Teaching classes online, doing at-home workouts and taking short walks are just some of the ways two Canadians are killing time while living under strict restrictions in China amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Amy Passafiume and her husband Kevin moved to Beijing last summer to work as teachers at a bilingual school. But when they moved, they couldn’t have anticipated a global viral outbreak would shake up their plans.
COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, was first detected in China’s Hubei province late last year. In the months since, it has infected more than 90,000 people in over 70 countries and has killed more than 3,100.
Across China, more than 50 million people were placed under strict quarantine as the virus spread. Travel into and out of cities was cut, and schools and businesses were shuttered as health officials scrambled to contain the disease.
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In Beijing, Kevin Passafiume said restrictions were imposed around five weeks ago, but that they became more stringent in the last two weeks.
2:32 Four new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in B.C.
Four new cases of COVID-19 coronavirus in B.C.
“They put down measures that are a lot like what we would consider quarantine,” he said. “But technically right now we are allowed to leave our building. It’s just become a little bit of a process to do so.”
He said all of the entrances to their apartment building have been closed except one, where a metal detector was placed.
“They’re forcing people to go through one control point, and are checking temperatures and writing down your information,” he said. “So in our case, not just our name, phone number and address, but also our passport numbers.”
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He said this information is necessary if they want to go into a grocery store, a bakery or a restaurant.
Out in Beijing, Amy said you “don’t see anyone without a mask,” and workers are tirelessly trying to sanitize the city.
“Every morning we hear the sprayers go off in front of our building,” she said. “And we see water trucks almost driving down the street, just spraying disinfectant at times.”
Kevin said while they are trying to stay positive, the situation has been stressful at times.
“I would say it’s been hard for us to maintain a positive attitude and not get frustrated about small things,” he said. “I think we noticed that little things make us more frustrated than usual.”
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0:46 COVID-19: WHO says coronavirus is more deadly than the flu
COVID-19: WHO says coronavirus is more deadly than the flu
He said that’s when the pair will do an at-home workout, or take a short walk.
“We try to get a little movement to our bodies and focus on enjoying what we have,” he said.
Ultimately, though, Kevin says they are “very fortunate to have each other.”
“We know that there’s a lot of foreigners, particularly teachers who are single, who are in the country, and I think it’s much harder for them because they don’t have a built-in support system,” he said.
Amy said the pair receive plenty of messages from loved ones back home in Canada who are concerned about their well-being.
“There’s been certain days that we’ve woken up and my phone will have a lot of messages from overnight,” Amy said. “So everyone is checking and maybe they haven’t heard from us for a few days. They want to make sure we’re OK, so we do know that many people are thinking of us and checking in on us.”
Last month, the Canadian government chartered two planes to evacuate Canadian citizens from China.
When asked why they weren’t on one of the flights home, Kevin said the pair had reached out to the Canadian government, but were told the flights were for Canadians in Wuhan — the city believed to be the epicentre of the virus — and not all citizens.
0:54 Coronavirus outbreak: Trudeau says he is confident that Canada is taking the right measures
Coronavirus outbreak: Trudeau says he is confident that Canada is taking the right measures
According to Kevin, the couple did consider taking a commercial flight back to Canada, but decided that it would be too difficult to continue working with the time difference.
“So we had opted to stay here,” Kevin said. “I would say that at different points it has become more nerve-wracking for us as we are unsure about what additional measures the government will put in place and what that means for us as foreigners who can’t speak the language.”
He said adding to that anxiety is weeks of silence from the Canadian embassy, calling the lack of communication is “a little bit concerning.”
He said they are fortunate to receive good news from friends and family in Canada and that the information they have been getting from inside China is “fairly decent.”
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“Its just unfortunate that our government doesn’t seem to be providing a lot of information to us,” he said.
Kevin said at this point, though, there would need to be a “significant change” in the situation in order to return to Canada.
“It would have to get worse, or our requirements for work would need to change,” he said, adding that their exposure to the virus has been “very limited.”
2:55 Coronavirus outbreak: Dr. Anthony Fauci says the U.S. will not have COVID-19 vaccine in under a year
Coronavirus outbreak: Dr. Anthony Fauci says the U.S. will not have COVID-19 vaccine in under a year
But the pair aren’t taking unnecessary risks, and are taking extra precautions to ensure they don’t become ill with the virus.
