from COVID-19

April 2021

RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS Seniors care centre recovering from COVID-19 outbreak

by David Hurford

Like other provinces, B.C. long-term care homes, residents and staff have been hit hardest by COVID-19 and impacted most by the public health response.

To say COVID-19 has changed the future of longterm care in Canada and B.C. would be an understatement. The experience has had an impact on everyone attached to the sector in different ways – and we know it is not over yet. COVID-19 is still a threat to our community. All care homes remain vulnerable, particularly in light of the asymptomatic nature of the virus and extended vaccine roll-out.

Since the outbreak concluded, the Three Links leadership team has assessed care centre operations and designated 2021 as a Year of Recovery and Renewal.

Specifically, the goals of the 2021 Three Links Recovery and Renewal Plan are: • promote wellness and quality of life for residents and team members • recognize the skill and courage of our Three Links team • properly grieve beloved residents that passed away during the outbreak • strengthen best practices to prevent future outbreaks • provide all Three Links stakeholders with an opportunity to shape the care centre’s future

The plan features four phases and can conclude with the proposed renewal of the Three Links Strategic Plan later this year. Each phase will build on the previous one. The first phase started in January and focused on infection control. To prevent re-entry of the COVID-19, Three Links has: • Adopted outbreak measures with VCH related to PPE training, screening and staffing • Successfully advocated for vaccine access and rapid testing • Implemented the safe return of resident services and social visits to promote quality of life • Maintained ongoing communication with families • Accelerated staff recruiting

Phase two of the plan is now underway. In addition to maintaining phase one infection control improvements, the Three Links Wellness Committee and Family Advisory Council are implementing a series of measures focused on mental health, grief counselling, storytelling, experience sharing, team recognition and recruiting more staff.

A staff member administers rapid testing on site at Three Links. Photo courtesy of Three Links Care Centre

In addition to trying to prevent an outbreak today, the 2021 Three Links Recovery and Renewal Plan will welcome feedback from key stakeholders, promote continuous quality improvement and ensure a new Three Links strategic plan in the spirit of our courageous health care heroes and the beloved residents we lost in 2020.

Check out the full Three Links 2021 Recovery and Renewal Plan at www.threelinks.com.

Thank You for your Support

On October 19, the Three Links Care Centre became one of 200+ long term care homes in BC to have a COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. It continued until December 31.

Over this time, 14 beloved residents died from COVID-19. Seven passed away from other causes. If not for the actions of the Three Links team, the outbreak would have been worse.

Together, these health care heroes saved lives, not just during the outbreak but also in the months leading up to it by keeping COVID-19 away from the Care Centre for so long.

During our outbreak, we were supported by a strong network of community partners in the Renfrew-Collingwood neighbourhood - and beyond. They came to our aid when residents and staff needed it the most. We will never forget your generosity and want to thank you:

l MP Don Davies l Health Minister Adrian Dix l Vancouver Coastal Health Authority l Safe Care BC l Organika l BC Care Providers l Collingwood Neighbourhood House l Mount Pleasant Neighborhood House l Renfrew School l Renfrew Collingwood Seniors Society l Renfrew Park Community Centre l Three Links Volunteers l Family Advisory Committee l Haro Park l VCH Neurosciences Department l BC Association of Community

Response Networks

RENFREW COLLINGWOOD COMMUNITY NEWS

April 2021

Building a community that cares: Pink Shirt Day

by Brenda Krivuzoff

Students and staff at St. Mary’s School wore pink shirts on February 24 as a symbolic stand against any forms of bullying and pledged to “Lift Each Other Up,” which was this year’s Pink Shirt Day theme.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone and shown the importance of helping one another and advocating for those who need it.

Student Council Leadership members from Grades 1 to 7 presented a prayer and skit to start the day. They role-played typical playground scenarios to practice skills in reaching out to others, sharing and respecting differences. They encouraged one another to lift each other up through kind words and actions towards one another.

DANCEPL3Y then led two interactive dance sessions with primary and intermediate groups to promote themes of love, kindness and positive self-talk. It was an uplifting experience for all.

As a culminating activity, the entire St. Mary’s community participated in building a caring tree. Staff, students and their families wrote kind and inspirational messages or actions on many shades of pink leaves, which formed a tree. Students can view the tree in the hallway of the school main entrance, built from love and kindness and the friendships we share.

