Resources to help us through COVID-19
Getting through COVID-19: Public Health information, grocery availability, deliveries, diversions for kids and adults
Please patronize our local businesses, especially independent ones, during this difficult time. We want them around after the COVID-19 outbreak. If you have updates to the following, please let us know at communications@rockcliffepark.ca
See and download our printable Word file HERE for local restaurants, florists, specialty shops and other small businesses offering take-out, curbside pick-up and delivery.
Please look out for your neighbours at this time, especially anyone living alone!
If you are unable to help a neighbour who needs extra support, please contact RPRA at membership@rockcliffepark.ca with details.
Please be careful and vigilant about social distancing. For those who have been travelling, we thank you for staying at home for 14 days and not leaving for shopping or visits. If you need help, email membership@rockcliffepark.ca or see the other coronavirus news item on this website Resources to help us through COVID-19.
Most City of Ottawa facilities (including libraries, arenas, pools) are closed. The Rockcliffe Park Library remains closed. National museums are closed, until further notice.
Public Health information
The city’s COVID-19 Community Assessment Centre is at Brewer Park Arena. The adjacent building, formerly home to the Westboro Academy, is also part of the Community Assessment Centre. Signage directs people to the appropriate place upon entering Brewer Park from Bronson Ave.
If you are experiencing severe symptoms, please visit the hospital emergency. Ottawa Public Health will continue to oversee the city’s overall response to COVID-19.
Links about COVID-19:
The city has set up a website specifically about coronavirus/COVID-19 to provide accurate, up-to-date information: OttawaPublicHealth.ca/Coronavirus.
Dr. Vera Etches, Medical Officer of Health for Public Health Ottawa, has provided a useful video for residents about COVID-19: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R8eFiXq3aE.
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ottawahealth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ottawahealth/
Ontario Ministry of Health
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ONThealth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ONThealth/
- Web: https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov
The Ministry of Health has developed an information sheet about the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to inform Ontarians about the virus, how they can protect themselves and what to do if they think they have contracted the 2019 novel coronavirus. The information sheet is available in multiple languages. Visit this link to find information in your preferred language!
Health Canada/Public Health Agency of Canada
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/GovCanHealth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealthyCdns/
- Web: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html
Ottawa Public Health issued a Letter to Community Associations / Letter to Community Associations_fr covering Social Distancing, Self-Isolation and assistance available through the City’s Human Needs Taskforce, detailed in this fact sheet – EMERG_2020-COVID19_FactSheet_HumanNeedsTaskForce_8.5×11
What to do if you think you have been exposed to COVID-19
COVID-19 can cause very mild to severe illness consisting of fever, and/or cough, other upper respiratory tract infection symptoms and difficulty breathing (shortness of breath).
If your symptoms are MILD:
- Stay home, self-isolate and contact your manager
- Call Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 or your health care provider
- Call your health care provider or a walk-in clinic prior to visiting them in person
If your symptoms are SEVERE:
- Contact your health care provider first (if available)
- If you cannot reach your health care provider, go to the hospital emergency department and pay attention to special signage
If you have any further questions about COVID-19, talk with your health care provider or call 613-580-6744 to speak to a public health nurse.
Help slow the spread of COVID-19
Coronavirus is spread through droplets, which travel a limited distance before falling to the ground. You can minimize your risk of contracting COVID-19 by:
- Washing your hands often with soap and water, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water is not available.
- Avoiding hand-to-face contact, particularly their eyes, nose, and mouth, unless you have just washed their hands.
- Covering your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your arm, not your hands.
- Staying home if you are ill.
- Maintaining a distance of about two meters or more if you encounter someone who is ill or who appears to be ill.
If you have travelled outside Canada, specific information on Ottawa Public Health’s COVID-19 page should be followed upon your return to protect you, your family and our community. The federal government advises against all non-essential travel. Upon returning, check the latest guidance for those who have travelled outside Canada.
Grocery Deliveries
Beechwood Market (our neighbourhood’s online farmer’s market) offers online shopping for local produce and products. The Market offers $7 local delivery to Rockcliffe Park’s postal codes. You can also arrange for curbside pick-ups on Saturdays at 131b Beechwood Ave (other half of the Bridgehead).
Metro offers on-line ordering and delivery through Inabuggy.
Farm Boy restocks shelves daily and has lots of food, but does not offer delivery or online shopping.
