Article content
It’s no secret that COVID-19 has been devastating for Ottawa’s small businesses; a simple walk along main streets shows the increase in for-lease signs and empty parking spots.
However, amidst all this heart-wrenching news, it’s incredible how the pandemic has forced local business owners to think outside the box and for the first time ever, maybe look beyond themselves to form new partnerships and collaborations with other businesses to create a win-win, and ultimately survive.
There are many research and studies on the effectiveness of teams working together. Within organizations, this mentality creates innovation, growth and impact. So if we know this type of internal collaboration is highly effective within organizations, what happens if we apply it externally for a larger goal?
Article content
That mask in your coat pocket, the one you bought from a group of well-meaning volunteer seamstresses at your church and which you wear while out shopping? What is its particle filtration efficiency? How good is it at keeping the coronavirus from spreading?
Unless you’re a front-line health-care worker wearing an N95 or surgical-grade mask, you probably don’t know. Seventy per cent? Forty? Twenty? Ten?
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or CHEO doc and local sewing organization help tame the Wild West of masks Back to video
Homemade masks are a test of faith, really. After more than a year of widespread community use of them, the masked landscape still very much resembles a modern-day version of the Wild West, with little in the way of standards or regulation. There is undoubtedly a great amount of care and love put into every mask sewn by benevolent organizations, but it’s likely their rigorous testing falls sh