Weekly News Recap August 14, 2020

Weekly News Recap: August 14, 2020

Margaret Atwood has lent her voice to the Canadian Children's Literacy Foundation's Read On Canada! initiative.

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go. -- Dr. Seuss

FUNDRAISING IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

+ We are here to help. We are all in this together. If you would like to chat, reach out and schedule some time to talk. You can also call us at 403.210.3157 or, if this is still your thing, you can send us an e-mail. Stay safe. Stay sane.

+ Here is ViTreo's most recent blog post: HIGHER EDUCATION - ATTRACT, ENGAGE AND ACTIVATE ALUMNI DURING THIS GLOBAL CRISES AND IN THE FUTURE Do The Fundamentals Of Alumni Engagement Need To Change?

+ And a freshly updated (as at August 14, 2020) set of resources: Fundraising In The Time Of COVID-19

SOME GOOD NEWS

  • Margaret Atwood shares original poem to encourage kids to engage in summer reading (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "Atwood joins other notable Canadians who have been part of the push to keep school-aged children reading during the summer, including author David A. Robertson, astronaut and author Chris Hadfield and author illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi."

  • Video of teen goes viral after he gets groovy on the job controlling N.W.T. traffic (CBC) N.W.T. STORY I love that is has gone viral. 3 million views on Facebook! "Two Yellowknifers say they were grooving to music while heading home from a camping trip when they had an encounter they'll never forget [...]. 'We were dancing in the car ... and as we pulled up, we saw Daniel dancing.' She is referring to 17-year-old Daniel Odgers-Stedman from Victoria, B.C., a traffic control worker who was dancing his heart out at a construction stop on the Mackenzie Highway."

  • B.C. zoo names new grizzly cub ‘Henry’ in honour of Dr. Bonnie Henry (Aldergrove Star) B.C. STORY "Of the more than 6,600 people who voted to name the Greater Vancouver Zoo’s newest grizzly bears, just three names were chosen. The male cub – described by the zoo as a 'curious, bossy, and cheeky,' little grizzly – was given the name Henry in honour of provincial health officer Bonnie Henry."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. Calgary Chamber of Commerce CEO steps down amid pandemic challenges (Calgary Herald) CALGARY STORY "The unprecedented carnage wrought on local businesses by COVID-19 has led the Calgary Chamber of Commerce to change its leadership. The chamber, which advocates for businesses in Calgary, said the challenges posed by the pandemic has led it to 'reposition' how it operates, a move that includes CEO Sandip Lalli stepping down as CEO and president after more than two years in the position."

  2. Capital spending in Alberta's oilpatch expected to fall by 30% this year (CBC) ALBERTA STORY Ugh. "Capital spending on oil and gas extraction in Alberta is expected to fall by roughly $7 billion from last year to $16.6 billion in 2020 — a plunge of about 30 per cent, according to ATB Financial. In an analysis released Wednesday, the provincial Crown corporation said it would be the lowest spending tally since at least 2006. It said spending by the oil and gas extraction sector will be 58 per cent lower than the 10-year average."

  3. Jock Osler, journalist and former press secretary under prime minister Joe Clark, dead at 83 (CBC) CALGARY STORY RIP Mr. Osler. We will not see your like again. "Jock Osler, a former journalist, radio personality and press secretary under Prime Minister Joe Clark, has died at 83. Osler, who was a longtime member of the Calgary Eyeopener's political panel, was also the familiar voice ringing out above the Calgary Stampede's grandstand show. Osler's son John Osler said his father loved his life and the people in it."

  4. Downtown Vancouver's St. Paul's Hospital site sells for close to $1B (CBC) VANCOUVER STORY Boom. Nice asset to have had. "The private non-profit that owns the site of Vancouver's St. Paul's Hospital says it has been sold for nearly $1 billion [...]. All proceeds from the sale will go toward health care and a new hospital at the Jim Pattison Medical Centre near Trillium Park that will replace the downtown centrepiece. 'This investment represents the largest non-governmental contribution to a capital health-care project in B.C., and likely, [Canada].'"

  5. Proposed $200M private orthopedic surgical facility would be largest in Alberta's history (CBC) ALBERTA STORY "A group that includes orthopedic surgeons, a developer and high-powered lobbyists says it has gained tentative political support from Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro for a proposal to build and operate what would be the largest private, contracted surgical facility in the province's history. If approved and built, the privately financed building is expected to cost at least $200 million."

  6. The COVID-19 Crisis Presents an Opportunity for Canada’s Charitable Sector to Disrupt the Status Quo: Sector Leaders (The Philanthropist) CANADIAN STORY "As Canada’s charities continue to respond to a severe pandemic-related financial beating, they are also confronting serious questions about their business models, their lack of crisis preparation, and their need for an effective collective voice."

  7. COVID-19 lays waste to entry-level job market and young people will pay the price for years (CBC) This is more than an an emerging trend. "British fashion school graduate Phoebe St. Leger's dream of landing a job at a design label is on hold. Like many others in the global Class of 2020, the pandemic is clouding her career ambitions. The coronavirus forced the cancellation of her university graduating class's final-year fashion show, removing the chance to show her knitwear collection to people in the industry, some of whom might have liked her work enough to offer her a job."

