CAFTCAD Members Do Their Part in the Fight Against COVID-19

Photo courtesy of Aleksia Pavlovia

2020 has already brought a wave of peculiar events, but none as unprecedented as the current global fight against COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). This has affected every sector of the economy, but especially hit hard, is the film and television production industry. 

As of Friday, March 13 all productions across the country came to a screeching halt. The hiatus was first intended to be short-term, two to four weeks at maximum, just to slow the spread of the virus. Currently going into May, the government-approved start date for productions can barely be estimated right now.

Suddenly, thousands of costume professionals across the country find themselves at home, possibly working on research and prep or possibly not being able to do much at all. However, it didn’t take them long to realize their skills are essential right now in contributing to the fight against COVID-19.   

In March, the City of Toronto’s Film Sector Development Department contacted CAFTCAD to ask that we reach out to all members to join the efforts in creating masks for front-line workers across hospitals in Toronto. Without hesitation, CAFTCAD members started work! 

“I first saw the CAFTCAD xoTO initiative email and immediately started making masks for the community,” shared CAFTCAD member Aleksia Pavlovia. “I was approached by a friend who is a nurse at my hometown hospital if I had any available PPE for them. Right away I delivered the first batch of masks I made to her and the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital.” 

Soon these masks weren’t just going to Toronto hospitals, but hospitals across the country as satellite CAFTCAD members were doing their part in their own communities. In addition, homeless shelters, personal support workers, and other essential workers were looking for mask donations as well! Furthermore, regular citizens now wanted masks for personal use when grocery shopping, running errands, and simply going for walks. For some, this has created a new way of generating income during this downtime, as it seems everyone is all of a sudden trying to get their hands on precious face masks and willing to pay too! 

“This is an incredibly chaotic and uncertain time, and doing something tactile that we now know can help in containing the virus, gives me a much needed sense of empowerment and grounding,” CAFTCAD member Cristina Graham-Dwyer shared. She’s been working on creating masks for homeless outreach initiatives, Michael Garron Hospital, and family and friends these past weeks. 

We’ve also seen some great examples of members being resourceful with leftover stock, kit items, and even fabrics from around the house! “This has been an exercise for me in sustainability,” Graham-Dwyer went on to explain. “The mask fabric came from a duvet cover I never used, and the elastics came from the straps of seldom-worn bikinis. Both mask making and practicing social distancing in general has allowed for a renewed outlook into creatively using what I already have.” 

With this much-needed initiative, CAFTCAD members and costumers alike are finding a feeling of purpose and playing a role in stopping the spread of this global pandemic. 

Pavlovia continued on by sharing, “I am so happy to see all of the support from CAFTCAD and our common goal to help our community. This project is so important, it inspired people who can create to come together and spiked an interest in those who wanted to learn and simply help. The effort we put in is truly amazing and everyone should be so proud.”

CAFTCAD would like to extend a massive thank you to its hard working members who have contributed to this initiative! It’s reasons like this that make us so happy to be able to foster a community of costume professionals from all over the country to come together, learn from each other, share stories and insights, and lend a helping hand in times of need!

As well, we’d like to give an even bigger thank you to the essential workers and front-line workers who have been working tirelessly these past few weeks! You’re hard work and dedication is not going unnoticed!

For more information and how you can help, visit https://www.mghf.ca/mgh1000masks.

Photo courtesy of Aleksia Pavlovia