Government warns Canadians to avoid non-essential travel
On December 15, 2021, the Government of Canada reinstituted the non-essential travel advisory, recommending Canadians – regardless of vaccination status – do not travel outside of the country to reduce the spread of COVID, specifically due to the Omicron variant. For those who have existing travel plans, the recommendation is to cancel or postpone for the time being. The government continues to advise Canadians to avoid all international cruise travel as well.
“We understand this news is disappointing to many people throughout Manitoba – whether you had a trip already booked or just had the early plans dreamed up – we were all excited to see things were looking better for a period of time,” says Dave Tompkins, director of sales for Manitoba Blue Cross. “At Manitoba Blue Cross, we know some people may still need to travel during the advisory, for a variety of reasons. If you are eligible to travel outside of Canada based on conditions set out by the federal government (at travel.gc.ca), you can still get coverage for COVID-related emergency health expenses while you’re away with our travel health plans with coronavirus coverage.”
Annual & Deluxe Coronavirus Travel Health Plans
The coronavirus travel plans from Manitoba Blue Cross include coverage for coronavirus with no vaccination requirements, but there are coronavirus-specific exclusions in which you are not covered if:
- within the last 30 days before the departure date, you have undergone a COVID-19 test and received a positive test result.
- you have been notified by a public health official that they were a close contact of a confirmed case and are required to quarantine or self-isolate.
- you experience any COVID-19 symptoms in the last seven days prior to departure and have a positive COVID-19 test result during the trip.
- there is a level 4 advisory from the Government of Canada for the destination. (Anything unrelated to the level 4 travel advisory is still eligible for coverage.)
Three additional coronavirus benefits are also included as part of these plans: Coronavirus Pandemic Quarantine, Coronavirus Pandemic Testing (a transportation benefit for a taxi to and from a coronavirus testing centre) and Coronavirus Pandemic Trip Interruption.
For essential workers, like truckers, who are required to travel for work, our standard travel health plans will provide coronavirus coverage regardless of vaccine status or advisory.
Due to the non-essential advisory coming into effect, policies for airfare cancellation, holiday cancellation or tour packages purchased on or after December 16, 2021 are not eligible for cancellation coverage related to coronavirus.
If you are unsure about your coverage or have a question, please contact our customer service centre.
For those who are travelling, find travel tips in our recent blog article about the safe return to travel.
Manitoba Blue Cross funds warehouse space for Sleep in Heavenly Peace
The Sleep in Heavenly Peace building, sponsored by Manitoba Blue Cross, will provide ample space for bed construction, assembly and storage, streamlining the entire process and ensuring that more kids have access to a safe and comfortable place to sleep.
“A warm, safe bed should not be a luxury – it is a fundamental right. That’s why Manitoba Blue Cross is stepping up to support Sleep in Heavenly Peace for years to come,” says Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “We are providing essential resources that Sleep in Heavenly Peace needs to expand their operations and reach more children in the community. This investment aligns with our own commitment to support the health and well-being of all Manitobans, and we are proud to play an ongoing role in ensuring no child sleeps on the floor.”
This new facility will allow SHP to:
- increase production capacity: With a large, dedicated space and the ability to build beds in the colder months, SHP volunteers can now build and assemble more than twice as many beds, reducing wait times for families in need.
- improve storage capabilities: The facility will provide secure storage for completed beds before delivery can occur while allowing for more efficient and timely delivery.
- enhance the volunteer experience: The workspace will create a more comfortable and efficient environment for volunteers – who are the backbone of SHP’s operations – to build and store beds all year long.
“This generous support from Manitoba Blue Cross is a game changer for us,” says Jim Thiessen, co-president of the local chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace. “This new space will allow us to drastically increase the number of beds we build and deliver, ensuring that more children in our community have a safe and comfortable place to sleep. We currently build approximately 400 beds a year and we hope to now increase that to 1,000. We are incredibly grateful for Manitoba Blue Cross’s continued commitment to our mission.”
Join us in helping local children find comfort: Manitoba Blue Cross holds annual bedding drive
Support this valuable cause during our annual bedding drive. Donate new, twin-sized bedding items, including comforters, pillows and sheet sets for local children. Donations can be dropped off weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at Manitoba Blue Cross (599 Empress Street in Winnipeg) until June 20.
Online donations toward bedding purchases can be made at https://bit.ly/50beds.
“Our focus at Manitoba Blue Cross is the health and well-being of all Manitobans. We’re committed to building healthier communities – one bed and one good night’s sleep at a time,” says Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “The outpouring of support that Manitobans showed last year did not disappoint and this generosity helped to create safe havens for local kids. I’m certain the same community spirit that Manitoba is known for will be seen again this year.”
Manitoba Blue Cross holds second annual bed build event
“The bed build event that was held in 2024 to celebrate our 50th anniversary had a profound impact on our staff and myself. Building those beds at Blue Cross Park was incredibly inspiring. We had to turn away staff who wanted to participate,” says Benjamin Graham, president and CEO of Manitoba Blue Cross. “That hands-on work really connected us to this important cause, and I believe it also helped us build stronger bonds within our team.”
Employee volunteers from the health benefits provider, along with SHP volunteers, will be constructing 50 beds for local kids on June 6, 2025 at Blue Cross Park.
To encourage the community to support this valuable cause, Manitoba Blue Cross is also holding a bedding drive once again. Donate new, twin-sized bedding items, including comforters, pillows and sheet sets for local kids. Donations can be dropped off weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at Manitoba Blue Cross (599 Empress Street in Winnipeg) until June 20.
Online donations toward bedding purchases can be made at https://bit.ly/50beds.