Working Together to Combat Covid-19
Personal protective equipment (such as masks, isolation suits, gloves, face shields, goggles, etc.), ventilators, medical supplies are in shortage. Our federal and provincial governments, the private sectors and organizations/individuals have been working together to help secure these much needed supplies to protect our healthcare workers and to ensure that our healthcare system is better prepared to handle the surges in the number of patients who will require medical care in the coming weeks and months during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Certificate Received from Queensway Carleton Hospital
The Canada-China Friendship Society is humbled to have received a Certificate from the Queensway-Carleton Hospital recognizing our commitment and hard work for providing generous support to their patients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We’d also like to extend our utmost respect and gratefulness to our frontline healthcare providers who work tirelessly to keep us safe. Many thanks to our essential workers and everyone who has extended a helping hand to our community and country. Special thanks to all our friends and friendship organizations in China, the municipal government of Anqing and Huawei Canada for their full support and generous donations in helping Canadians combat COVID-19. It is a blessing to have witnessed humanity coming together in times of need.
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(Fundraising Campaign Period: 3/31/2020 to 4/21/2020)
The Canada-China Friendship Society (CCFS) in Ottawa has joint force with several other local organizations in support of a fundraising campaign initiated by the Ottawa Association of Chinese-Canadian University Alumni (OACCUA) to help Ottawa healthcare workers. The fundraising campaign aims to raise 60,000 Canadian dollars to help purchase ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE) for our healthcare workers. All proceeds will go towards the Ottawa Hospital Foundation (OHF), whose professional staff will handle the procurement. The OHF has been supporting the Ottawa Hospital, including the General, Civic, Riverside campuses, and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. They have established the “In Support of Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund” to help combat the outbreak.
You are encouraged to visit and/or donate through the designated webpage for this fundraising initiative: https://my.crowdchange.co/9q7jre
The OHF will provide tax receipts for donations of $15 and over. The call for donation is planned for March 31 to April 21, 2020. The OACCUA will be providing timely updates. For more information, please visit the OACCUA and/or contact donate.ottawa.hospital@gmail.com
(Published 4/26/2020)
The initial target of this TOHF Fundraising Campaign is to raise $60,000.00, which is subsequently increased to $120,000.00 after a few days into the campaign when the initial target is met. We are very pleased to announce that as of April 24, 2020, a total of $122,612.00 has been raised. We would like to thank all the donors for their generous contributions. Here’s an update on the fundraising campaign as of April 22, 2020 in Chinese.
In addition to the direct individual donations from our CCFS members to the TOHF COVID-19 Emergency Response Fundraising Campaign mentioned above, we have also donated $1,407.06 in the name of CCFS as an organization to said fundraising campaign. The $1,407.06 is the unused fund that we raised in February 2020 as reported in our Update on Fundraising Campaign for Medical Supplies #3 dated March 8, 2020. We have re-purposed that remaining fund to help Ottawa combat COVID-19. This decision was made upon the recommendation of the CCFS Executive Team and the support of our CCFS February 2020 Fundraising Campaign donors, when the COVID-19 situation in China has greatly improved and has come under control and when the outbreak becomes more severe here in Canada.
We are very happy to learn that some of our CCFS members have also made donations to other organizations such as the Ottawa Food Bank and the Queensway-Carleton Hospital Foundation to help provide to our community and to help our healthcare workers during the pandemic.
(Published 5/14/2020)
As stated in our past updates, CCFS has joined forces with several other local organizations in organizing a COVID-19 Emergency Response Fundraising Campaign for TOHF to purchase ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE) for our healthcare workers. We have now concluded the fundraising campaign and has successfully raised $123,102.00, surpassing our original targets. We would like to thank all the donors for their generous contributions. Indeed, as people stand in unity, great things can be achieved!
We have received inquiries from foreign companies/individuals indicating that they would like to supply emergency products to support Canada combat COVID-19. If you also receive similar kind of inquiries, please refer them to the official channels by visiting:
- the Canadian Government website for suppliers of products and services to help combat COVID-19
- the Ontario Government website for suppliers of emergency products to help fight COVID-19
- Ontario Government website to solicit help from suppliers of emergency products and innovative solutions to combat COVID-19
Support Received to Help Ottawa Combat COVID-19
In this challenging time, CCFS is very grateful to have received donations and encouraging words from our friends in China, to help Canada combat the COVID-19 outbreak. The mutual support that CCFS members and our friends in Canada and China have generously shared truly showcases the sincere friendship and genuine care that transcend borders. CCFS would like to extend our deepest appreciation to our friends in China for their care and support.