“Masks every time we leave, we wash our hands like crazy and even our re-usable grocery bags — when they come in from the store I just throw them in the washing machine,” Amy said. “Washing our clothes if we’ve gone outside regularly, disinfecting as much as we can, all those good things.”
EDMONTON – Canada’s Employment Minister Randy Boissonnault is apologizing after shifting claims about his Indigenous identity came under scrutiny.
The Liberal member of Parliament said at an unrelated announcement in Edmonton on Friday that he’s sorry he wasn’t as clear as he could have been “with everything that I know now.”
“I apologize that I wasn’t as clear as I could have been about who I am and my family’s history,” he said, adding that he’s still learning about his family’s heritage “in real time.”
Boissonnault has previously referred to himself as “non-status adopted Cree” and said his great-grandmother was a “full-blooded Cree woman.”
He said Friday he’ll have to confirm his great-grandmother’s status, but his mother and brother are citizens of the Métis Nation of Alberta.
“I apologize if that particular way of referring to myself — I apologize that it was inaccurate.”
It comes after the National Post reported that a company co-owned by Boissonnault unsuccessfully bid on two federal contracts in 2020 while identifying itself as Indigenous and Aboriginal-owned.
The government has pledged to award five per cent of its procurement contracts to Indigenous-owned businesses.
Since that story’s publication last week, Boissonnault has said the family he was adopted into has Indigenous ancestry and his adopted mother and brother are status Métis.
Boissonnault said Friday he never claimed any Indigenous status to his business partner, Stephen Anderson.
“Mr. Anderson should never have claimed that on the particular contract application, and no contract was awarded,” he said.
Boissonnault has previously sat as a member of the Liberal Indigenous Caucus, but he said he joined it as an ally representing many Indigenous people in his community.
When asked about the Liberals’ past claims about his Indigenous identity, he said he corrected the party and asked for the descriptions to be changed as soon as he became aware.
“I never asked the party to refer to me as an Indigenous person. I never clicked any box in any form with the Liberal party. I have never put (an) Indigenous claim to any contract or any application in my entire life,” he said.
The Conservative party has said it wants Boissonnault to testify before the ethics committee so he can “answer truthfully for these serious allegations of fraud.”
“This is even more urgent given the new allegations that his company fraudulently claimed to be Indigenous-owned while applying for government contracts,” said Conservative MP Michael Barrett.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2024.
The Internet’s most powerful ability is its propensity to spread. This holiday season, amidst the hustle of shopping, party planning, and reflections, let’s use this power to spread joy and generosity. This December, I invite you to transform your social media feeds into a canvas of goodwill, reminding your followers and communities that even small acts of kindness can create waves of joy and inspiration.
Before you dive into creating festive holiday content, it’s crucial to set the stage by updating the aesthetics of your social media profiles to mirror the holiday season. Using Canva (www.canva.com), refresh your banner/cover photo on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. with holiday-themed images. Change your profile picture to one that captures the festive spirit, such as wearing a Santa hat, standing next to a Christmas tree, or under Christmas lights, or wearing a Christmas sweater.
Once your social media profiles reflect your festive mood, consider the following suggestions to inspire others to get into the holiday spirit.
The 12 Days of Kindness Challenge
The English Christmas carol, “The 12 Days of Christmas,” inspired this suggestion, a “12 Days of Kindness” challenge. Starting 12 days before Christmas, or whenever you want, commit to doing one act of kindness daily. It could be paying for someone’s coffee, leaving a heartfelt note for a neighbour, donating to a local charity, or dropping off baked goods at a senior home. Post pictures of each act on your social media channels with the hashtag #12DaysOfKindness. Encourage your followers and tag your friends to do the same, thereby creating a chain reaction of goodwill that spreads far beyond your immediate circle.
Support Local Charities with a Virtual Fundraiser
Use your social media clout to raise money for a local charity by hosting a virtual fundraiser. Invite your followers and friends to join you in a fun activity, like a virtual trivia night or bake-off. Promote donations to a charity of your choice and share updates on the progress. In addition to building community spirit, promoting local causes demonstrates the power of collective action.
Random Acts of Kindness Bingo
Create a bingo card, which you can use Canva to create, filled with random acts of kindness, such as “compliment a stranger,” “donate clothes,” or “help a neighbour.” Once created, post the card on your social media and invite others to join you in completing the challenges throughout the month. As you check off your squares, share photos or stories of your experiences, tagging friends and followers to keep the momentum going. The visual aspect of a bingo card makes it fun and engaging, encouraging participation.
