COVID-19: Coalition sounds call for mandatory masks at Vancouver’s civic facilities

By Jon Azpiri Global News
Posted October 20, 2020 5:07 pm

The push is on for Vancouver to become the next Lower Mainland city to require face masks in civic facilities.

FILE PHOTO: . Chester Ptasinski/Global News

Masks4BC — a coalition of doctors, academics and other health-care professionals — has penned a letter to city council urging them to support Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung’s motion for mandatory masks.

“We cannot afford another ‘lockdown’ which leads to devastating effects on individuals and society,” the letter reads.

“We need to act now and focus on improving our use of all basic interventions to reduce both transmission and severity of illness from COVID-19.”

Kirby-Yung’s motion calls for the mandatory use of masks in all civic facilities. Children under the age of five would be exempt, as would people with disabilities and people with underlying medical conditions that may prevent them from wearing masks.

If approved, the motion will go to the Vancouver Park Board, Vancouver Public Library Board, Vancouver Civic Theatres Board and PNE Board for their consideration and encouragement to adopt a mandatory mask policy.

The motion notes that Delta city council has adopted a mandatory mask policy. Richmond city council also recently voted in favour of mandatory masks in civic facilities. TransLink, BC Transit and BC Ferries have implemented a mask policy.

The motion will be introduced Tuesday night. Council will hear speakers and consider it on Thursday.

The issue has taken on new urgency after hundreds of anti-maskers and COVID-19 deniers held a protest in downtown Vancouver over the weekend.

Many in the crowd espoused myths that wearing a mask is harmful because it causes a person to breathe in carbon dioxide or bacteria or causes cancer.

“We need to give people the information to keep themselves and others safe, educate the public, and provide the tools for them to act based on scientific evidence,” wrote Masks4BC.

“We should not let perfection be the enemy of the good.”

What should Surrey's transportation plan include? City asks for feedback

Alyse Kotyk Reporter, CTVNewsVancouver.ca 
@AlyseKotyk Contact
Published Thursday, October 15, 2020 12:30PM PDT

VANCOUVER -- Surrey residents with ideas for how the city should shape its 10-year transportation plan are being asked for their feedback.

The city, which expects its population will increase by about 50 per cent over the next 30 years, launched an online survey earlier this week, looking for input from residents, business owners and other community stakeholders. 

"Transportation is an important issue that impacts our environment, business community and the daily lives of our residents," said Mayor Doug McCallum in a news release. 

"To develop an effective, viable plan that addresses the needs of all residents, we need to first understand what is most important to our community and how best to move forward."

The most recent data posted by the City of Surrey shows the population in 2017 reached 557,310. By 2046, estimates suggest the population could reach more than 820,000. 

Newton accounts for more than a quarter of the city's population, while the city centre core has seen the highest annual growth rate over the past 10 years.

"Surrey is one of the fastest growing major cities in Canada," McCallum said. "With your input, you can help shape this plan that will address our population growth, leverage new technology and the future of transportation networks in our city."

Some of the survey questions include how often residents used different transportation methods before the COVID-19 pandemic, and why they used those ways of getting around. The survey also asks individuals to rate how safe different transportation methods are, how connected they are and how the city's maintenance ranks. 

Those taking the survey are also asked to rate how satisfied they are with the city's transportation system overall. 

The transportation plan is expected to be developed over the next 16 months and will also include a long-range vision looking beyond 2050. Two online public houses are being held next month to provide more information. 

Three-alarm fire in Vancouver damages multiple Cambie Street businesses

By Jon Azpiri Global News
Posted October 15, 2020 8:02 am

Firefighters say a three-alarm fire damaged multiple businesses on Cambie Street on Thursday morning.

Crews are battling a large fire near Cambie St. and King Edward Ave. in Vancouver. Global News

The fire in the area of Cambie Street and King Edward Avenue started around 2 a.m., affecting the Copa Cafe and surrounding businesses.

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services Asst. Chief Dan Stroup said battling the fire has been challenging as flames made their way into an attic, jumped the firewall, and continued to spread.

“We’re trying to stop it from jumping building to building,” he said.

About 40 firefighters were on the scene Thursday morning.

There were no reports of injuries.

People who live nearby are asked to keep their windows closed.

Firefighters said they expect to be at the scene for much of the day. Commuters were asked to avoid the area as a portion of Cambie Street is closed to traffic and not expected to reopen for some time.

CBC News- How to prevent vehicle break-ins

Park in well-lit areas, avoid leaving items in the car, be extra careful in hot spots like downtown Montreal.

Montreal has its hot spots for vehicle break-ins, but they can happen anywhere, and there are clear ways to curb it, according to the experts and those who've had their cars vandalized.

Montreal has its hot spots for vehicle break-ins, but they can happen anywhere, and there are clear ways to curb it, according to the experts and those who've had their cars vandalized.

Lawyer Jean-François Raymond said he returned to his car, parked at Peel and Ste-Catherine streets in downtown Montreal a few years ago, to find the rear window smashed and what he'd left in the back seat, gone.

Raymond's advice to drivers: don't leave anything in your vehicle.

George Iny from the Automobile Protection Association agrees. He said sunglasses, a purse, electronics, or anything that looks like it's holding something valuable, such as a computer, could entice a thief.

"The core area of the city has a lot of street life, and some people who are in difficulty," Iny said. "For them, this is an opportunity to make a few bucks." 

Iny recommends people never leave the keys in the car, even for just a moment, like at a gas station.

"If someone is staking the place out, the car could disappear. That's how it happens," Iny said.

That's also one of the Canadian Automobile Association's tips for preventing car theft.

The CAA recommends having parts of the car engraved and installing a tracking system or starter kill, and to park in well lit areas.