This is a time when Canada must harness its community-driven resilience. We’re asking you to share examples of how Canadian communities are responding to the crisis with creativity and imagination. Collective problem-solving and collaboration will be instrumental in how Canada mitigates the local impacts of COVID-19 and creates on-the-ground solutions.

Highlighted Initiatives

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Initiatives

WhatsForDinner is a food delivery service in Innisfil which provides online ordering and delivery for local restaurants which do not normally provide these services themselves

Food | Local businesses | Shop Local

WFDT has provided our drivers with sanitizer, and the debit machines are being cleaned between every delivery. Contactless delivery & payment via e-transfer is also available upon request.

Mesures de la Ville de Montréal pour soutenir les entreprises

Local businesses | Policy leadership

Dans le contexte de la COVID-19, qui a une forte incidence sur les entreprises, la Ville offre un soutien financier d’urgence et prend des mesures pour aider les entreprises, les organismes à but non lucratif et les travailleurs autonomes à faire face aux défis actuels.

New web portal for St. Catharines restaurants and businesses ready to serve with pickup and delivery services

Food | General: Online communities and networks | Local businesses

Includes links to restaurants, groceries and shopping

Mississauga Launches a New Online Dedicated COVID-19 Resources for Mississauga Businesses

General: Sector resources | Local businesses

The web portal will be a one-stop site for businesses to get the latest information on government updates, relief packages and services offered by the City.

QUÉBEC ORGANIZATIONS RALLY RESIDENTS TO BUY FROM LOCAL STARTUPS ON APRIL 2

General: Online communities and networks | Local businesses | Shop Local

Québec residents are encouraged to buy a product or service from a Québec-based startup, in order to support the province’s economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the event is to make up for lost funding and sales faced by some of the startups. The event’s organizers have compiled a list of startups in the province as a resource for people looking to participate. The goal of the event is to broaden Québec residents’ awareness of provincially-made products and services, in order to make up for lost funding and sales faced by some of the startups.

“Support London Businesses” lists online stores of local businesses in London

Food | Fundraising and volunteering | General: Online communities and networks | General: Sector resources | Local businesses | Shop Local

This local resource includes a list of London retailers with online stores, a pledge for residents to sign onto to do one activity a day to help a local London business, and ecommerce advice.

Local entrepreneur starts ‘Hamilton Helpers’ website that invites business people and others to post offers to help in the community

General: Online communities and networks | Local businesses

The idea is to promote services and products that local small businesses can continue to offer in alternative and safe ways, while extending a helping hand to the community in the COVID-19 era. So far, offers have included everything from reduced rates for dog walking to free mental health counselling, to complimentary front porch delivery of biscotti.

Local Calgary businesses come together to create platform for purchasing gift cards from restaurants during COVID-19

Food | Local businesses

Eat Later allows residents to support local bars and restaurants in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto & GTA, and Vancouver.

Big Bike Giveaway partners with Squeaky Wheel Bike Co-op to give out free bicycles to low-income essential workers

Fundraising and volunteering | Local businesses | Mobility and transportation

London-based Squeaky Wheel Bike Co-op is a volunteer-supported, self-serve bike repair shop and Big Bike Giveaway is organized by a husband and wife team in London Ontario.

Canadian tech companies are pitching in during COVID-19

Fundraising and volunteering | General: Online communities and networks | Local businesses

Businesses are taking steps to help flatten the curve and support customers through new products, services, and free offerings. This link outlines what Canadian tech companies are offering during the outbreak.

#StandApartTogether campaign in Newmarket shines a bright light on town in the midst of COVID-19

Mental health | Policy leadership

Ten “Community Positivity Ambassadors” have been appointed and tasked with spreading positivity by using social media to share stories of “Newmarket’s bright side” and perseverance.

Cyber-Seniors is keeping senior citizens socially connected in self-isolation

General: Tools for engagement | Seniors | Social isolation

Cyber-Seniors’ mission is to bridge the digital divide and connect generations through technology through resources that enable community organizations to provide tech-training for senior citizens through a youth volunteer model. Youth are trained to act as digital mentors, and senior citizens gain access to effective technology training and intergenerational communities that keep them socially connected and engaged.

