A province-wide campaign designed to ensure that masks are available to those who need them has expanded to Squamish and Pemberton.
The One Million Masks initiative, spearheaded by Deloitte with partnership from United Way Lower Mainland, transportation titans like TransLink, BC Transit, BC Ferries and YVR, and other private businesses, started in the Lower Mainland last month and expanded further afield this week.
In Squamish, masks will be donated to School Division 48 (SD48) and at the Squamish Helping Hands Society, while in Pemberton, they will go to the Pemberton Food Bank.
According to Deloitte's British Columbia vice-chair Etienne Bruson, the company saw how the situation was evolving and realized not everyone has access to clean, safe masks. In particular, they noticed how those reliant on public transportation for essential trips were affected.
"As we were having conversations with TransLink about ridership, we found that the confidence in the transportation system was very important, especially in terms of fairness and equality," Bruson told The Chief. "Does everyone have access to it? Do people feel comfortable?
"We knew that there was a need for individuals to have access to masks."
The company utilized its personal protective equipment supply chain channels to procure the 1 million surgical masks, which were then distributed by United Way of the Lower Mainland to more than 100 agency locations. Bruson added that the masks are available in multiple sizes suitable for children and adults.
Jonathan Dyck, communications manager for BC Transit, which operates in Squamish, Pemberton and Whistler, said the organization felt it was essential to be involved given the mandatory mask mandate.
"We see this as an important partnership to distribute masks across the province in communities that are being served by the United Way," he said. "The majority of our customers are doing the right thing and are wearing face coverings when they come on board the bus, but unfortunately, we do have some people that rely on us that don't have access to face coverings and masks.
"We're getting the masks into the hands of people who want to wear a mask on board the bus."
SD48 will distribute its 2,000 masks — 1,000 for adults and 1,000 for youth — to its staff and students. Spokesperson Jennifer Morris said the masks are expected to arrive on Feb. 25.
Meanwhile, the Pemberton Food Bank anticipates that its 10,000 adult masks and a smaller amount of masks for children and youth will arrive sometime next week, coordinator Loralee Seitz said.
“Our intent is to distribute some to the schools, to our neighbouring food bank — we have a temporary food bank set up at Mount Currie — so we intend to distribute some for people accessing the food bank there,” she said, adding that some will be available for pickup at the food bank itself. “We are hoping to spread the wealth and if anyone needs them, they can just reach out and call us.”