Loblaws offers on-line ordering with express pick-up, ideally for seniors or those in isolation. Go to https://www.loblaws.ca/pcexpress and sign in at the top of your screen with a PC ID (or create one). You then drive in to collect your bagged order for a small fee (from McArthur Ave location, 613 744-0705). Loblaws will also deliver your online order if you sign up at https://www.loblaws.ca/delivery.
Epicuria is open Monday to Friday 10:30am to 4:30pm and Saturday 9:30am to 1:30pm. They also take telephone orders, online orders, arrange for store-front pick-up and they deliver. They ask that delivery be for customers who are unable to go out or who should not go out. If you’d like to place an order for meal deliveries or curbside pickup, please use the delivery form or call (613) 745-7356 ext 225 or ext 221
Jacobsons is open and also offers curb-side pick-ups and online shopping and delivery. Call 613 746-6002 to arrange.
Muckleston & Brockwell are open 11:30 am daily, but closed Mondays. They welcome orders and can deliver to your car: 613-745-2244 or andrew@mucklestonandbrockwell.com
Nature’s Buzz organic foods is open Mon to Sat 9-6 and Sun 11-5, 613 842 0280
Byward Fruit & Vegetable Market, Saslove’s Meat Market, Lapointe’s Fish Market and House of Cheese have teamed together to offer telephone shopping and delivery. Call Byward (613.241.6542) or Saslove’s (241.9266) or email bfm1@on.aibn.com to place your order. They will put it together and phone you back for your payment by phone. Then, for a small fee, you get your order delivered.
Bread and Roses is open from Mon – Sat 8 am – 6 pm and Sun 9 am – 5 pm. Online shopping is available.
Ottawa Organics is an online-only service that provides organic fruit, vegetables and a lot more. Delivery to your home is on Fridays. Due to a high volume of orders, current order deadline is Monday, 9pm. This deadline is subject to change.
McKeen’s Metro in the Glebe offers online shopping and pick-up or delivery. Note that delivery is available for most Rockcliffe addresses east of the lake, but not for many of us west of the lake.
Mariposa Farms offer duck (their specialty) and local produce. They have a weekly produce list to order from and make contactless porch/home deliveries. Here’s the website and facebook page for contacting him if you are interested:
On-line resources for delivery
Instacart – Delivery from Staples, Superstore, Walmart, Loblaws, Shopper’s Drug Mart and others.
Inabuggy – Delivery from Metro, Costco, Petsmart, Loblaws, M&M, Canadian Tire and others. Has an app too.
Delivery and pick-up from local restaurants – For take-out food from neighbourhood businesses (part of the City of Ottawa initiative to promote Ottawa businesses during the COVID-19 crisis), click here.
Seniors’-only shopping to reduce risk of exposure
Metro Beechwood, as of Sunday, March 22, offers Seniors’ Hour from 7 – 8 am daily (best to bring ID).
Loblaws (McArthur) offers Seniors’ (65+) Hour from 7 – 8 am daily (no ID required); also for disabled shoppers.
Hess’ Your Independent Grocer, 596 Montreal Rd. offers Seniors’ Hour 7 – 8 am daily, with proof of ID being over 65.
Walmart (Trainyards) starting March 23, offers 7 – 8 am week-day shopping for seniors (65+), disabled and those with vulnerable health conditions.
Pharmacies: prescription deliveries and resources
Guardian Drugs (Beechwood at Crichton) offers telephone prescription fulfillment (749.4444) and free delivery. Deliveries of store and over-the-counter items cost $5 for delivery on orders less than $20, unless you are also buying prescription drugs with the other items, in which case delivery is free. Wednesday is Seniors day (55+) offering a discount of 20% on store items.
The new Beechwood Whole Health Pharmacy at the Kavanaugh Building will fulfill prescriptions and deliver free: 613-842-7455 ask for Peter.
Costco Pharmacy Online takes prescription orders at Costcopharmacy.ca, 24 hours a day. Your order will be delivered free to your home via Canada Post Expedited Parcel, which takes three to five business days. To register for this service, go to https://www.costcopharmacy.ca/Login.aspx
Pharmacists can now assess and treat a growing number of conditions. Talk to a pharmacist to see if s/he can treat your health concern. Shoppers Drug Mart has partnered with SilverCloud Health to offer an online stress management program through their digital mental health platform. Consider free mental health resources available through Shoppers’ website. If you don’t have your own physician, consider using ShoppersDrugMart.ca, a free virtual walk-in clinic. Rexall’s well.ca also offers online assistance from a pharmacist.