We’d also like to extend our utmost respect and gratefulness to our frontline healthcare providers who work tirelessly to keep us safe. Many thanks to our essential workers and everyone who has extended a helping hand to our community and country.
(Published: 3/24/2020)
Upon learning about the outbreak in Ottawa, the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (SPAFFC) has offered to donate surgical masks to the CCFS. In consideration of the urgency and importance of protecting our local frontline medical staff and healthcare workers, we have requested the SPAFFC to donate the masks to the Somerset West Community Health Centre. On March 23, 2020, 500 surgical masks have been shipped from Shanghai to the Somerset West Community Health Centre.
(Published: 5/14/2020)
Following our update that was published on March 24, 2020, about the generous donation of 500 surgical masks from the Shanghai People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (SPAFFC) to CCFS, we are pleased to inform you that the Somerset West Community Health Centre has received all these 500 surgical masks on April 24, 2020. Andrea Collier, Manager Primary Health Care of the said community health centre sent us a note of appreciation on April 27th. Some photos, including a kind note of support from our SPAFFC friends, can be accessed here. Many thanks again to our friends from SPAFFC for their timely help! It is very much appreciated!
(Published: 3/24/2020)
The CCFS is grateful to have received a letter from President Li Xiaolin of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). On behalf of the association, President Li expresses their will to work with all Canadian friends during this difficult time to defeat the COVID-19 as soon as possible. We have provided a copy of the English version and the Chinese version of the letter for your reference.
(Published: 3/24/2020)
In February 2020, CCFS members and supporters helped raise funds and donated much needed protective equipment for frontline healthcare workers in China. We are glad to hear from our beneficiaries, the Bethune International Peace Hospital, and the Anqing Municipal Government, who have expressed their support. Director Su Changbin of the Foreign Affairs Office of Anqing Municipal Government sent us a letter extending their support and offering their helping hand. You are welcome to read a copy of the letter here.
(Published: 3/30/2020)
The Chinese central government called on all local governments in China to help other countries combat COVID-19. The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) also sent an official notice to all cities in China to help their sister cities in Canada during this challenging time. The City of Anqing does not have a sister city in Canada; however, they deeply appreciate the friendship and full support that CCFS members and friends have extended to the Chinese hospitals during their COVID-19 outbreak through our CCFS fundraising campaign in February 2020 that helped secure medical supplies for the frontline healthcare workers and medical staff in China. We are very grateful and happy to inform you that the Anqing Municipal Government has informed us that they will donate 10,000 units of disposable medical masks to CCFS to help Ottawa combat COVID-19.
In consideration of the important and urgent need to protect our healthcare workers and medical staff, CCFS has requested the Anqing Municipal Government to ship 4,000 masks directly to the Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH) in Ottawa. This decision is made after our consultation with the Director of Support Services and Procurement at the QCH. The other 6,000 masks will be shipped directly to CCFS. Arrangement has been finalized this evening to donate these 6,000 masks to The Ottawa Hospital (TOH). All 10,000 masks have been shipped from China to Ottawa via DHL. We have provided here some photos of the masks donated by the Anqing Municipal Government. On each case of these donated masks is the following message:
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DISTANCE CANNOT SEPARATE BOSSOM FRIENDS WHO FEEL SO CLOSE EVEN WHEN THEY ARE THOUSANDS OF MILES APART FROM ANQING MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT |
Indeed, friendship and genuine care transcend borders! Their timely help in providing these masks is very much appreciated. These masks are urgently needed to protect our front line medical staff and healthcare workers. Thank you!!
(Published: 7/3/2020)
Following our update
that was published on March 24, 2020 about the generous donation
of 10,000 surgical masks from the Anqing Municipal Government to
CCFS, we are very pleased to inform you that the shipment has arrived and is
well received on June 1, 2020. From this shipment of 10,000 surgical
masks, CCFS has donated 6,000 surgical masks to The Ottawa
Hospital (TOH) and the remaining 4,000 to the Queensway-Carleton
Hospital (QCH). Many thanks again to our friends in Anqing for
their generosity in helping us fight COVID-19! It is very much appreciated!
