Memorial University plans to lift its cap on classroom sizes for the winter semester, a key step in returning students to a routine not seen on campus since the COVID-19 pandemic exploded in March 2020.

Greg McDougall, the university’s chief risk officer, said MUN officials have been hearing from students who have been struggling with the mix of online and in-person classes.

McDougall said MUN has been using the current fall semester as a period of transition after the 2020-21 academic year, which was largely virtual.

They’re removing the 100-person classroom cap, meaning more students will be allowed inside lecture halls and larger classrooms.

Memorial has made COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for students, faculty and staff who are on campus, and requires mask-wearing in indoor spaces, unless someone has a medical exemption.

According to McDougall, about 97 per cent of staff and 92 per cent of students are fully vaccinated.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause in memory of the thousands of men and women who sacrificed their lives in military service.

This day is called Remembrance Day, and the North Coast schools of Labrador are all holding their ceremonies tomorrow.

Carmine Sheppard is the Principal for the B.L. Morrison School in Postville.

Sheppard says that they will not be having an assembly this year since grade Kindergarten to grade 6 cannot attend.

Each school will be doing the assemblies virtually tomorrow, November 10th.

In Makkovik, Dion Rideout is the principal for the J.C. Erhardt Memorial School.

He says that they will be doing slideshows made for each grade and they will also be doing a moment of silence.

Steve Brazil is the principal for the Northern Lights Academy in Rigolet

He says they will be doing remembrance presentations by Google Slides in each classroom with students reading poems or will be singing songs.

The Junior high and High school students will be reading the Fallen Soldiers and they will go to each classroom for students to put their poppy on a wreath.

In Hopedale, Arlene Flowers is the Principal for the Amos Comenius Memorial School.

Flowers said that they have invited the RCMP and their local Junior Rangers to attend and they will march in the hallway to put their poppies on the wreath with a moment of silence.

There will be a few students reading poems through the PA System also.

Kent Chaulk is the Principal for the Jens Haven Memorial School in Nain.

Chaulk says there will be a presentation of Junior high students completing some Remembrance activities where it will be shared to the students.

They will be doing a moment of silence, some students will also be reading In Flanders Field and The Act of Remembrance and will be having a poster contest.

It was a successful hunt for moose in Gros Morne again this fall.

Todd Broomfield is the Director of Renewable Resources for Nunatsiavut Government.

He says the group left for the moose hunt on October 17th and harvested thirty-three moose on October 22nd.

Broomfield says the days of the hunting trip was like summer at times.

Click here to hear Broomfield tell you more of the successful moose hunt.

Today, November 8, Newfoundland and Labrador has nine new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last public advisory. Contact tracing by Public Health is underway and anyone considered a close contact has been advised regarding quarantine according to current guidelines.

In the Eastern Health region:
· One between 40-49 years of age;
· Two between 60-69 years of age; and
· One 70 years of age and older.

There are three females and one male. Two are contacts of previously known cases, one is related to travel within Canada and one is under investigation.

In the Central Health region:
· Two between 40-49 years of age;
· Two between 50-59 years of age; and
· One between 60-69 years of age.

There are two females and three males. Three are contacts of previously known cases and two are related to travel within Canada.

There have been 25 new recoveries, 24 in the Eastern Health region and one in the Western Health region and 1,953 people have recovered. There is one person in hospital because of COVID-19.

There are currently 36 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases is as follows:
· Eastern Health – 23
· Central Health – 11
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
· Western Health – 2

The number of tests that have been administered is not available at this time due to the ongoing IT outage.

There were 2 positive COVID cases in two Mount Pearl schools yesterday.

According to memos sent out by English School District, a positive case was identified O’Donel High School, and another in Mary Queen of the World Elementary, both located in Mount Pearl.

Both schools will remain open today for in-class instructions for all students, except for those who have been told to isolate by Public Health.

Students who do not receive a notification 6pm yesterday, Sunday were nor considered close contact.

Courtesy VOCM.

The Nain Inuit Community Government has received funds for Community Enhancement Employment Program and is taking names and hours needed to qualify for E.I.

Project description include:

• Construct garbage boxes/Kamutet
• Install flooring/repair walls at Municipal dog pound
• Clean/paint Moravian church
• Erect the community Christmas tree
• Clean/paint municipal buildings
• Make/sell crafts
• Other duties required

The expected project start date is Thursday, November 18, 2021.

Individuals who require more than 400 hours of project employment in order to obtain E.I benefits are not eligible to participate.

If you already have some hours, please bring a copy of your record of employment to the NICG office.

For more information or to apply, please contact the Nain Inuit Community Government office at 922-2842.

Thousands of air purification units are now in place in classrooms in the province.

Education Minister, Tom Osbourne provided the update this week.

The units, the units simply plug into existing outlet, are also being used in other areas of schools beyond school classrooms.

The province purchased some 5,500 units at a cost of close to 8 million dollars in preparation for the new school year.

The units have been welcomed by staff according to Osbourne.

Courtesy VOCM.

Today, November 8, is recognized as Aboriginal Veterans’ Day for Inuit and other Indigenous people in Canada.

Indigenous people were exempt from conscription during the First and Second World Wars. They were not considered citizens of Canada and they did not have the right to vote. However, some 4,000 Indigenous men, including Labrador Inuit, enlisted in the First World War and over 300 died. Another 20,000 volunteered for service in the Second World War and over 200 died. There are many others who served in conflicts since, and many more who continue to serve today.

As Labrador Inuit we should be proud of these brave men and women who helped shape this great nation we live in – proud of the sacrifices they made, and proud of the legacy they have left behind.

This Thursday, November 11, is Remembrance Day – observed to mark the end of the First World War in 1918 when major hostilities were formally ended at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month with the German signing of the Armistice Agreement. It also recognizes those who fought in the Second World War, the Korean Conflict, in Afghanistan and other conflicts around the world.

To mark both days, all Beneficiaries are encouraged that no matter where you live, to take the time and observe a minute of silence to honor those who sacrificed their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.

The Nunatsiavut Department of Health and Social Development is in the process of implementing a plan to offer a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine to residents, 18 years of age and older, in each of the five Labrador Inuit communities who received their second dose between February and April of this year.

DHSD is responsible for delivering public health services, including administering the vaccine, to all eligible residents in Nunatsiavut.

Click here when Nunatsiavut’s Health and Social Development Minister, Gerald Asivak gives you more information about the booster vaccine.

Today, Friday, November 5, Newfoundland and Labrador has eight new confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the last public advisory. Contact tracing by Public Health is underway and anyone considered a close contact has been advised regarding quarantine according to current guidelines.

In the Eastern Health region:
· Two under 20 years of age; and
· One between 50-59 years of age.

There are two females and one male. All cases are contacts of previously known cases.

In the Central Health region:
· One between 20-39 years of age;
· One between 40-49 years of age; and
· One 70 years of age and older.

There is one female and two males. Two are contacts of previously known cases and one is under investigation.

In the Western Health region:
· Two between 50-59 years of age.

There is one female and one male. One is a contact of a previously known case and one is under investigation.

There have been 16 new recoveries, 15 in the Eastern Health region and one in the Western Health region and 1,928 people have recovered. There is one person in hospital because of COVID-19.

There are currently 52 active cases of COVID-19 in the province. The regional breakdown of the active cases is as follows:
· Eastern Health – 43
· Central Health – 6
· Labrador-Grenfell Health – 0
· Western Health – 3

The number of tests that have been administered is not available at this time due to the ongoing IT outage.