The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family well-being in Canada

May 15, 2020, 11:00 am (EDT) – Online Conference

During the COVID-19 pandemic, families in Canada have either been very close together or very far apart, sharing space or only accessible to one another using tech tools. This unique experience provides insights into family life, family dynamics, relationships, practices, patterns and overall family well-being. We are learning from this collective experience, and planning for a healthy way forward for all families in Canada.

Join us online on Friday, May 15, 2020 at 11:00 am (EDT) for the second in a series of virtual conferences hosted by the COVID-19 Social Impacts Network, focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on family well-being in Canada. Hear how families are responding to being “safe at home,” how they are impacted by the government’s response measures, and how those who serve and support families are adjusting and adapting. Get the latest data, get informed, get inspired, get connected!

Hosted by the Vanier Institute of the Family and the COVID-19 Social Impacts Network.

The Social Impacts of COVID-19 Online Conference Series is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

PROGRAM

Note: The presentations available below are the property of their authors. We encourage you to contact the concerned authors directly for permission to make use of their material. If the presentation you are looking for is missing, it is because it has not been sent to us.

United Nations International Day of Families May 15

Moderator: Tasha Kheiriddin, Media Commentator

Facilitator: Joanne Schnurr, Journalist and Communications Specialist

Welcome and Opening Remarks:

• Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General   
• The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
• Nora Spinks, CEO, The Vanier Institute of the Family

Family Connections: Laetitia Martin, Analyst, The Vanier Institute of the Family

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• Jane Badets, former Assistant Chief Statistician of Canada
• Heidi Cramm, Associate professor, Queen’s University
• Andrew Sofin, President, Canadian Association for Marriage & Family Therapy

Family Well-being: Jennifer Kaddatz, Special Advisor, The Vanier Institute of the Family

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• Lisa Wolff, Director, Policy and Education, UNICEF Canada
• Don Giesbrecht, CEO, Canadian Child Care Federation
• Joël Denis, Executive Director, Public Health Agency of Canada

Families in the Future: Ana Fostik, Family Demographer, The Vanier Institute of the Family

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• Carl Cadogan, CEO, Reception House Waterloo Region
• Senator Donna Dasko
• Jack Jedwab, President and CEO, Association for Canadian Studies

Closing Remarks: Nora Spinks, CEO, The Vanier Institute of the Family

This event is free and space is limited.

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The COVID-19 crisis has been rightly focused on medical intervention, containment, and the creation of vaccines. There are economic, social and cultural consequences arising from the virus which affect us all.

The Association for Canadian Studies, the Vanier Institute of the Family and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO established the Social Impacts Network in response to the needs for empirically based insight into key issues around COVID-19. The Network has partnered around weekly national surveys that have shown widening socio-economic differences gaps among Canadians and especially for recent immigrants.

For information regarding the network go to: https://acs-aec.ca/en/covid-19-social-impacts-network/