Bi-Weekly Digest April 19th, 2021 No images? Click here A RETROSPECTIVE SPECIAL EDITION: REFLECTING ON THE PHILANTHROPIC RESPONSE OF THE COVID QUÉBEC CONSORTIUM PFC decided to mark the one-year anniversary of the COVID Québec Consortium with a special edition about this major initiative. A year ago, on April 20, 2020, a group of Québec foundations joined forces to support effective responses to the pandemic and assist communities.
Missed our past webinars? You can find them here. Here is last week's webinar and its recap. PFC Blog “Looking back: A year later, how far have we come? The COVID Québec Consortium’s philanthropic response” -- Félix-Antoine Véronneau, COVID-19 Coordinator at PFC and Katia Boudrahem, COVID-19 Project Manager at PFC PFC Blog "One Foundation's Approach to Impactful Philanthropy in the Age of COVID" -- Sylvie Trottier, Board Member, Trottier Family Foundation and member of COVID Québec Consortium "I’ve been working in the community sector in Côte-des-Neiges for 25 years, and I’ve never seen the groups work together toward a common goal like this. And to have all the institutional partners at the table with us: the borough, the CIUSSS and Université de Montréal—that’s unprecedented." -- Jean-Sébastien Patrice, Executive Director, Multicaf Community Cafeteria "The legacy, to me, is the collective strength we’ve developed by pooling our efforts. We’ve created a new kind of synergy by focusing on the big picture and the needs of the public. I hope it’s something that’s here to stay." -- Excerpt from the Rivière-des-Prairies Action Plan evaluation report "The community-based plans supported by the COVID Québec Consortium are undeniably important in the fight against the pandemic in the area, and that’s why we’re pleased to support their implementation. In the coming weeks, having volunteers on the ground to do the work of prevention as well as promote testing and vaccination efforts is going to be essential." -- Frédéric Abergel, CEO, CIUSSS of Nord-de-l’île-de-Montréal "We can already tell that the PFC community-based COVID-19 plans are making a real difference in the two neighbourhoods [of Centre-Ouest] where they’ve been implemented. Without this tool, making connections is harder." -- Francine Dupuis, Associate CEO, CIUSSS West-Central Montreal News Release on the Second Phase The COVID Québec Consortium is investing $7 million to curb COVID-19 in Greater Montréal. Through this project, multiple community groups have been mobilized in collaboration with public health bodies, municipalities and the Canadian Red Cross. Click here to learn more PhiLab Case Study of the COVID Québec Consortium This case study, conducted by PhiLab, describes the collaborative mechanisms of the four foundations that created the COVID Québec Consortium. An in-depth review of the consortium’s strategies for action identified eight findings relative to this collaboration between private philanthropic foundations. Click here to learn more Research and the Ahuntsic-Cartierville COVID-19 Crisis Unit The COVID-19 crisis unit in Ahuntsic-Cartierville collaborated with the Centre de Recherche et de Partage des Savoirs InterActions to implement their action plan. The Ahuntsic-Cartierville outreach officers benefited from coaching by the researchers to fine-tune their interactions with residents and to assess the impact of their project. Click here to watch An Example of Action Plan Activities – Vaccination The local action plans are proving vital to efforts to vaccinate people against COVID-19 in Quebec. A team in Lachine is working to give seniors rides to and from vaccination sites, helping to facilitate access to vaccines for vulnerable people and those with reduced mobility. Click here to learn more Vaccine Awareness in Saint-Michel (French Only) As part of the Saint-Michel action plan, an awareness team is working in tandem with the public health team at CSLC Saint-Michel to inform residents about pop-up vaccination clinics. With the digital divide, as well as linguistic and cultural obstacles, posing significant challenges when it comes to adherence to health measures and vaccine acceptance, these multilingual exchanges with residents are vital to establishing a climate of trust and goodwill during this key period of the vaccine rollout in Quebec. Click here to learn more Wastewater Sampling Researchers at McGill University are now analyzing sewer-water samples in key Montréal areas to detect traces of the virus before symptoms emerge and in turn predict possible outbreaks or surges in cases in the region. Click here to learn more Getting the Word Out to Multiethnic and Religious Communities in Côte-des-Neiges In Côte-des-Neiges, one of Montréal’s most diverse districts, with more than 200 places of worship, over 40 cultures represented and a population comprising more than 50% recent immigrants, adapting communications and translating health authorities’ messages during the pandemic has been essential in reaching out to the various multiethnic and religious communities. The information documents used by outreach officers have been translated into 18 languages and teams have forged ties with influential religious and community leaders in the area. Click here to learn more Pilot Project For Systematic in-Workplace Screening in Montréal-Nord Businesses (French Only) A McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) team implemented a pilot project for direct in-workplace screening of essential workers in Montréal-Nord. The systematic active testing, consisting of three sessions, helped block transmission of the virus, isolate cases detected, and keep businesses open. This strategy shows promise for curbing the spread of COVID-19 and maintaining economic activity in Quebec. Click here to learn more Open letter from the Consortium: Community Groups Are Our Most Valuable Allies (French Only) Recent evidence shows a correlation between the deprivation index and COVID-19 vaccination and infection rates. Vaccine hesitancy in Montréal’s most vulnerable communities remains an obstacle on the road to herd immunity in Quebec. For this reason, the Consortium supports a local, personalized and culturally adapted approach by community network groups that are key to vaccination efforts in Montréal neighbourhoods. Click here to learn more |