MARCH 2021 PANDEMIC LEADERS: Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Bonnie Henry TABLE OF CONTENTS Video Summary & Related Content 3 Video Review 4 Before Viewing 5 Talk Prompts 6 Digging Deeper 8 Activity: Knowledge Building 13 Sources 14 News in Review is produced by Visit www.curio.ca/newsinreview for an CBC NEWS and Curio.ca archive of all previous News In Review seasons. As a companion resource, go to GUIDE www.cbc.ca/news for additional articles. Writer: Jennifer Watt Editor: Sean Dolan CBC authorizes reproduction of material VIDEO contained in this guide for educational Host: Michael Serapio purposes. Please identify source. Senior Producer: Jordanna Lake News In Review is distributed by: Supervising Manager: Laraine Bone Curio.ca | CBC Media Solutions © 2021 Canadian Broadcasting Corporation PANDEMIC LEADERS: Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Bonnie Henry Video duration – 20:20 Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, Canadians have relied on the advice and knowledge of health officers, both provincial and federal. Of the 14 provincial and national health officers across the country, seven are women. Steering the federal response through this unprecedented time has been Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer. She provides advice to the Minister of Health, and her knowledge and experience helps decide policy for the response. Provincially, Dr. Bonnie Henry has led British Columbians with her quiet voice and compassion throughout the crisis, which has won her the hearts and minds of the public. Both women are considered to be Canada’s pandemic leaders. Related Content on curio.ca • News in Review, November 2020 – COVID-19: Social Inequities Exposed by the Pandemic • News in Review, October 2020 – COVID-19 Update: What Have We Learned? • The COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada (Curio.ca collection) • Luck and sound decisions helped B.C. avoid worst-case COVID-19 scenario (The National) curio.ca/newsinreview / 3 VIDEO REVIEW curio.ca/newsinreview / 4 BEFORE VIEWING 1. Which medical experts/spokespeople do you listen to regarding the COVID-19 pandemic? 2. Did you trust what they have to say? Why? 3. Do you think female doctors face unique challenges from Canada’s medical establishment? Why? 4. Make an estimate of the percentage of doctors in Canada who are women. Write your estimate down and then research the answer. What did you learn? 5. Make an estimate the percentage of doctors in the world who are women. Write your estimate down and research the answer. What did you learn? Pandemic Leaders: Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Bonnie Henry curio.ca/newsinreview / 5 TALK PROMPT #1 Consider pausing the video and giving students the opportunity to talk to an elbow partner for a few minutes or use these questions as part of a class discussion. Pause the video (@11:11) after the interview with Dr. Theresa Tam: a. Do you think the Canadian government acted quickly enough to close the border to non-essential travel when the pandemic hit? Explain your answer. b. Why did Dr. Tam change her mind about masks? c. When Dr. Tam speaks about the “new normal”, what does she mean? d. How do you think the “new normal” will impact your life? e. Do you think Dr. Tam was an effective pandemic leader? Why or why not? Pandemic Leaders: Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Bonnie Henry curio.ca/newsinreview / 6 TALK PROMPT #2 Pause the video after the interview with Dr. Bonnie Henry. a. What prior experience does Dr. Bonnie Henry have that makes her ideal for the job of B.C. provincial health officer? b. Why does Dr. Henry admit she has experienced quite a bit of anxiety during the pandemic? c. Why did she face criticism regarding school reopenings? d. Do you think the right decision was made to reopen your school? Why or why not? e. What do you think of her slogan: “Be calm, be kind, be safe”? Pandemic Leaders: Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Bonnie Henry curio.ca/newsinreview / 7 DIGGING DEEPER curio.ca/newsinreview / 8 DIGGING DEEPER Women have been at the forefront of the leadership group that has been implementing public health policy and communicating that policy clearly to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada’s medical officers of health have proven that women are powerful and passionate leaders. However, sexism and racism have reared their ugly Chief medical officers leading Canada through the pandemic, top row from left: Dr. heads in the form of Barbara Yaffe in Ontario; Dr. Jennifer Russell in New Brunswick; Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam; Dr. Deena Hinshaw in Alberta; Dr. Patricia Daly in unwarranted and Vancouver; bottom, from left, Toronto's Dr. Eileen de Villa; Dr. Heather Morrison in Prince unsubstantiated criticism of Edward Island; Dr. Bonnie Henry in B.C.; Dr. Janice Fitzgerald in Newfoundland and Labrador; and Dr. Vera Etches in Ottawa. Photo credits: