Our hearts go out to all the people of Lebanon. Our condolences to all whose families and friends are suffering in the midst of the horrific devastation following the explosion that occurred at the Beirut port on August 4, 2020. The massive blast resulted in at least 158 deaths, 6,000 injuries, and made an estimated 300,000 people homeless.
 
The Government of Canada will match your donations to the Humanitarian Coalition between August 4 and 24 up to a maximum of $2 million. Read the release here.

Jamelie Hassan captured the beauty of Beirut, with this watercolour of the view of the sunset over the Mediterranean Sea.

On July 29, 2020, Indwell, a Hamilton-based organization, held a ground breaking ceremony to launch it's Embassy Commons affordable housing project on the site of the old Embassy Hotel at 744 Dundas Street in London, Ontario. The 72-unit apartment building will be geared towards people struggling with addiction, mental health or finding a stable place to live.

Jamelie Hassan participated in the the groundbreaking ceremony and an image from one of her watercolours of the former Embassy Hotel will be installed on the new building's façade.  Read the CBC's news story here. 

Hundreds of Canadian artists, including London artists Jamelie Hassan and Ron Benner signed a public letter calling upon the Government of Canada to honour its ,commitment to poverty reduction and instate a Basic Income Guarantee. The letter calls upon the Government of Canada to implement a universally accessible and unconditional basic income program that guarantees an income floor to anyone in need.

The letter highlights that in the current pandemic’s wake, the arts communities are evolving in new and exciting ways. Artists, writers, technicians, and performers will continue to create and to inspire the world around them. Their creation of novel forms of digital culture, music and performance art, online entertainment, movies, literary works, arts and crafts will allow people to weather times of solitude, hardship, and ruptures in social behaviour and contribute to their overall well-being. Read the full letter here.