The City of Toronto is introducing ConnectTO – a City-driven collaborative program that aims to leverage the use of municipal resources and assets to help bridge the increasing digital divide by expanding access to affordable, high-speed internet to underserved Toronto residents.

Site organized by the Edmonton Downtown Business Association showcasing downtown restaurants, retailers and other businesses who have found a way to deliver their goods and services to the people of Edmonton. Includes those businesses offering online classes or streamed services, gift cards, virtual appointments, equipment rental, delivery or curbside pickups and food specials such as custom meal boxes. Some businesses are offering deep discounts and specials during this time, or free items, donations & specials to first responders and hospital workers.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

The District of Hope has added handicap accessible portable toilets in Memorial Park. They’ve also placed hand wash stations there as well, after closing public washrooms last week.

https://www.sechelt.ca/Live/COVID-19-Municipal-Updates

Information found on Hamilton’s Twitter account

Moonshot Missions, a non-profit organization founded by George Hawkins, the former General Manager of DC Water in Washington DC, has put together a “living document” compendium of best practices being implemented by water utilities in the face of this unprecedented challenge. Staff has compiled this checklist by reviewing resources from water associations, list-serves and dozens of utility response and continuity of operations plans.

The Ottawa-based company is calling on the public to donate or rent out unused items like tablets, smartphones, webcams and laptops, so they can get into the hands of those who need them. Ruckify will provide pickup and delivery of the items. The items will be sanitized when picked up and dropped off, and it will be insured for damages in case something happens.

The Dashmesh Cultural Center is providing free meals to long haul truckers and healthcare workers, who are having a hard time accessing food on the road due to restaurant closures and drive thrus not being able to accommodate trucks. They have free hot food available to any truckers and health care workers that require it. They also deliver to drivers who are in need.

Toronto Councillor Joe Cressy said five hotels have been acquired with another five in the process of being secured. Two vacant rental buildings are also in the process of being acquired and 50 permanent housing units have been identified. He added that 19 households have secured permanent housing. The latest acquisitions are in addition to the nine existing sites the city has already opened to facilitate social distancing within the shelter system. Cressy added that the city has provided funding to five community partners that run overnight programs to stay open all day to provide daytime spaces for those experiencing homelessness. Two sites are now open and three others will open shortly.

A group of community and health-care organizations opened the Supported Isolation Centre (SIC) in downtown Guelph. This particular model is not a medical model, meaning that the people who are there are not being medically monitored; they’re being supported to self-isolate.

Ridership has decreased by 80% so customers can now book trips by: App – “On-Demand Transit – Rider App” is available for download and can be used to book rides any time of day for any time of service. Online – btletsgo.ca can be used to book rides any time of day for any time of service Phone – Passengers can contact us at 613-962-1925 and book rides for any time of service. Email – Passengers can email bellevilletransit@belleville.ca for service.

The company’s online COVID-19 screening program will be covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP). The screening will allow people in Ontario with a valid OHIP card to talk to a physician through audio or video chat about their symptoms and receive advice on whether they need testing or emergency care. The service is aimed to relieve the pressure on overloaded emergency rooms and allow patients to receive screening safely. Maple is also currently offering its virtual clinic software to all Ontario and British Columbia (BC) physicians free of charge amid the outbreak.

Multidisciplinary team works toward creating an emergency pandemic ventilator.

The DTES Response aims to activate community networks to create a stop-gap plan for the urgent needs of the most vulnerable. Right now, the group is mobilizing resources and coordinating operations.

In response to the public health need created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Edmonton, Alberta Health Services, Homeward Trust and community partners are creating a temporary facility in the Edmonton EXPO Centre. The facility will serve as a day drop-in service and as a 24/7 isolation shelter for those experiencing homelessness who have been exposed to COVID-19, or have cold or flu symptoms, to recover and protect others by self-isolating.

In 2013, Calgary non-profits faced a natural disaster. An analysis about how that helped them to prepare for COVID-19

Quebec is providing free emergency daycare services for the preschool and elementary-aged children of healthcare providers and other workers in essential services’ as the province implements measures to contain COVID-19.

Beginning March 30, City of Toronto will offer free child care on a 24-7 basis for children up to age 12 for any worker deemed essential by the province