Photos by Brenda Krivuzoff

Brenda Krivuzoff is the principal of St. Mary’s School.

Easter: The power of resurrection

The following is a paid advertisement by by Sophia HanAdrian Dix, MLA for Vancouver/Kingsway

Dear Neighbours,

March 2021 marks the oneyear anniversary of the start of the pandemic here in B.C. It has been an incredibly difficult journey -- COVID-19 has impacted the lives of everyone, in every community. We continue to hold the community members who we’ve lost to COVID, their loved ones, and caregivers in our hearts and in our thoughts. The extraordinary efforts of all our frontline workers from every sector since the beginning of the pandemic has continued to enable our communities to operate safely and more importantly, save lives. My deepest gratitude to you and all that you’re doing to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect your loved ones and neighbours.

The timeline for B.C.’s COVID-19 Vaccination Plan is dependent on vaccine supply and availability. For more information, please visit https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/ covid-19/vaccine/plan. We are gradually transitioning to Phase 3 of the plan (people aged 79 to 60 and people aged 69 to 16 who are clinically extremely vulnerable). Regular updates can be found at the site above or over the phone at 1-888-COVID19. If you, a senior you know is 80 years old and older, or if you know an Indigenous community member/ Elder 65 years old or older, you can call to book a vaccine appointment anytime. You can call the Vancouver Coastal Health hotline at 1-877-587-5767 or your local health authority for yourself or on the behalf of someone.

For seniors who require language support over the phone, please let them know they can say their preferred language out loud in English once an agent picks up, and an interpreter will be brought onto the call. Please note that they will have to first listen to a pre-recorded message for about 50 seconds and will be prompted to click ONE for a new appointment or TWO to modify an appointment. For Vietnamese-speaking community members, the Vietnamese Professionals Association of BC is supporting seniors to book their appointments. Please contact them via email at hello@vpabc.ca or by phone at 604-359-6946. For more details, please visit: https://www.vpabc.ca/helping-vietnameseseniors-register-for-covid-vaccinations/

Earlier in March, the government announced the extension of the rent freeze to December 31, 2021. If legislation passes, these changes will come into effect on July 1, 2021 and will cap future rent increases to inflation, stop illegal renovictions, and make the dispute resolution process better for tenants and landlords. In addition, regulations have been amended to allow email as a method of service and communication between landlord and tenants, making it easier for people to participate in the dispute resolution process.

Spring expres-

sions  There are more English expressions about spring than any other season. To spring to

VOCABULARY

spring to life — to move quickly or to take action

by Vince Prasad

In April, many of us celebrate Easter as a holiday to get together and spend time with loved ones and some will be celebrating with the Easter Bunny. Christians will be celebrating the power of resurrection.

I thank God for the resurrection of Jesus and what it means to me. The Bible tells us that one day all shall be resurrected: “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”

St. Paul knew very well about the power of resurrection. “Our citizenship is in heaven. And most wait for a saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control.” These are times of uncertainty with COVID-19 and worldly problems such as the death of loved ones, marital troubles or financial stress. But no matter the fire we face, God is with us and will protect us. His presence brings assurance to our heart and calms our fears, and everything is under his control.

In the Book of Psalms, Psalm 16, King David talks about four aspects of this power.

1. Our hope is in the power of resurrection based on God alone. 2. The power of resurrection brings stability to our lives. 3.The power of resurrection causes joy in our hearts. 4. The power of resurrection produces hope for future.

In these days of fear, I don’t think we need to be afraid of living. Our hearts are weak and the road map of life is steep and lonely. But we have a wonderful God. And, as St. Paul puts it, what can separate us from His Love? “Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord,.”

Happy Easter.

Vince Prasad is a resident of Collingwood. He worships at Faith Fellowship Baptist Church, Vancouver.

My community office will continue to provide services for constituents via phone and email. Please leave us a voicemail at 604-660-0314 or we are best reached at adrian.dix. mla@leg.bc.ca, and we will get in touch with you as soon as we can. You can also visit us on our website at www. adrian.dix.mla.bcndpcaucus.ca/. 基於抗疫措施，本辦 事處暫時只提供電郵及電話服務，如需協助請電 郵adrian.dix.mla@leg.bc.ca或致電 604-6600314 留言。詳盡及最新資訊，請遊覽辦事處網 頁  www.adrian.dix.mla.bcndpcaucus.ca/.  

I hope this finds you and your loved ones well! Take care.