Crowdsourced map of Toronto resources for vulnerable populations to access & share during #COVID19 crisis

General: Crowdsourced tools and resources | Housing and homelessness | Public health

Includes showers, washrooms, food banks, and drop-in centres for bagged, hot foods.

Public transit news and resources for transit providers and riders

Mobility and transportation | Policy leadership | Public health

CUTA – the Canadian Urban Transit Association – is providing current news, information and resources for transit providers and riders, along with advice for business continuity.

TOArtist Covid Response Fund

Arts and Culture

Established by the Toronto Arts Foundation and the Toronto Arts Council, this fund provides up to $1,000 in emergency relief for artists who are self employed and not eligible for EI through any other employer or any other bridge funding. The fund is open to artists who can demonstrate lost income due to cancellation of events, programs, workshops, classes, etc.

Addressing domestic violence across Canada

General: Sector resources

The Ending Violence Canada association website provides links by province for those who are in danger. Crisis supports and programs are developed in partnership with organizations across the country.

Local Rotary club working with medical community to make hand sanitizer

Public health

Sanitizer distributed to businesses for use by customers

Scarborough youth program is helping feed vulnerable families during the COVID-19 outbreak

Children | Food | General: Online communities and networks | Social isolation

Time to Talk–Uncovering Youth Experiences, a Scarborough-based youth organization launched the Hearty Food Initiative, an effort to address food insecurity at the grassroots and community levels, and support the youngest members of the community and their families during the outbreak.

Virtual Youth Summit hosted by Canadian Council for Youth Prosperity and Opportunity for All Youth

Children | Employment | General: Online communities and networks | General: Sector resources | Learning and education

The April 2nd #ImpactCOVID virtual youth summit is a platform for youth to share how this ongoing crisis is impacting them and how the youth workforce development sector can better support them during this time.

Edmonton Local Organizations in Operation during COVID-19

Arts and Culture | Food | General: Crowdsourced tools and resources | General: Online communities and networks | Local businesses | Social isolation

Google document, consistently updated

Winnipeg expanding bicycle and active transportation routes in an effort to help with social distancing requirements

Mobility and transportation | Parks and public space | Policy leadership

Four streets have limited motor vehicle traffic to just one block throughout the designated area and are normally in place only on Sundays from June to September.

Calgary to reduce lanes on some roads to help walkers, cyclists keep their distance during COVID-19 pandemic

Mobility and transportation | Policy leadership | Public health

Calgary’s pathways and walks are filling up as people are desperate to get exercise

Calgary Design Group O2 Planning + Design Pitches Temporary Sidewalk Widening and Converted Four-Way Stops to Help Coronavirus Physical Distancing

Mobility and transportation | Public health

The group put out a series of designs showing how certain Calgary corridors could be temporarily redesigned to accommodate more foot traffic at a time when physical distancing is critical to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Medical students supporting community health and accessibility in Edmonton and Victoria

Children | Fundraising and volunteering | General: Online communities and networks

Bag Half Full was started by University of Alberta medical students and is expanding, most recently to UBC Victoria. Services include shopping and delivering groceries and household items for the elderly and people who are immunocompromised.

Homelessness and pandemic planning for youth and others in Canada

Children | General: Sector resources | Housing and homelessness

The Homeless Hub – an observatory on homelessness in Canada – provides a vast array of resources and current information for priority at-risk populations.

Teddy bear hunts take Newfoundland and Labrador by storm

Children

With public health experts and government officials urging Canadians to stay at home much as possible, the teddy bear hunt offers families an activity to do together at home, on a walk or in their car

Local BC Drag Queens Will Deliver Food And Wine To Your Door

Arts and Culture | Food | Local businesses

A local LGBTQ+ bar in Kelowna is having B.C. drag queens deliver food and wine right to your door. By changing the business model and keeping employees safe the restaurant is offering delivery service, but with a twist.

Public washrooms for the most vulnerable

Policy leadership

The Region of Waterloo includes a list of open public washrooms for use by vulnerable community members

Public porta-potties installed as part of New Westminster’s COVID-19 response

Policy leadership

The decision to provide portable washroom facilities is to ensure access to bathrooms for vulnerable populations, who may otherwise not have them, given all of the businesses being shuttered. It’s also for other residents.

Public washrooms for unsheltered persons considered an essential service in BC

Policy leadership

This includes hygiene facilities (toilets, handwash stations, showers)

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