From the Snowbirds crash in Kamloops, to Ontario schools remaining closed this summer, here is what we saw in the news this week.
Snowbirds crash in Kamloops, B.C.
On May 17, a Canadian Armed Forces Snowbirds jet crashed shortly after take off in Kamloops, B.C.
Operation Inspiration was a special Snowbird show to show support for those working on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic, CBC News reports.
Snowbirds have used Tutor jets for their air demonstrations since 1971. CTV reports that the federal government has a plan to replace the 50 year old jets between 2026 and 2035, with upgrades set to begin in 2022.
Public affairs officer Capt. Jennifer Casey lost her life in the crash, and pilot Capt. Richard MacDougall is reported to be seriously injured.
The Operation also saw the Snowbirds fly over parts of Guelph, Wellington County, and Waterloo region on May 10.
Ontario schools to stay closed this summer
Schools and educational programs will not be reopening due to the ongoing risk of COVID-19, Premier Doug Ford announced on Tuesday.
“The safety of our children is my top priority,” Ford said during the announcement, “We cannot open schools at this time. I’m just not going to risk it.”
Overnight summer camps will also be closed, however, summer day camps may be allowed to open under strict health and safety guidelines.
This announcement follows Ontario’s Stage 1 plan for reopening the province which began this past Tuesday. It includes the reopening of street-facing retail stores as well as seasonal shops and construction projects.
Ford also stated that he is prepared to roll back the reopening plan if there is an increase in cases.
To help alleviate the stresses of schools remaining closed the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) is collaborating with bus companies to deliver printed learning materials to students without reliable internet access, Guelph Today reports.
Currently, 200 students from the UGDSB are utilizing the program, with half of them coming from elementary schools and the other half coming from high schools.
World Bee Day brings awareness to importance of bees
May 20 was World Bee Day, a day designated by the United Nations (UN) in order to bring attention to the declining bee population, as well as raise awareness of the importance of bees.
In an interview with Global News, Ontario beekeeper Andre Flys explained that much of the food we eat, such as nuts and berries, are available to us because of bees.
“Our shelves and our grocery stores would be a very different place without pollinators out there,” Flys said.
The UN fears that the lack of an appropriate habitat for bees could lead to a steady decline in the honey bee population.
There are also new concerns that come along with the COVID-19 pandemic, which the UN reports “has had an undeniable impact on the beekeeping sector affecting the production, the market and as a consequence, the livelihoods of beekeepers.”
Initiatives like World Bee Day continue the conversation on the issues at hand, Flys believes, as well as bring attention to the important work done by beekeepers worldwide.
U of G project to study challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities
A new federally funded $2.5-million research project has begun at the University of Guelph, according to a U of G news release. The project intends to highlight the challenges facing women and girls with disabilities.
The project, titled the Engendering Disability-Inclusive Development, is studying issues that women and girls, specifically those with disabilities, face daily. The initial focus of the study will look at the effects the current pandemic has on this particular demographic.
“With COVID-19, women with disabilities may also have to juggle having personal support workers come into their homes, cancelled programs that normally provide support or services, as well as increased anxiety and uncertainty about how they can manage during the crisis,” said U of G political scientist Deborah Stienstra, who is set to lead the seven-year long project.
The project will include researchers from Canada, Haiti, South Africa, and Vietnam with the aim to break down barriers surrounding what the United Nations considers to be one of the largest minorities in the world.
Stienstra will receive funding for the project under a Partnership Grant, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council announced.
Highway 401 to be expanded in Cambridge
The Ontario government has announced an expansion to Highway 401 in the Cambridge area, increasing the number of lanes from six to 10 later this year.
The expansion hopes to expedite the flow of traffic and alleviate congestion experienced in the area.
“Highway 401 is a lifeline for travel and the movement of goods throughout our province and that’s why we are making historic investments to expand and modernize it,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “Together with our federal partners, we are investing in these critical infrastructure projects to drive economic growth and create jobs during these extremely difficult times.”
The expansion is occurring from Hespeler Road to Townline Road.
“Everyone in the Region of Waterloo knows how important the 401 is to our communities,” said Amy Fee, MPP for Kitchener South-Hespeler. “This investment will reduce travel times and help keep goods moving through this critical trade link and improve the quality of life in our growing region.”
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