If you need to see your doctor, consider asking if they have virtual care options available in their practice.
Planning to Grow your Own Food?
Terra Edibles, heirloom seeds just south of Ottawa, in Foxboro, at https://www.terraedibles.ca/
Greta’s seeds, local and organic https://www.seeds-organic.com
Robert Plante Greenhouse in Navan, taking online orders with curbside pick up. Robertplantegreenhouses.com
Tournesol, local and organic seeds https://www.fermetournesol.qc.ca/en/
Ritchies: is open to customers. Curbside pick-ups. http://www.ritchiefeed.com/covid-19-updates/
Ontario native plants: pre-order plants, and fruit bushes, etc, but not seeds, www.onplants.ca
Veseys: seeds, veg plants, flowers- high demand and shipping delays, www.veseys.com
West Coast Seeds, excellent seeds, but limited online orders each day. Ritchies also carries this brand but their supply is low. www.westcoastseeds.com
Soil/compost- Mauriceyelle.com call to confirm and pay for order. Also, Ritchie’s and the local grocery stores.
For more info on seeds: www.seeds.ca
Digital Diversions
The Ottawa Public Library has tons of things to read/do on-line and on your phone, for adults and children. Visit ottawa.overdrive.com
Thanks to our Manor Park Community Council neighbours for a comprehensive directory of resources for children AND parents AND grandparents who are self-isolating or social distancing at home! See MANORPARK.CA 🥳 You will find links to podcasts, educational links, live streams, museum tours, science experiments, how to build a blanket fort, football games, etc.
Recommended local yoga classes with Stuart Maskell, Mouvement Union, 268 Durocher. Join him from your home on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themovementunion/
Local gallery St-Laurent+Hill on Dalhousie St in the Market offers online tours, shopping and home trials: www.galeriestlaurentplushill.com. Contact them at info@gstl.info
Glebe community: great resource with online classes etc. gnag.ca
Canadian Blood Services still need help and say it’s still safe to donate blood: https://blood.ca/en/covid19
Bird watching: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/
Dog tricks: Nancy Trus connected with Best Friends Dog Obedience is posting videos on You Tube to teach your dog some tricks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Gardening – Re- grow your kitchen scraps: https://www.diyncrafts.com/
Mental health support: https://www.theroyal.ca/news/
Celebrity podcasts: https://www.theloop.ca/11-
Classical music: The Berlin Philharmonic has dropped the subscription fee to its Digital Concert Hall for 30 days, to help people through the #COVID19 pandemic. bit.ly/2TRXcZ1 pic.twitter.com/u3gPTDYjO0
Nightly Metropolitan Opera Streams: https://www.metopera.org/user-information/nightly-met-opera-streams/
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/virtual-broadway-show-performances-3673709
The National Theatre in London will livestream a play every Thursday night, free
and National Film Board’s collection of short and feature-length films
Online dance classes from National Ballet School: https://www.nbs-enb.ca/
Free e books: http://www.gutenberg.org/
Tours of The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
Tour the National Gallery, London: https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/virtual-tours
The British Museum has a large number of videos on YouTube
House Cleaning: https://vancouversun.com/news/
Mental Health for children: https://
Cooking classes with a chef (Massimo Bottura): https://www.familyfuncanada.com/vancouver/free-online-cooking-classes/
Daily drawing classes for kids of all ages by famous illustrators: https://www.familyfuncanada.com/vancouver/free-online-cooking-classes/
Educational support and activities:
Educational programme support plus daily physical activities by educators on Facebook at 10:30 and: https://www.ophea.net/
Science and engineering challenge cards: https://www.
Elementary level curriculum checklists: https://
Recommended resources for decodable reading materials: https://portal.
This program is often run in school libraries: https://forestofreading.com/
Great for families with children with special needs: https://www.edutopia.org/
Audible launches free service for kids: https://www.cbc.ca/books/
Some classic children’s stories that may be downloaded for free: https://www.researchify.co.uk/
https://www.theliteracynest.
Book study notes: https://www.sparknotes.com/
https://wordpress.oise.
https://
https://thefoldcanada.org/
https://www.hellowonderful.co/
https://www.zoo.org.au/animal-
https://www.craftymorning.com/