Burlington Launches Free Virtual Viewings of 'The Great Disconnect' for Emergency Preparedness Week

City Hall
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*Please see below a news release issued by the City of Burlington.Burlington, Ont. — April 28, 2021 — Emergency Preparedness Week (EPW) is an annual Canada-wide initiative encouraging all Canadians to take actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies. In line with the pressures of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and this year’s EPW theme of Emergency Preparedness: Be Ready for Anything, the City of Burlington is launching the first of multiple screenings of the film The Great Disconnect. Residents can sign up for the free May 4 or 6 virtual screenings of The Great Disconnect which will include a panel discussion with local leaders and film crew members.

"With the pandemic impacts we have all experienced in our own way, social connectedness, other-centred action, and neighbourhood preparedness will help us recover and build our new normal as a community. Everyone has a role to play in an emergency and building community resilience and mental health readiness is critical in protecting ourselves and our loved ones. The City of Burlington is proud to provide this virtual viewing opportunity to residents to help shine a light on the importance of the health of our communities." -- Amber Rushton, Community Engagement Management Coordinator, City of Burlington

About the filmThe Great Disconnect uncovers why, in a world seemingly more connected than ever before, people are feeling more and more socially isolated – and the true cost this has on our lives and communities. It was written, directed and produced by passionate people wanting to make a difference in the lives of those who live in their communities, neighbourhoods and abroad. Since its official launch in October 2019, the film has screened across Canada through multiple municipalities, non-profits and NGOs, and has been shown in ten countries across Europe. It has also been featured in over twelve independent film festivals, and in October 2020, the documentary won the award for Best Feature Film at the prominent Better Cities Film Festival. The judges’ panel included the famous architect Jan Gehlalongside other esteemed architects and urbanists.  For more information about the film, visit thegreatdisconnectfilm.com.SynopsisExperts who were interviewed for The Great Disconnect, described our time as the “age of loneliness.” Despite Western advances in technology, living conditions, education and healthcare, we as a society, are isolating ourselves from one another and because of this, facing a health crisis that affects all ages, genders, races, and cultures. But how have we become so disconnected? And what can we do to change the status quo and fulfill our potential for health and well-being? Join wellness expert Tamer Soliman as he journeys through North American cities to meet with local citizens, community activists, and leading authorities on social, economic, and urban planning to discover the true factors that have profound and lasting impacts, not only on our health, but the health of the communities in which we live.Virtual screeningsResidents can sign up for one of the free May virtual screenings on Eventbrite and take our quick survey to help inform the discussion with the panelists at Great Disconnect Survey.

Tuesday, May 4, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The panel will include:

  • Tamer Soliman, Director, Producer and Co-Writer of The Great Disconnect
  • Sarah Douglas, Writer and Story Editor of The Great Disconnect
  • Lisa Crapsi, Recreation Coordinator for Neighbourhood Development, City of Burlington
  • Susan Biggs, A/ Superintendent - #1 District |Milton|Halton Hills, Halton Regional Police service

Thursday, May 6, 6 to 8 p.m.

The panel will include:

  • Tamer Soliman, Director, Producer and Co-Writer of The Great Disconnect
  • Sarah Douglas, Writer and Story Editor of The Great Disconnect
  • Steve Jones, Master Trainer, Mental Health Commission of Canada
  • Karen Roche, Fire Chief, City of Burlington
  • Lisa Crapsi, Recreation Coordinator for Neighbourhood Development, City of Burlington
  • Sergeant Ryan Smith, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Halton Regional Police Service
  • Beth Martin, Founder, Together Burlington
  • Ryan Gallagher, Founder and Host, Mental Edge Lifestyle Podcast

This Emergency Preparedness Week event is an opportunity for community members to view this timely documentary that invites people to reflect on the relationships we have with those around us and raises the question: is it possible to overcome our modern culture of disconnectedness and rediscover how truly essential we are to one other?For more information, visit burlington.ca/EPW. Follow @cityburlington on Twitter and facebook.com/cityburlington for details on future opportunities to view The Great Disconnect this year.Know the RisksResidents are also invited to learn about different emergencies and how to be prepared such as:

  • Power outages
  • Severe weathers events
  • Floods
  • Road and rail transportation emergencies

Make a Plan and Build a KitIn an emergency, residents may need to evacuate or stay in their homes for long periods of time. Everyone needs a kit with enough supplies to keep you and your family self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Either build your own kit or buy an emergency kit online and in stores across Canada.  For more information, go to www.burlington.ca/prepare.Emergency Preparedness Links:

—PLEASE NOTE: To stay updated on what the City of Burlington is doing regarding COVID-19, please visit the dedicated pages burlington.ca/coronavirus (and subscribe) and bit.ly/mayormeedwardCOVID19updates, and our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page — bit.ly/COVID19BurlingtonFAQ that are updated as new information becomes available.A consolidated page for information and updates on the work of the provincial Ministers’ COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Task Force is available at bit.ly/COVIDVaccineUpdates.Halton Region has also created a dedicated COVID-19 Vaccine webpage at halton.ca/covidvaccines for up to date information on the status of our COVID19 vaccination program.A Burlington COVID-19 Task Force has been created to help support our community through this unprecedented emergency — updates will be provided at burlington.ca/COVID19taskforce.To report an incident of non-compliance with provincial emergency orders, please contact the Halton Regional Police Service COVID-19 Hotline: 905-825-4722.We’ve also created a dedicated page to feature the local organizations and businesses that have inspired us during the COVID-19 pandemic by taking action to support our community in new and creative ways — head to bit.ly/covidwallofinspiration.HELPFUL RESOURCES & RELATED LINKS:

—*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor’s Media and Digital Communications Specialist

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