Both QCH and TOH
has expressed their gratitude and deep appreciation for the consistent full
support of CCFS and our generous donations of PPE throughout this challenging
time. Some photos of the QCH and TOH staff receiving this particular
donation can be found here.
We were also
informed by the Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation on July 2, 2020
that they would like to include “Canada-China Friendship Society” on
their temporary Wall of Gratitude. This Wall of Gratitude
is set up at the QCH to recognize the wonderful support that they have received
from the community. That is a place where the QCH staff can go during
their shift and see all the various ways that community groups, companies and
individuals have come together to show love and support for its staff.
The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly presents an unprecedented
challenge; however, it’s a blessing to see people coming together to help and
support one another. Once again, we’d like to take this opportunity to
thank our frontline healthcare providers, essential workers, and everyone who
has extended a helping hand to our community and country.
(Published: 3/30/2020)
We are very grateful to the family of James Lu for donating 2,000 single-use disposable medical masks. We have requested that these masks be shipped directly from China to the Queensway-Carleton Hospital (QCH). We have provided here some photos of these masks.
James Lu is our former CCFS treasurer and is also a member of our CCFS fundraising task force to help the Chinese hospitals combat COVID-19.
(Published: 3/30/2020)
We would also like to share with you the great news that the Bank of China has donated 7.5 tons of PPE to Canadian hospitals through the Bethune Medical Development Association of Canada. Over 500 cases of PPE including 30,000 medical masks, 10,000 sets of isolation suits, 10,000 units of protective goggles, and 50,000 pairs of gloves have arrived in Toronto in the afternoon of March 27, 2020. The next batch of PPE donation will also include 30,000 units of NPE masks. Beneficiaries of these donations are the Michael Garron Hospital, St. Michael’s Hospital and the Toronto Western Hospital. These PPE will help our frontline healthcare workers combat COVID-19. Please feel free to read about the news here in Chinese.
(Published April 1, 2020)
The Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (BPAFFC) sent their sympathies and support to all Canadians. On behalf of the BPAFFC, Executive Vice President Zhang Qian also thanked the CCFS and friends for our efforts in fundraising and donating masks and goggles to Chinese medical staff during the COVID-19 outbreak. CCFS is thankful for the firm support and best wishes that the BPAFFC has expressed. We have provided their letter here.
(published April 1, 2020)
Bethune International Peace Hospital sent heartfelt concerns to all Canadians through the CCFS. They expressed their gratitude to the CCFS and Canadian friends for giving a helping hand during the most challenging time of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, as well as their willingness to work with us to defeat the pandemic. We deeply appreciate their care and full support, and are glad to hear about the improvement and control of the outbreak in China. We have provided the letter in Chinese here.
(Published: 4/26/2020)
Following our update on March 24, 2020, about the letter of support that the FCCFA received from President Li Xiaolin of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), we are very grateful and happy to inform you that our friends from CPAFFC informed the FCCFA President Amelia Choi (who is also our CCFS President) that they have raised some funds and would like to donate 1,000 medical surgical masks to the FCCFA friends and to fight COVID-19 together with us. CCFS is a member chapter of the FCCFA. The presidents of all the FCCFA member chapters fully supported Amelia’s proposal to donate these 1,000 medical surgical masks to the Entrepôt Central du Centre Intégré de Santé et des Services Sociaux de l’Outaouais which is responsible for the allocation and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) to all the hospitals in the Outaouais region in the Province of Quebec.
(Published: 5/14/2020)
Following our update that was published on April 26, 2020, about the generous donation of 1,000 surgical masks from the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) to the Federation of Canada-China Friendship Associations (FCFFA), we have requested our CPAFFC friends to send us a photo which can be accessed here. These masks will be donated and shipped directly to the Entrepôt Central du Centre Intégré de Santé et des Services Sociaux de l’Outaouais (CISSSO) which is responsible for the allocation and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) to all the hospitals in the Outaouais region in the Province of Quebec. Many thanks again to our friends from CPAFFC! It is very much appreciated!
