Author Archives: cgagnon

Reminder District of Kitimat Student Free Fares Pilot Program – Extension to August 31, 2021

As we welcome the end of the 2020-2021 school year, we wish to remind Kitimat parents and caregivers of the extension announced by the District of Kitimat regarding the Student Free Fares Pilot Program through to August 31, 2021.

In September 2020, the District of Kitimat sponsored the implementation of free fares for Kindergarten to Grade 12 students within the Kitimat Transit System as part of a one-year pilot project.  The District of Kitimat recently announced the extension of the one-year pilot project to August 31, 2021 allowing all Kitimat students to continue to enjoy the “complimentary student fare” over the summer months as follows:

  • Students 14+ are required to show their student ID with the K-6 U-Pass sticker when boarding the bus to ride for free.
  • Students who do not currently possess a sticker are asked to contact their School Principal no later than June 30, 2021 to arrange an appointment to receive a sticker.
  • Students, 14 and under, are not required to show a student ID.

Questions regarding the program can be directed to the District of Kitimat’s Director of Corporate Administration, Ethan Anderson at (250) 632-8900.  For information on Kitimat Transit bus schedules and routes, please visit:

https://bctransit.com/kitimat

Please be advised that BC Transit continues to follow the guidance of the PHO and WorkSafeBC, and face coverings are currently mandatory on all buses and at bus stops.

Wishing you a happy, fun and safe summer with your families and friends!

Tips and Resources for Talking to your Kids or Students about COVID-19


During this time, it is understandable for children to have questions or express concern about the COVID-19 virus.  As parents, teachers or caregivers, it is important to stay informed and communicate in age-appropriate ways that address children’s questions and helps them take steps to keep themselves and others healthy.

Here are some tips and resources to help:

  • Don’t be afraid to talk about it: Convey the facts and set an emotionally reassuring tone.
  • Be age-appropriate: Teens can process and handle a higher level of detail than five year olds. Focus on answering your child/student’s questions. Do your best to answer honestly and clearly; it’s okay if you can’t answer everything.
  • Follow their lead: Invite your child or student to ask questions and share their perspective: Invite them to tell you anything they may have heard about the coronavirus and express how they feel.
  • Check yourself: Feeling anxious?  Take some time to calm down before trying to have a conversation or answer your child’s questions.
  • Focus on actions you can take: Emphasize safety precautions everyone can take to help keep themselves and others healthy: good hand hygiene, cough and sneeze etiquette, social distancing and staying home if you aren’t feeling well.
  • Stick to routine: Structured days with regular mealtimes and bedtimes are an essential part of keeping kids happy and healthy.
  • Keep talking: Tell kids/students you will keep them updated as you learn more.  Let them know the lines of communication are going to be open and as you learn more, you will share the information with them, too.

Resources:

BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool

 

The provincial government has released a self-assessment tool (click on link to open) that can be accessed by the public amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The free, online tool, was made available on Monday, March 16 and tells users if they, or someone they know, requires further testing.

This self-assessment tool, developed with the BC Ministry of Health, will help determine whether you may need further assessment or testing for COVID-19.  You can complete this assessment for yourself, or on behalf of someone else, if they are unable to.

Who should be tested for COVID-19?

People with respiratory symptoms who are:

  • Hospitalized, or likely to be hospitalized
  • Health Care Workers
  • Residents of long term care facilities
  • Part of an investigation of a cluster or outbreak

Who does not need to be tested for COVID-19?

  • People without symptoms
  • Patients with mild respiratory symptoms who can be managed at home, including returning travellers with an onset of illness within 14 days of return to Canada

The BC Ministry of Health strongly urges anyone who has symptoms – including a fever, cough, sneezing, sore throat, or difficulty breathing – to self-isolate for 14 days.  To protect yourself while out in public, wash your hands frequently and maintain a distance of about 2 metres from others. For more information on COVID-19, refer to HealthLink BC’s COVID-19 website.  Last updated: 3/16/2020 11:00 pm PDT

The province has created a phone service to provide non-medical information about COVID-19, including the latest information on travel recommendations and social distancing. Information is available in more than 110 languages, 7:30 am – 8 pm at 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) or via text message at 604-630-0300.