Evan Mitsui, Michael Wilson/ these public figures CBC, Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press, Art Raham, Ben Nelms, Peter Cowan/CBC. Pandemic Leaders: Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Bonnie Henry curio.ca/newsinreview / 9 For this Digging Deeper, read Canada’s Chief Medical the three articles to gain an Officer condemns understanding of the racist acts linked to determination of these coronavirus outbreak women and the unique To gain a deeper challenges they face. understanding of this Answer the questions that issue, read this article follow each article. that argues that Dr. The spread of this virus, just like Dr. Theresa Tam reacts to Tam faced the spread of SARS, has been anti-Asian racism disproportionate used to bring back a lot of criticism and anti-Chinese, anti-Asian tropes This CBC article outlines the discriminatory attacks and racist stereotypes that growth in anti-Asian racism as a woman of colour really date back throughout during the COVID-19 centuries in Canada's history. and a public health pandemic. – Frank Ye, student, figure. Munk School of Global Affairs Pandemic Leaders: Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Bonnie Henry curio.ca/newsinreview / 10 Questions Death Threats against Dr. Bonnie Henry Of course, it's likelier to 1. Research one aspect of make her the target of anti-Asian racism in Read this CBC article for an abuse because she Canadian history. overview of the disturbing fact really is the face of B.C.'s COVID-19 2. How can a crisis like a that Dr. Bonnie Henry was response. pandemic amplify racism? forced to endure death threats and vitriol on social media. – Dr. Heidi Tworek, Associate Professor, UBC 3. What is one concrete Many believe she was targeted action that you can take to simply because she is a stop anti-Asian racism? woman. 4. Research an Threats against Dr. Bonnie Asian-Canadian role model. Henry unacceptable, BC Summarize how they are Health Minister says role models for other Canadians. Mike McArthur/CBC Pandemic Leaders: Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Bonnie Henry curio.ca/newsinreview / 11 Questions Women lead the charge in Questions Canada’s COVID response 1. Why do you think female 1. Why do you think that public figures are often a This CBC article celebrates the some of these women have target of hate? fact that many of the leading come to be considered medical officers in Canada are “icons”? 2. How many social media women. There has been a lot of posts have you seen that positive attention and gratitude 2. Can you pick out any denigrate people based on extended to these women for gender stereotypes in this their race, gender or other their exceptional intelligence, article? identities? courage and calmness during 3. What would be the best 3. Do you think hate speech the crisis. part of holding the position laws in Canada should be Chief medical officers are of provincial medical more strict? Explain your leading Canada through officer? What would be the answer. COVID-19 crisis--and many are challenges? women Pandemic Leaders: Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Bonnie Henry curio.ca/newsinreview / 12 ACTIVITY: DOES GENDER IMPACT LEADERSHIP? ADDITIONAL TASK: The Centre for Economic Policy Research and the World Economic Showing Appreciation Forum conducted an analysis of 194 countries and found that countries led by women were faring better than countries led by men during the Create a social media pandemic. In a group of four (4), critically analyse this report and post that shows genuine answer the following questions: appreciation to a woman leader that you 1. What evidence was used in the report? How was that evidence admire. Create a gathered? hashtag so you and your 2. What were the conclusions of the report? friends can propel this 3. What are the implications of the report? What impact will it have on positive message to a global affairs? larger audience. 4. What questions remain for you after reviewing the report? *For a synopsis of the reports findings, go to: Female-led countries handled coronavirus better, study suggests Pandemic Leaders: Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Bonnie Henry curio.ca/newsinreview / 13 SOURCES CBC News. (February 25, 2021). Threats against Dr. Bonnie Henry ‘unacceptable’ B.C. health minister says. Retrieved from: www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-bonnie-henry-threats-1.5928948 Fitzpatrick, M. (April 2, 2020). Chief medical officers are leading Canada through COVID-19 crisis—and many are women. CBC News. Retrieved from: www.cbc.ca/news/health/women-chief-medical-officers-canada-1.5518974 Garikipati, S. and U. Kambhampati. (June 3, 2020). Leading the Fight Against the Pandemic: Does Gender ‘Really’ Matter? SSRN. Retrieved from: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3617953 Harris, K. (January 30, 2020). Canada’s chief public health officer condemns racist acts linked to coronavirus outbreak.