(Published: 5/14/2020)
We would like to share with you the great news that the Chinese government has donated 32 tons of medical supplies consisting of medical disposable protective clothing, medical protective goggles, N95 masks, surgical masks, disposable sterilized surgical gloves, disposable face shields and isolation gowns to Canada. These personal protective equipment (PPE) arrived at the Hamilton International Airport via Cargojet on May 11, 2020. We are grateful for this generous and kind donation that will definitely better protect our frontline healthcare workers who have been working tirelessly to keep our people safe. We would also like to share with you the encouraging words of support from His Excellency Cong Peiwu, Chinese Ambassador to Canada, which can be accessed here. Indeed, Canada and China have a long tradition of friendship and mutual support.
(Published: 5/14/2020)
We are very pleased to share with you a recent Globe and Mail news article about Canadian and Chinese researchers collaborating to develop a vaccine against COVID-19.
(Published: 5/14/2020)
In February 2020, CCFS members and supporters helped raise funds and donated personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline healthcare workers in China during their COVID-19 outbreak. We are very thankful to have received a letter of support from President Yuan Yonglin of the China Bethune Spirit Research Association, a copy of which can be accessed here in English, and here in Chinese.
Call for Donations
Help Chinese Hospitals in Combatting COVID-19
(This Fundraising Campaign Has Ended. Thank You for Your Support.)
February 3, 2020
Dear CCFS members and supporters,
Out of humanitarian consideration and in response to requests for help, CCFS is calling for donations to help Chinese hospitals in combatting the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.
As the outbreak continues to escalate, many Chinese hospitals are running out of medical supplies, and are appealing to public assistance. These medical supplies, including but not limited to surgical masks, protective gowns, and goggles, are critical to protecting the frontline medical staff.
In declaring this outbreak as public health emergency of international concern, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for international coordination and cooperation. In this context and in alignment to our pursuit of active and lasting friendship between the Canadian and Chinese people, the Executive Team at CCFS has decided to mobilize donations and our resources to help.
All proceeds will go towards purchasing and delivering medical supplies that are in urgent need as listed by the hospitals. Our contact, the Bethune International Peace Hospital (白求恩国际和平医院) in China will help deploy the supplies. We will provide updates on the donations via https://ccfso.org/
If you would like to donate, please consider the following options:
1. By cheque:
Please address your cheque and send by mail to
Canada-China Friendship Society
P.O. Box 8461, Post Office Terminal,
Ottawa, Ontario K1G 3H9
Please kindly indicate “Donation – Coronavirus” on your cheque.
2. By e-transfer:
Please email Finance.CCFSO@gmail.com the online transfer details.
Please kindly indicate “Donation – Coronavirus” in your email title.
3. Via GoFundMe Webpage
Please visit this webpage to donate:
Please note that GoFundMe will charge transaction fees for the donation. CCFS does not retain any of these fees.
Please kindly note that since CCFS is not a registered charity organization, we are not able to issue tax receipts.
We sincerely thank you for your consideration and support. Should you have any concern or inquiry, please feel free to contact us at Contact.CCFSO@gmail.com.
Best regards, Executive Team, Canada-China Friendship Society (CCFS)
References:
“Chinese hospitals seek donations of masks and gowns to cope with coronavirus outbreak,” South China
Morning Post, January 27, 2020:
“Statement on the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV),” World Health Organization, January 30, 2020: https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/30-01-2020-statement-on-the-second-meeting-of-the-international-health-regulations-(2005)-emergency-committee-regarding-the-outbreak-of-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)
TIFF has announced its 2020 line up for online screenings. Only 50 feature length films will screened of which 2 are by Chinese filmmakers about China, plus there is one short film by Chinese Canadian Director Tiffany Hsaiung.
A full list of the films can be found here tiff.net. Digital film screenings for the public will be available in Canada only.
Advance tickets for digital screenings will be available online at digital.tiff.net between August 28 and September 5. However advanced ticket sales to the general public will be available only on September 5 and 6, 2020. The cost for the general public to watch the Chinese films online is $19.00 each.
It appears that during the Festival (September 10–19) tickets for digital screenings may be purchased directly on Bell Digital Cinema. For more information see https://www.tiff.net/tiff-20-faq