Sonya Grypma is leading the fight against COVID-19 at Trinity Western University. Photo: TWU
Sonya Grypma is president of the Canadian Association for Schools of Nursing (CASN). She is also Vice Provost, Leadership & Graduate Studies and Dean of GLOBAL at Trinity Western University – and responsible for overseeing the university’s response to the pandemic.
A November 16 article on the Canadian Nurse site considered how her experience as a nurse, an academic and administrator have led to her role: “Sonya Grypma takes on ‘awesome responsibility’ of university’s COVID-19 response – Trinity Western’s ‘compassionate problem-solvers’ find solutions.”
Winnie Lui wrote:
“Ever since COVID-19 hit our radar at Trinity Western University (TWU) in January 2020, nurses have been at the centre of our university’s response,” says Sonya Grypma, RN, PhD.
“We were the ones getting in front of staff and students for education and updates, puzzling through risk assessments and responses to individual concerns behind the scenes, serving key roles on response teams and opening task forces.”
Lui described Grypma’s early experiences as a nurse in an Indigenous community, and some of the leadership lessons she has learned from her family (“Grypma’s grandparents are honoured in the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem as Righteous Gentiles for their wartime resistance work”) and at TWU.
Grypma also draws on her academic expertise:
As a historian of nursing, Grypma is fascinated by the disconnect between the early public image of nursing and nursing practice as it has played out in reality.
“The nurses in China whose lives I’ve studied and written about for 20 years were no wilting violets,” says Grypma. “Indeed, researching my most recent book, The Rockefeller Effect, introduced me to nursing leaders who were demure and feisty in equal measure.”
“When it came to protecting patients or nursing students, they could, and literally did, stare down the enemy,” she says, referencing one example of Vera Nieh (Nie Yuchan), dean of nursing at Rockefeller-funded Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, who, in 1941, convinced Japanese soldiers who were raiding her campus to wait quietly in the hallway for two hours while her nursing students completed their national exams for professional qualification.
Go here for the full article.
Catholic Shelter on the move
It looks as though the Catholic Charities Men’s Shelter will be moving about 15 blocks, from one historic location to another in the downtown core.
Here is part of a recent article by Agnieszka Ruck on The B.C. Catholic site:
The red brick, former warehouse at Robson and Cambie that has provided homeless and transient men with overnight shelter for more than 60 years may be in its final weeks of service.
The Catholic Charities Men’s Shelter, in the century-old building that once housed the downtown offices of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, is hopeful the way could be cleared for a move next month to St. Paul’s Hospital’s former nurses’ residence at 1056 Comox Street. . . .
Guests will move from as many as 24 men sleeping in one room to a maximum of four. At the new site they will also have access to three lounge areas (up from one) and 12 showers (up from four). Staff also have their own lounge and more spacious areas to meet, work, and plan. . . .
The archdiocese, Providence Health Care, and City of Vancouver officials are hopeful that if everything falls into place, the shelter will relocate in December to the second and third floors of the Comox Building.
The shelter has been looking for a new home since the Robson Street warehouse, purchased by the archdiocese in 1957, was sold to Amacon Development in 2012.
Go here for the full article.
Dr. Henry’s new orders
Dr. Bonnie Henry and Adrian Dix will make announcements particularly relevant to faith communities November 19.
As I was about to send out my weekly update I received notice that Dr. Bonnie Henry met with faith leaders earlier today (November 18) and will be making an announcement which will affect churches and other faith groups Thursday at 3 pm.
Trevor Vanderveen, pastor of First Christian Reformed Church in Vancouver, was good enough to allow me to post his notes from the meeting:
Faith leaders just got off the phone meeting with Dr. Henry, Premier Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix. Up to this point, Dr. Henry has been reluctant to actually give very many orders but that is changing in the face of this COVID spike.
They will announce tomorrow that in-person gatherings will be cancelled effective tomorrow night for at least two incubation cycles (28 days) in order to get a handle on the transmission.
This includes indoor worship service gatherings. These restrictions will likely be in effect until at least December 17. This isn’t a full building shutdown, but worship services will need to move online.
Dr. Henry added the following clarifications:
- The end goal is next spring. The vaccine developments are promising, but we need to buckle down now.
- Staff should be working from home when possible:
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- It is important to maintain care and, provided adequate protocols are in place, individuals will be able to meet one on one in the church building.
- Any work that supports those with food insecurity and other essential needs can continue, provided the protocols are in place. No in-building meals are to be provided.
- Any in-building work that helps support people in their homes is important, but the items must be safely prepared, and those preparing should not treat their work as a social gathering.
- Buildings may still be used to prepare online worship services (i.e. recordings) but not more than 10 people.
- Weddings and funerals can still take place but, if indoors, with a limit of 10 people, including the pastor. Baptisms should only occur with the immediate family present.
- Where possible, outdoor gatherings are much safer than indoor, and therefore a lower risk while inside gatherings are on hold.
- In-person 12-step meetings are essential, as essential as doctors visits. These should continue in a safe manner.
- Dr. Henry determined that leaders need to discern what is essential for the vulnerable and what is non-essential.
Dr. Henry was a bit vague on some details, so we recommend that people listen to the update Thursday and look for the written orders that will be released afterwards.
May God give us all wisdom and creativity in ministry and fellowship as we move into this Christmas season.
Vanderveen made a couple of further comments about his notes:
- The order is anticipated to go out Thursday afternoon, and Minister Adrian Dix said there would hopefully be some supplementary material for places of worship.
