by Lisa Chong
Contributed by the Hillhurst-Sunnyside Community Association
Most of my adult working life has been with non-profit, charitable organizations. These places are extraordinary community-serving hubs. Back in the olden days (pre-March), collabs included meeting at coffee shops, backyard patios, living rooms and of course, at the buildings themselves.
Our world changed with the World Health Organization declaration of the COVID-19 global pandemic on Wednesday, March 11, 2020. Organizations in the face of uncertainty pivoted swiftly in response. With the mandated closure of our building the following week, on March 17, our close-knit team worked quickly to tie up any loose ends. That meant reaching out to our networks and creating resources for our community. We did our best to ensure that our isolated and vulnerable people are taken care of, to make way for volunteers to take the charge and that there was continuity in our physical absence.
It was easy to internalize this worldwide crisis at the personal level. I felt grateful for the things I have when so many people lack basic needs. I felt disheartened not being able to support the local businesses and charities that are struggling. I mourned for those affected and their family members. I became fearful of the harmful rhetoric from south of the border. Will it be safe for me outside my home? For ethnically Asian people and communities? And I wondered how we might be able to resume our lives post-pandemic.
This is not a unique situation. Like so many of us facing the challenge of our times, we are overwhelmed by uncertainty and the amount of information. Across the country, there has been a sudden paradigm shift from individual economic pursuit to stay home and save lives; flatten the curve; reduce the stress on our health systems and protect the vulnerable: our parents and grandparents. It became our civic and moral obligation to stay home, practice social distancing, hygiene, and other healthy preventative measures for the collective good.
“Look for the helpers,” a neighbour posted the full quote on their window, words of comfort during scary times from the mother of legendary children’s television innovator, Fred [Mister] Rogers. Our helpers are on front lines: the medical professionals, caregivers, the grocery store staff, the utility and municipal services sector, the non-profits, shelters, custodial staff, delivery personnel, truck drivers, food industry and even our own designated household errand-runner.
Through this time of self-isolation, I’ve had time to step back and think about the things that matter. I learned it is okay to speak up and admit to ourselves and others where we are at in terms of our mental capacity. It is a pause for breath to look after personal health and well-being, family and community – in that order. This means being more deliberate with healthy choices, learning new skills, and reading non-work focused topics (how am I going to get through the million tabs open in my browser?). I’ve also set a few goals to write more and create more art. We are small units that make up the whole.
I feel somewhat comforted by the consistent updates through local and national officials and watch their address and updates each day. I am proud to live in a country where governments have committed to helping its citizens navigate this difficult time. I am grateful for universal health care and trust in professional expertise. I am uplifted by the stoicism, knowledge and compassion conveyed by the Chief Medical Officers, the statesmanship on part of many of our leaders and the animated passion of the sign language and bilingual interpreters.
Throughout the crisis, the messaging from our officials has been clear that we will get through this state of emergency together: physical distancing – and not socially isolating. This experience has been a test of our collective resilience. It is also a time for kindness and a time for expanding our social capital. I am appreciative to have witnessed the small gestures of community:
- Hearing about community members in self-quarantine whose neighbours clamored over who is awarded the responsibility to help out.
- Inspired by the window walk campaign, we posted a couple of window signs and noticed other neighbours follow suit with words of encouragement.
- Our small family is connected digitally, more than ever.
Together we stand. The world can still learn from Mister Rogers; live well, be kind and be a good neighbour.
