Student Health
& Safety Portal
Back to school
VIC-CC is committed to operating in a way that prioritizes your health and safety, and that adheres to the re-opening regulations and guidelines of the Government of Canada and the provincial and local Public Health Authorities. VIC-CC is prepared to go above and beyond in order to ensure that our students, staff, and communities are safe and protected. We continue to operate our business and help students learn in our professional career training programs while experiencing all that makes Canada so great.
COVID-19 Health and Safety Plans
VIC-CC is committed to your individual safety; each student, each teacher, each staff member. At VIC-CC we work together to stay healthy and safe. When you are planning and packing for your studies in Canada, you have many important things to remember. There are documents to support your studies, accommodation, and self-isolation plans, which you will need to provide to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). VIC-CC is here to help you, with our campus-specific COVID-19 Student Safety Guides.
Pre-departure plans: what to do before you leave home
There are many important things you will need to prepare when you plan your trip. When you enter Canada, you will go through Canada Customs and it is VERY IMPORTANT you are prepared with all of the correct documents to support your studies, accommodation, and self-isolation plans, as Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will likely ask for those.
What To Do Before You Leave Home
VIC-CC will ensure that you are qualified, informed, prepared for, and in agreement with requirements for safe travel and quarantine upon arrival in Canada. VIC-CC will provide you with all the necessary information and documentation to assure IRCC and CBSA that you are arriving safely in Canada. Pre-arrival requirements will be clearly communicated to you in advance of travel to Canada through VIC-CC Student Advisors and Admissions Representatives. The following are a few important things to take note of:
a. ArriveCAN:
You should download the Government of Canada’s ArriveCAN application prior to arrival at the border and fill in your personal information, including a Canadian phone number (e.g. contact at your place of quarantine). You are also encouraged to acquire a Canadian phone number for ease of contact. Speak with a VIC-CC Advisor for options and further information
b. VIC-CC Student Pre-Arrival Package:
You will receive guidelines on the following; trip preparation, packing tips, document preparation advice, how to prepare for 14 days’ quarantine, how to safely travel during COVID-19, how to proceed through the airport after landing, and where to meet the driver.
c. COVID-19 International Student Travel and Quarantine Checklist:
Developed by Languages Canada, this document provides step-by-step instructions for you on how to safely prepare, travel, arrive, and quarantine, including a signed form whereby you confirm your understanding and acceptance of the requirement to quarantine upon arrival in Canada. This document is available in multiple languages; please contact a VIC-CC Advisor.
d. COVID-19 International Student Quarantine Plan Template:
Developed by Languages Canada, this fillable document outlines your quarantine plan, which you will be expected to complete and print for presentation to your CBSA agent upon arrival in Canada.
e. Proof of Insurance for Quarantine Period:
You will need proof of appropriate medical insurance, effective as of the date of your arrival, which includes coverage for COVID-19 during the quarantine period (Guard.me International Insurance confirms that their student insurance policy provides full medical coverage against COVID-19, including during the period of quarantine).
f. Transportation:
VIC-CC will provide appropriate, pre-arranged transportation for you to your 14-day quarantine location. Please speak to a VIC-CC Advisor for further information.
QUARANTINE AND ACCOMMODATION
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Quarantine Arrangements:
This is a requirement to enter Canada, and VIC-CC is ready to help you plan with numerous safe quarantine options that meet the 14-Day Quarantine Requirements. As this is all new for you, it’s completely normal to have questions. Remember that you can contact a VIC-CC Advisor for more help. Explanations of the 14-day quarantine period will be provided; information on meals, etiquette, laundry, cleaning, hygiene, internet, social distancing, use of PPE, monitoring of health status, staying connected with VIC-CC and with your family, what procedures to follow if any symptoms appear, and help to arrange COVID-19 testing if needed. Get ready for your trip by contacting VIC-CC about your studies and your quarantine arrangements; you’ll be closer to your dream trip to Canada!
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Accommodations:
VIC-CC has socially distant accommodations for all students arriving in Canada in accordance with Public Health guidelines. Students have the option of choosing to stay with a VIC-CC homestay family, at a VIC-CC Residence with GEC, or airport hotels in Toronto and Vancouver. Upon arrival in Canada, all international students will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, as per government regulations.
