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The Nanaimo Ladysmith School District estimates just over half of its 15,000 students will return to classrooms, starting on Monday. That's the result of a district survey of parents. District spokesperson Dale Burgos says school principals are in contact with parents, to create schedules for drop-off times and staggered classroom days. Students in Kindergarten to Grade 5 will have two days a week of in-class instruction, while students in grades 6 to 12 will attend one day per week. Burgos says more custodial staff has been hired to ensure new cleaning protocols are met. And, school playgrounds will also reopen on Monday.

📷 VIU Faculty of Management Building / via Jesse Woodward

Graduates of Vancouver Island University's Masters of Business Administration have been given the opportunity to help local businesses that are struggling, due to COVID-19. A grant program will allow businesses to hire a professional to help them solve a challenge or explore a new opportunity. Qualifying businesses can apply for a grant to subsidize three-quarters of the wages of a VIU MBA intern for four months. The grant program is a partnership with Mitacs, a national non-profit that promotes industrial and social innovation, VIU, and the Vancouver Island Economic Resiliency Initiative. The president of the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, Kim Smythe, calls it "a great opportunity for the business community to receive trained help to put their recovery plans into action,”

Cruise ships have been banned from Canadian ports until October 31st. The federal Minister of Transport says any ship with overnight accommodation for 100 or more passengers will not be allowed in Canadian waters. The original ban was set to expire on July the 1st. BC's Provincial Health Officer has said even if the ban were lifted, cruise ship passengers would not be allowed to disembark here unless they were willing to self isolate for two weeks. One study estimates cruise ships contribute $130 million dollars a year to the greater Victoria economy.

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Written and reported by: Lisa Cordasco, News Director for CHLY 101.7FM.

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