyzed container cargo shipping at British Columbia’s ports since Monday.
The BC Maritime Employers Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 are scheduled to meet for the next three days in mediated talks to try to break a deadlock in negotiations.
The union, which represents more than 700 longshore supervisors at ports, including Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Nanaimo, has been without a contract since March last year.
The latest talks come after employers locked out workers in response to what it said was “strike activity” by union members.
The start of the lockout was then followed by several days of no engagement between the two parties, prompting federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon to speak with leaders on both sides, asking them to restart talks.
MacKinnon had said that the talks were “progressing at an insufficient pace, indicating a concerning absence of urgency from the parties involved” — a sentiment echoed by several business groups across Canada.
In a joint letter, more than 100 organizations, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Canada and associations representing industries from automotive and fertilizer to retail and mining, urged the government to do whatever it takes to end the work stoppage.
“While we acknowledge efforts to continue with mediation, parties have not been able to come to a negotiated agreement,” the letter says. “So, the federal government must take decisive action, using every tool at its disposal to resolve this dispute and limit the damage caused by this disruption.
“We simply cannot afford to once again put Canadian businesses at risk, which in turn puts Canadian livelihoods at risk.”
In the meantime, the union says it has filed a complaint to the Canada Industrial Relations Board against the employers, alleging the association threatened to pull existing conditions out of the last contract in direct contact with its members.
“The BCMEA is trying to undermine the union by attempting to turn members against its democratically elected leadership and bargaining committee — despite the fact that the BCMEA knows full well we received a 96 per cent mandate to take job action if needed,” union president Frank Morena said in a statement.
The employers have responded by calling the complaint “another meritless claim,” adding the final offer to the union that includes a 19.2 per cent wage increase over a four-year term remains on the table.
“The final offer has been on the table for over a week and represents a fair and balanced proposal for employees, and if accepted would end this dispute,” the employers’ statement says. “The offer does not require any concessions from the union.”
The union says the offer does not address the key issue of staffing requirement at the terminals as the port introduces more automation to cargo loading and unloading, which could potentially require fewer workers to operate than older systems.
The Port of Vancouver is the largest in Canada and has seen a number of labour disruptions, including two instances involving the rail and grain storage sectors earlier this year.
A 13-day strike by another group of workers at the port last year resulted in the disruption of a significant amount of shipping and trade.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2024.
The Royal Canadian Legion says a new partnership with e-commerce giant Amazon is helping boost its veterans’ fund, and will hopefully expand its donor base in the digital world.
Since the Oct. 25 launch of its Amazon.ca storefront, the legion says it has received nearly 10,000 orders for poppies.
Online shoppers can order lapel poppies on Amazon in exchange for donations or buy items such as “We Remember” lawn signs, Remembrance Day pins and other accessories, with all proceeds going to the legion’s Poppy Trust Fund for Canadian veterans and their families.
Nujma Bond, the legion’s national spokesperson, said the organization sees this move as keeping up with modern purchasing habits.
“As the world around us evolves we have been looking at different ways to distribute poppies and to make it easier for people to access them,” she said in an interview.
“This is definitely a way to reach a wider number of Canadians of all ages. And certainly younger Canadians are much more active on the web, on social media in general, so we’re also engaging in that way.”
Al Plume, a member of a legion branch in Trenton, Ont., said the online store can also help with outreach to veterans who are far from home.
“For veterans that are overseas and are away, (or) can’t get to a store they can order them online, it’s Amazon.” Plume said.
Plume spent 35 years in the military with the Royal Engineers, and retired eight years ago. He said making sure veterans are looked after is his passion.
“I’ve seen the struggles that our veterans have had with Veterans Affairs … and that’s why I got involved, with making sure that the people get to them and help the veterans with their paperwork.”
But the message about the Amazon storefront didn’t appear to reach all of the legion’s locations, with volunteers at Branch 179 on Vancouver’s Commercial Drive saying they hadn’t heard about the online push.
Holly Paddon, the branch’s poppy campaign co-ordinator and bartender, said the Amazon partnership never came up in meetings with other legion volunteers and officials.
“I work at the legion, I work with the Vancouver poppy office and I go to the meetings for the Vancouver poppy campaign — which includes all the legions in Vancouver — and not once has this been mentioned,” she said.
Paddon said the initiative is a great idea, but she would like to have known more about it.
The legion also sells a larger collection of items at poppystore.ca.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2024.
