The world of classes and other public gatherings is going even more virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor George Harvie said the plan for now is to continue to hold next Monday’s regular Delta council meeting as scheduled and the public should be able to view online through the city’s website.
It’s a web feature that’s been around for a few years, but Harvie noted he’s hoping all the other councillors will participate in the meeting via teleconference.
“Our procedures bylaw does allow for teleconferencing. In our local state of emergency I will be prepared to make adjustments in order that we are doing our proper work. We’re trying to keep myself and members of council away from the general population but we need to ensure that we’re available and the city’s business can run. So, we’re doing everything possible to keep council involved,” he said.
Harvie and top municipal officials last week already held their first virtual town hall to update the public on the city's response to coronavirus.
While a public hearing scheduled for this week was cancelled, Mayor George Harvie says council will conduct its regular public meetings online and take part in other business via teleconference
Meanwhile, some local churches, such as All Saints Anglican Church and Pneuma Church, have already begun making the switch to offer virtual services.
Ladner United Church encouraged members of its congregation to watch the livestream of Highlands United Church from North Vancouver, while the church also developed a phone tree to reach out to every person in the congregation to ensure they stay connected to the community.
Pastor Danny Stebeck at Lighthouse Church in Ladner told the Optimist that his church started virtual-only services the previous Sunday, streaming on the church’s YouTube channel.
He said some tuned in while still in their PJs, where others got dressed up and acted like they were still going to church.
Some fitness class, including PJ Wren, meanwhile, are running classes online to help people stay at home, while other Lower Mainland businesses that offer classes, such skating and martial arts programs, started going online as well.
When it comes to special events, we may see more of those going virtual in the coming weeks as well, such as the Alzheimer Society of B.C. which plans to change the annual IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer's to a virtual event on May 3rd.
As far as what’s happening in the local real estate industry, the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver recommended its members not hold open houses, but some realtors are still are holding “virtual open houses.”
Blake Chancey with the Chanceys Real Estate Group told the Optimist virtual open houses is a feature his firm has already been doing for a while now, however, he’s not certain whether going into people’s homes at all is appropriate during this time.
“It’s a really tricky, uncertain time. If I had a client with a listing coming up, I’d advise them not to put it on the market right now. There’s just so many people that are holding back,” he said.
As far as the extended break for B.C. students, it’s not clear when teachers will be able to talk to their classrooms online yet for virtual classes as that’s still being worked out.
When he announced the closure of schools, Education Minister Rob Fleming said the province may transition to online teaching and is currently working with online learning providers
A joint letter from Fleming and B.C. Teachers Federation president Terri Mooring notes, “Teachers are going to play a critical role to support students during this extraordinary time. As a society, we need to find ways to create a sense of normalcy, routine, and learning for children and youth. We don’t fully know what that’s going to look like, but the goal is to keep teachers working and keep students engaged.”
