“As eerie and strange as it feels to be hunkering down in my house, watching society shut its doors and lock itself down around me, there is some part of me that feels warm and affectionate and so very proud of my fellow human beings. Social distancing isn’t easy, but seeing us all band together to become a whole greater than the sum of its parts gives me some needed light and hope.… 💕”
@Revelatori, image and Facebook post, March 15, 2020
I’ve listened to a few declare conspiracy theories dated back to May 2019, and heard our Prime Minister describe Canada’s first phase response to the economic impact of COVID-19 but, at the end of the day, we all must find a way to live through and beyond the self-isolation now required of many. “Be kind to each other” is a scripture we taught our children when they all piled into the same bath! There is a silver lining displayed through corporate responsibility from the private sector and government, increased family connections, societal slowdown from the “rat-race,” and a time to be kind to each other.
Recently, e-commerce giants stopped individuals from hoarding sanitizer and toilet paper to exploit others. The New York Times showed a photo depicting 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer that could no longer be sold. The more I read about price gougers, I learned that some realized that perhaps they should donate the products. 
In our Township, a local business owner and friend reached out and gifted me a package of toilet paper saying, “Don’t be shy if you need some.” We had talked about my visit to the grocery stores last Friday when the toilet paper had run out and several shelves were empty. In response, I received kindness.
This crisis has put everyone on pause to reflect on social distancing and how we do business at home. International trade works when there’s no international crisis, but domestic production and manufacturing can potentially work outside of that crisis. A year ago, the federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Navdeep Bains, said, “The government allocated funds for the purchase of personal protective equipment and essential medical supplies.” On March 18, 2020 the federal government reached out to domestic manufacturers asking them to “step in to fill critical shortages of medical supplies needed to fight the coronavirus, including the possibility of switching over their production lines from goods such as auto parts.” Around the world manufacturers are retooling existing factories. For example, “France … LVMH … producing hand sanitizer vs Dior and Givenchy perfumes; British Prime Minister has asked Ford, Honda, Rolls Royce and other manufactures to make ventilators and other health-care equipment.” Globe and Mail Business
Equally impressive were the announcements that our federal and provincial governments are working together to provide an $82 billion social safety net to aid workers, families and businesses. This includes small business wage subsidies, revising the Employment Standards Act to introduce Emergency Support Benefits in early April for up to 15 weeks for the self-employed who are instituting self-isolation/quarantine to care for loved ones or themselves; a moratorium on student loan payments until September 30th, 2020; Canada Child Tax benefit top-ups for minimum wage earners. Canada Economic Response Plan
As a social worker I participated in a Zoom call this week with families across the country concerned about their loved ones who were self-isolating for a variety of reasons. Locally, some seniors were isolated by icy private roads and only just got out to the grocery store. Still, others receive social assistance or pension cheques at the end of the month and cannot hustle and compete to get basic necessities like food and toilet paper. With so much fear and anxiety it is difficult for some to see past the “panic-demic” to reflect on the needs of others. However, I’ve watched tensions in families melt away as they focus on the key thing: “flattening the curve of the COVID-19 by advocating for their family members with the goal of protecting the more vulnerable.”
My colleagues and I are helping families to take precautions, share challenges and ideas. It is about how to work together using technology ethically and creatively to interact with clients and co-workers while encouraging simple pleasures like walking/hiking, reading, dancing and painting. Additionally, younger family members are ramping up a network of support to purchase groceries, pick up medications and check in with seniors so that they aren’t at risk trying to hustle in crowds to meet basic needs. The silver lining extends to the environment … with people working from home, there are fewer cars on the road everywhere. Fewer factories and buses are polluting urban centres, which in turn reduces global carbon emissions and pollution in general. Science Alert
I will not take for granted the social safety nets of government, our local health services, the extra time to love my family, more time to pray for others, the reduced carbon footprint and increased opportunities for all of us to be kind to each other.
About the author: Elser Lee (Faith) Archer’s governmental experience both at the provincial and municipal level — the latter as a councillor — coupled with her professional expertise as a social worker and mediator, provides our readers with valuable commentary and insight. As a community volunteer, Archer has played a leading role in the Communities in Bloom success in recent years and has stepped up to ensure the Barry’s Bay Triathlon continued. She wears many hats including as a Rehabilitation Consultant and is an advocate for youth and people of all abilities.
Beautifully written. We can weather this situation with kindness and by
supporting each other.
So true to what is happening today in our world. Thanks for pointing out many of the positive good things that are happening in this crisis. If we don’t keep our minds set of what is good and pure and kind then we can begin to spiral down into that fear mode. Taking our minds off of us and setting them on others and God, will do wonders for our mental health and our hearts. Thanks my friend.
Well said my sister. It does feel as though we are circling the pit of the abyss trying our best not to lose our balance and fall in. It is good that we hold each other up and be accountable. Since we cannot hold each other’s hands we can extend it in different ways in an effort to save us all from drowning. Be well my sister.