Gratitude and Kindness Posts
Incorporate gratitude into your kindness initiatives by encouraging your followers to share posts about something they’re thankful for and how they plan to pay it forward. Use a specific hashtag, like #ThankfulAndKind, to unify these posts. As people share their gratitude and commitment to kindness, you’ll create a powerful positivity narrative that inspires others to reflect on their lives and actions.
Acts of Kindness Story Swap
Engage your audience by hosting a ‘kindness story swap.’ Invite your followers to share their stories of kindness—either acts they’ve done or experiences they’ve had. Create a specific day for these stories and use a designated hashtag like #KindnessSwap. By facilitating the sharing of stories and uplifting your followers, you’ll be connecting people and building a sense of community, which is what social media should be used for.
Kindness Challenge Videos
Challenge your followers to create short videos showcasing their acts of kindness. This could include anything from helping a neighbour with groceries to volunteering at a local shelter. Encourage them to tag you and others in their posts using a hashtag like #KindnessChallenge. Sharing video content is an effective way to spread your message while inspiring others to get involved.
Holiday Cards for Seniors
During the holidays, seniors living in retirement homes often feel isolated. Initiate a “Holiday Cards for Seniors” campaign by encouraging your followers to create and send handmade holiday cards to local retirement homes. List several local retirement homes on your social media and encourage your followers to share photos of their card-making. This simple act will not only brighten someone’s day but also foster cross-generational connections.
Kindness knows no boundaries. In addition to spreading joy, social media offers a powerful tool to foster community and encourage acts of kindness. No matter how small, each act of kindness contributes to a larger narrative of compassion, which the world desperately needs more of. Imagine the joy on a senior’s face when they receive a holiday card or the warmth in a neighbour’s heart when they receive a compliment. Creating and hosting these kindness challenges and sharing your acts of kindness experiences—giving and receiving—will enrich your life and strengthen your community.
This December let’s embrace the spirit of kindness—online and offline. Your social media feeds can become a gallery of kindness, with posts and shares illustrating the joys of doing acts of kindness, making this holiday season a time of connection, generosity, and lasting impact.
HACHINOHE, Japan – Ivanie Blondin helped Canada to a team sprint gold medal before picking up an individual bronze Friday as Canada opened the long-track speedskating season with three medals at the ISU Four Continents championships.
Ottawa’s Blondin combined with Carolina Hiller of Prince George, B.C., and Béatrice Lamarche of Quebec City to win the women’s team sprint in a track record time of one minute 27.87 seconds.
Lamarche used the slingshot technique to launch Blondin into the final lap, which helped the trio maintain their speed. While the move worked, Lamarche said it could be improved.
“The slingshot move felt better yesterday in practice, but it was not at high speed. Maybe we looked smooth, but I personally felt weird and rushed throughout the entire process,” Lamarche said. “I’m excited to try it again during the World Cup in China because I think it can be better.”
South Korea was 1.39 seconds off the pace for silver, while Kazakhstan was 2.49 seconds back of the winners to take bronze.
Later, the 34-year-old Blondin took bronze in the women’s 1,500 metres with a time of 1:57.99.
Japan’s Miho Takagi (1:54.86) and China’s Mei Han (1:56.53) took gold and silver, respectively.
“I feel pretty good about my 1,500,” Blondin said. “I was not able to warm down following the team sprint as we went straight to the medal ceremony. By the time that was over I had to put my skin suit on and get back on the ice.”
“I didn’t have the pop that I normally would — but midway through the race I realized things were going well and my legs were actually feeling pretty decent,” she added. “I was happy with the end time.”
Canada reached the podium for a third time as Anders Johnson of Burnaby, B.C., Laurent Dubreuil of Lévis, Que., and Yankun Zhao of Calgary, Alta., finished third in the men’s team sprint.
The United States (1:19.43) and China (1:19.78) finished ahead of Canada, the defending world champion and world record holder in the discipline.
“I think it was a good race for us,” Johnson said. “It was a new setup for our team today and we executed well and skated well. We’re happy with the result and excited to see what comes in the future.”
The championships continue Saturday with Blondin, Dubreuil, Calgary’s Ted-Jan Bloemen, Valérie Maltais of La Baie, Que., and Ottawa’s Isabelle Weidemann looking to add to Canada’s medal total.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 15, 2024.