CAMPUS SAFETY
VIC-CC developed reopening plans according to federal, provincial, and local guidelines which are consistent with public health and safety guidelines, and with provincial regulatory guidelines. VIC-CC is committed to continuous on-campus risk assessment and creating mitigation strategies. In our assessments and planning for our return to campus, VIC-CC carefully considered and is following all local, provincial and federal public health authority guidelines, and we have currently limited the number of students, faculty, staff and visitors that will be on campus at the same time. We have considered how our campus can best accommodate students, staff, and visitors on campus grounds while implementing measures that promote the health and safety of everyone.
CASE TRACKING
Cases of COVID-19 reported to VIC-CC: As VIC-CC is made aware of COVID-19 cases within our campus community, we will update these statistics daily. These figures will reflect only positive cases of COVID-19 within VIC Career Campus’s community in Vancouver, and SSLC’s community in Vancouver, Victoria, Toronto, as confirmed by the colleges over the course of the noted week. SSLC and VIC-CC are working closely with Public Health Authorities in BC and Ontario, and we have detailed processes and protocols in place to respond quickly when positive cases are determined. Contact tracing is conducted by Public Health Authorities and they will contact anyone determined to have had close contact with individuals who have tested positive.
MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS:
TAKING CARE OF YOU
Even at the best of times our mental health and overall wellness can suffer. During a pandemic, mental health issues such as loneliness, depression, anxiety, stress and others can increase. VIC-CC is here to help. Contact an VIC-CC Advisor or Campus Director by phone, email or chat, for access to mental health support and resources, and/or explore a variety of articles and resources that will guide you in managing your mental health::
CANADA OR WORLDWIDE:
- Here2talk
Receive free, single-session confidential counseling online or by phone, no matter where you are in the world. - Anti-Racism Resources – Canada
A site committed to helping people open their minds, exploring the diversity of language, culture, and lived experiences within Canada. - Wellness Together Canada
Access a free mental health online assessment, e-mental health resources, or individual counseling from anywhere in the world. - Canadian Mental Health Association
Understand what the coronavirus is, including signs of infection, prevention recommendations, and the current risk to Canadians. - Anxiety Canada
Consider specific steps to take if you’re anxious or worried about the COVID-19 situation. - Mental Health Commission of Canada
Check out the COVID-19 Self-care & Resilience Guide and build self-care into your routine to improve resilience and prevent burnout. - World Health Organization
See ways you can support the mental and psychological wellbeing of others.
BRITISH COLUMBIA (B.C.):
- Here to Help
Browse strategies to help you take care of your mental health. - HealthlinkBC
Call 811 to speak with a registered nurse, or access online resources for health-related questions. - Crisis Centre BC
If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or at risk of harm, call or chat online with a crisis responder at any time. - MindhealthBC
Take a quick online assessment of your mental health and get resources for a variety of related concerns. - Foundry BC
Find ways to take care of yourself when you’re feeling anxious about the news and updates around the outbreak. - BC Virtual mental health supports
Access new and existing virtual mental health supports provided by the BC government.
ONTARIO:
- Good2Talk – Ontario
Good2Talk is a free, confidential service for post-secondary students in Ontario. Students can receive professional counseling and information. Call 1-866-925-5454 or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868. - ConnexOntario: provides 24/7 free and confidential health services information for people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs, mental illness, and/or gambling. Call 1-866-531-2600or chat online.
- BounceBack: free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). It is designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, stress, or worry. Delivered over the phone with a coach and through online videos, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness. Submit an online referral, or access the online videos.
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Resources and strategies for managing stress, anxiety, and maintaining a good mental outlook.
MORE INFO & RESOURCES:
Below are some useful links to the latest COVID-19 information across Canada, and specifically in BC and Ontario, where SSLC has campuses:
Canada
British Columbia
- C.’s Response to COVID-19
Government of BC – Status of cases, mental health links, and many other resources - BC Centre for Disease Control
Government of BC – Covid-19 health resources, prevention, cleaning tips, and many other resources - British Columbia COVID-19
Government of BC – App downloads, self-assessment tools, BC Covid-19 app - Vancouver Coastal Health
Information, self-assessment tools, guides, and many other resources - Common Questions about COVID-19
Find answers to some of the most common questions about COVID-19. - What to do if you are sick
If you have COVID-19, or think you might have it, help prevent spreading by following these instructions - What is contact tracing?
Contact tracing is an important tool to help stop the spread of COVID-19. - Information about COVID-19 testing
C. has expanded testing to find new cases and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
Ontario