- Pastor Al Chu (The Tapestry) and Kathy Smith (Stated Clerk of BC Northwest CRC congregations) were both on the call as well, and each offered edits to what I wrote.
- Because this is only a summary through the lens of faith communities, I encourage people to time into Dr. Henry’s update Thursday afternoon.
The 3 pm update will be broadcast live on several media outlets.
Nov 2020
Global Apologetics Conference – November 19, 2020 - November 21, 2020 at 3:00 pm - 6:00 pmArresting the Darkness: A Himalayan Life Virtual Gala – November 19, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Canadian L'Abri Lecture Series: Clarke Scheibe, “The Birds and the Bees, Take 2, Part 2: Biblical Worldview” – November 20, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Friday Night Reads: The Blood Knot by Athol Fugard – November 20, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
MCC@100: Centennial Celebration – November 21, 2020 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Night with the Persecuted Church – November 22, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
EFC Webinar: Understanding the Proposed Conversion Therapy Ban – November 24, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Alpha Webinar: Opportunities for Invitation This Christmas – November 25, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Ideas that Matter: Malcolm Guite – Poetry Pushes Back: The Practical Power of Poetry to Rebalance Our Lives – November 25, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
TWU Live – November 25, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
SENT Conference 2020 (Wednesday evenings) – November 25, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Broken Signposts: A Conversation with N.T. Wright – November 26, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Peoples of African Descent & Canadian Churches: A Cross-Canada Conversation – November 26, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Prayer Night for Bold Climate Action: November edition – November 26, 2020 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Darrell Johnson: Discipleship and Ministry in this Temporary New Normal – November 27, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Canadian L'Abri Lecture Series: Donna Hornibrook, former head coach of field hockey at Cornell, “Sports and Faith” – November 27, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
St. Hildegard's Sanctuary Annual ILLUMINATE Gala – November 27, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Friday Night Reads: The Mountaintop by Katon Hall – November 27, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
The Church and Affordable Housing, by CityGate Leadership Forum – November 28, 2020 at 10:00 am - 12:45 pm
P2C's Global Missions Night – November 29, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Fall Online Forum: For the Love of Creation – November 30, 2020 at 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Dec 2020
12th Annual Mission Possible Gala – December 2, 2020 at All DayAlpha Webinar: The Power of Invitation – December 2, 2020 at 9:00 am - 10:00 am
Engaging in Ministry with the New Normal – December 2, 2020 at 10:00 am - 11:15 am
Together at Midday: Elizabeth Sung – December 2, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
Who is My Neighbor, Abrahamic Dialogue During the Time of COVID – December 3, 2020 at 8:00 am - 9:00 am
EFC Webinar: The Church and Covid – December 3, 2020 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Why You Should be Concerned about Euthanasia Bill C-7 – December 3, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Sanctuary's Virtual Christmas Gala: Heart Mind & (Soul) Sole – December 3, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Canadian L'Abri Lecture Series: Liz Snell, The Moral Foundation of Freedom – December 4, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Postponed: Friday Night Reads: The Messiah by Patrick Barlow – December 4, 2020 at 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Refugees and Borders: Remapping the World We Think We Know – December 5, 2020 at 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Together Project: A Conversation on Canada's Global Engagement – December 8, 2020 at 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Singalong (At Home) Messiah 2020 – December 8, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Ideas that Matter: David Leong – Reimagining Belonging: Race and Place in Christian Communities – December 9, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Cardus: Foundations for a Post-Pandemic World – December 9, 2020 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
WROL (Without Rule of Law) – December 10, 2020 - December 13, 2020 at All Day
Rowan Williams: A public lecture to mark the 850th anniversary of the murder of Saint Thomas of Canterbury – December 10, 2020 at 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Human Rights Day Webinar: Forgotten Fundamental Freedoms Panel – December 10, 2020 at 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Planning for the Post-Pandemic City – December 10, 2020 at 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Dr. Iain Provan: Seeking What is Right – the Old Testament and the Good Life – December 14, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
St. James Music Academyu 14th Annual Christmas Concert – December 14, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
LifeCanada presents 'The Culture Call' – December 15, 2020 at 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Pro-Life Outreach Opportunity in Vancouver (Application Deadline) – December 17, 2020 at All Day
Christmas with Chor Leoni – December 18, 2020 - January 1, 2021 at All Day
Online Conversation with Malcolm Guite – December 18, 2020 at 10:30 am - 11:30 am
Lessons & Carols: From Coast to Coast to Coast – December 18, 2020 at 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Christmas Presence at Home – December 19, 2020 at All Day
North Shore Community Christmas Dinner – December 19, 2020 at All Day
musica intima: ceremony of carols – December 19, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
Brian Doerksen: Christmas at Our House – December 20, 2020 at 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Hope is Born: A Christmas Special – December 20, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Phoenix Chamber Choir: Rejoice & Sing – December 20, 2020 at 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Christmas with the Bach Choir 2020: Digital Edition – December 22, 2020 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Hope Alight – December 24, 2020 at All Day
Re: Sonya Grypma — The “article” you referenced in Canadian Nurse is nothing more than a marketing piece from TWU, written by their PR person, and should be sourced as such.
Re: new health restrictions. I’d be curious to know if the ban on in-person church gatherings is based on any hard evidence of outbreaks within places of worship or if this is an over-reach due to general numbers being high and the government being unwilling to enforce less disruptive measures like mask wearing.
Legitimate point (about the Sonya Grypma article), but I thought it was well done – and so did Canadian Nurse, apparently.