  8. How the pandemic might play out in 2021 and beyond (Nature) Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Don't shake hands with strangers. "Early evidence suggests that personal behavioural changes, such as hand-washing and wearing masks, are persisting beyond strict lockdown, helping to stem the tide of infections. In a June report, a team at the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London found that among 53 countries beginning to open up, there hasn’t been as large a surge in infections as predicted on the basis of earlier data."

  9. NASA drops 'colonial' nicknames for distant cosmic objects (CBC) Good move NASA "A distant, exploding star and an orbiting pair of spiral galaxies will now be known by a string of numbers after NASA decided to review the use of 'insensitive' and 'actively harmful' astronomical nicknames. The planetary nebula NGC 2392, located some 5,000 light years from Earth, has been called the 'Eskimo Nebula' by scientists since it was first observed in 1787 by the astronomer William Herschel." RELATED: SFU dropping 'Clan' varsity team name, effective immediately

  10. Questions swirl about Julie Payette's future after allegations of bullying, bad behaviour and privacy demands (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "Revelations by CBC News of unusual spending by Julie Payette and allegations of a toxic work environment at Rideau Hall have raised questions about the fate of Canada's current Governor General. Asked [...] by CBC News whether her government had confidence in Payette, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland offered support for the Governor General's office and the constitutional role it plays, but pointedly did not express explicit confidence in Payette. But what is the process for a governor general to vacate — willingly or otherwise — the role due to controversy? Are there precedents? And what role could Buckingham Palace or the Queen play in such a move?" RELATED: Psychologists speaking to Rideau Hall staff following harassment claims, Trudeau government refuses to support Gov. Gen. Julie Payette while under scrutiny

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. Living with face masks: How to stow them, reuse disposables and more (CBC) CANADIAN STORY I keep mine in my pocket and I usually carry two. "Now that wearing a mask to the mall, to the hairdresser and to school will be a regular occurrence for the next two years or more, a lot of questions have arisen about how it will fit into our busy lives." RELATED: Fashionable face coverings: Albertans choosing masks to match their wardrobes*

  2. 7 Limiting Beliefs in Fundraising You Need to Remove Today So You Can Raise More (Bloomerang) What is your 'money mindset'. These limiting beliefs might be holding you back...especially #3.

  3. The No-Brainer Meals Chefs Make When They’re Too Tired to Cook (Domino) These are all great and look very yummy. Especially Shakshuka and Creamy Polenta.

  4. Soap Dodger: Meet the Doctor Who Says We Have Been Showering Wrong (The Guardian) I have been on this road for a while. While I have not fully given up soap in the shower, I have been reducing its use. Eww right? Well, maybe not. #FriendsBackingAway

  5. 536 AD — the worst year in history (Lessons from History) Two years of worldwide darkness! The time of Covid, by contrast, not so bad. "Labeling each new year as ‘the worst year in history’ has become something of a fad these days. We should look back to the year 536 A.D. and cherish how fortunate we are not to have lived in a time when the world was truly in darkness."

  6. 10 Ways to Feel More Inspired in the Next 10 Minutes (Forge) I am doing #9 right now! Just kidding...but I did make you look :-) All kidding aside, this is a terrific list of easy to do creative hacks.

  7. This Scientist Believes Aging Is Optional (Outside) A little over the top but...the keys to slowing it down appear to be getting cold, working out hard, and going hungry every once in a while. "growing old isn’t a natural part of life—it’s a disease that needs a cure."

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. New Parr Centre for Thriving at Western bolsters proactive support for student mental health (Western) LONDON STORY "A $9.2-million gift from Jeff and Shelley Parr has helped Western University launch a unique centre dedicated to providing collaborative and innovative approaches to proactive student mental health and well-being."

  2. $2.9 million in support removes financial barriers for Indigenous students (Folio) EDMONTON STORY "Carmen Poitras always knew she could make a difference as a teacher—it was getting the degree that seemed unlikely. At 39, she had three young children and two jobs in Cold Lake. She was sure she couldn’t go back to school. That is, until school came to her. A colleague suggested she apply to the University of Alberta’s Aboriginal Teacher Education Program, which allows students to earn an education degree while remaining in their communities."

  3. Special Olympics Canada receives $1M donation (Kelowna Now) CANADIAN STORY Smart gift. Thanks Sobeys! "A big-name Canadian company has made a big-time donation to Special Olympics Canada. Sobeys Inc., whose family of retail banners across the country includes Safeway, IGA, FreshCo and Thrifty Foods, has donated $1 million to assist the organization during these unprecedented times. 'We made the difficult decision to cancel our in-store fundraising campaign scheduled for this past June because of COVID-19,' explained Sandra Sanderson from Sobeys Inc. 'Instead, we’ve made a corporate donation to ensure Special Olympics’ grassroots, community-based sports programs across Canada are not impacted in such a challenging year.'"

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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