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With wildfires in the news across the country, you’ve likely seen headlines about evacuations and states of emergency in Alberta and Nova Scotia. However, one demographic that tends to be overlooked when attention is turned to disasters is people experiencing homelessness.
Today in The Conversation Canada, Holly Mathias of University of Alberta and Ashleigh Rushton of University of the Fraser Valley discuss how profoundly disasters and emergencies like wildfires affect the the health and well-being of the unhoused, and the urgent need to consider vulnerable populations in disaster planning and response:
“Enclosed shelter is paramount in reducing exposure to wildfire smoke. Yet, what happens to the nearly 35,000 unhoused Canadians on any given night who cannot easily evacuate or shelter indoors?”
Also today:
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Thick plumes of heavy smoke fill the Halifax sky as an out-of-control fire in a suburban community quickly spreads, engulfing multiple homes and forcing the evacuation of local residents on May 28, 2023.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Kelly Clark
Holly Mathias, University of Alberta; Ashleigh Rushton, University of The Fraser Valley
There is an alarming lack of disaster preparedness plans in Canada that consider the unique risks and needs of unhoused people during wildfires.
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Prime Minster Justin Trudeau helps prepare a food box at a food bank in Mississauga, Ont., in November 2022. Food charity is not the solution to ending food insecurity in Canada.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tijana Martin
Valerie Tarasuk, University of Toronto; Tim Li, University of Toronto
Canada’s National Food Policy is slated for renewal later this year. Employment and Social Development Canada must be involved to develop income supports that reduce food insecurity.
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Protestors march near the India Gate monument in New Delhi on May 23, demanding the resignation and arrest of the president of the wrestling federation for allegedly sexually harassing young athletes.
(AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Ashique Ali Thuppilikkat, University of Toronto
Digitally altered images and other online propaganda are being used to silence marginalized voices and stifle protest movements.
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Tactile experiences combined with purposeful talking with children about new real-world exploration helps children learn new words.
(Shutterstock)
Hetty Roessingh, University of Calgary
Having a vast and deep vocabulary affords precision and nuance in making meaning of the world, and this is key to children becoming proficient readers.
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Classe d'anglais langue seconde à de nouveaux arrivants. La manière d'enseigner les langues devrait sortir des règles et de la grammaire et s'inspirer de la linguistique.
(Shutterstock)
Dalla Malé Fofana, Bishop's University
L’enseignement des langues secondes met l’accent sur les règles de grammaire et les normes. Le recours à la linguistique pourrait permettre de faire de la langue maternelle de l’apprenant un atout.
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Arts
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Kay Kaufman Shelemay, Harvard University
Musicians established themselves in the U.S., where they continued to practice their cultural life, which flourished.
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Politics
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Tao Zhang, Nottingham Trent University
Freedom of speech and expression has been destroyed, despite Beijing’s promises they would be upheld.
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Science + Tech
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Helen Brand, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation; Natasha Stephen, Imperial College London
If we could go sightseeing across our cosmic neighbourhood, these would be some of the best highlights.
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