Vital updates:
- Niagara Regional Council will hold a special meeting today at 4:30pm to discuss a COVID update from Dr. Mustafa Hirji and to receive delegations and correspondence regarding the recent Section 22 order. The livestream can be viewed here.
- The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (Cyber Centre) has released its National Cyber Threat Assessment 2020. This public report, based on both classified and unclassified sources, identifies current trends in the cyber threat environment, the likelihood that these cyber threats will occur, and how Canadians could be affected. The second iteration of the unclassified assessment notes that the number of cyber threat actors is increasing, and they are becoming more sophisticated, that cybercrime will almost certainly continue to be the cyber threat most likely to affect Canadians, and that Ransomware attacks will almost certainly continue to target large enterprises and critical infrastructure providers. State-sponsored actors will almost certainly continue to attempt to steal Canadian intellectual property and proprietary information, especially related to COVID-19. Read the full assessment here.
- Niagara Region, the City of Niagara Falls and Niagara Regional Housing are collaborating on the development of an innovative Bridge and permanent supportive housing project in Niagara Falls. The project, located at 5017 Victoria Avenue, a former library building, will leverage a surplus building provided by the City of Niagara Falls to help address a significant unmet need in Niagara for those living in a state of chronic homelessness and who have demonstrated high significant need in the areas of mental health, addictions, and physical health. This new facility will include up to 21 beds of temporary Bridge Housing for individuals preparing for permanent housing and permanent supportive housing, as well as three beds of recuperative care.
- The Town of Grimsby has officially released their new Interactive Mapping Hub, available now on the Town’s website. Applications are now available to connect users with detailed information that can be accessed through almost any device to find property information, municipal amenities and services, and more.
Join the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, for a virtual seminar to learn about opportunities in the European market and how the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) can help you navigate the real benefits of the Canada-European Union Trade Agreement (CETA) for your business during these challenging times. Canadian export‑ready companies, especially SMEs, who are not yet exporting their products or services to the EU but are interested in doing so; or already export their products or services to the EU but are looking to expand their business with support and resources from the TCS, should consider attending. Register now to participate in this free event. When prompted, please use the following invitation code to access the registration form: CETA3RD
Reading recommendations:
- COVID-19 vaccines: How Pfizer’s and Moderna’s 95% effective mRNA shots work, Julian Daniel Sunday Willett, The Conversation
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven a massive allocation of resources towards producing solutions, from identifying life-saving medications, tracking how the virus spreads and ultimately to preventing infection with vaccines. On Nov. 9, Pfizer announced preliminary trial results showing that a vaccine it developed with BioNTech was about 90 per cent effective. That was followed up nine days later with final trial results and two months of safety data, indicating a 95 per cent effectiveness rate. This is good news, but we need to understand what it means so life can ultimately go back to normal.
- How to cut carbon out of your heating, Laura Cole, BBC Future
The energy used to heat the spaces we live and work in is one of the highest contributors to our individual carbon footprints. Globally, heat accounts for nearly half of all energy consumption and 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions. Of course, exactly how much of your own emissions come from heating your home will depend on where you live. In cooler and temperate climates, that tends to be a far bigger proportion. There are plenty of less carbon intensive alternatives for householders to switch to, such as using electric heating, heat pumps, or even district heat networks, where a central source is used to heat water, which is then shared among nearby houses through networks of pipes.
Niagara Economic Summit Series 2020
Where are we now, how did we get here, and where do we go? This year’s summit, taking place between November 10 and November 24, brings experts and leaders together from across the country to identify where we are economically, what our future opportunities are, and how we can seize them. Find out more and get a calendar save-the-date here.
If you are showing symptoms, contact your health care provider, call the Public Health Info-Line at 905-688-8248, or chat to Public Health online. For testing, call 905-378-4647 ext. 42819 (4-CV19) for information on test centres in Niagara and to book an appointment.
Previous updates can be accessed here.
The GNCC is here to support you. Contact us with any questions you have.
