As Canada enters the tenth month of the pandemic with one of the deadliest days on record since June and the prospect of the second wave stifling the country’s economic recovery, it may seem difficult to believe there’s good news out there.
But good news is still out there – Canadians gathering (while staying two metres apart) to celebrate one another and help each other out. We’ve collected a round up of stories about kindness and coming together to remind ourselves – and you! – that we will come through this difficulty stronger and better than before. 
- It’s fair to say that we’re probably all weary of staying at home, although doing so is in our best interest. It’s also fair to say that many of us have more free time than ever, especially if we have had a cut in hours or are working from home. The good news is that all this free time allows fathers to forge deeper bonds and spend more time with their children – in a survey, 40 percent reported feeling even closer to their children during the pandemic. Read the full article here.
- Masks have become de rigueur for everyone, but no group has a greater need for masks than our frontline health care workers. A group of medical students at Queen’s University formed a group, 3D PPE Kingston, which has 3D printed tens of thousands of masks for health care workers and other essential workers and has expanded to print swabs as well. Read the full article here.
- If we’re wearing masks, why not have fun with it? A Calgary woman has launched an enterprise that will print your pet’s mouth on a mask, delighting customers and offering opportunities to take selfies with your dog or cat. Read the full article here.
- We’ve all found a lot of comfort from our pets during the pandemic, but some Ontario seniors are finding comfort in insects – specifically Monarch butterflies. A long-time volunteer known as “the Butterfly Lady” regularly brought caterpillar habitats to an elder care facility, cumulating in releasing hundreds of mature butterflies at the facility. Read the full article here.
- The pandemic has been difficult for many of our most vulnerable seniors, who have been isolated from their families in elder care facilities, but a York University student’s nonprofit, Chatting to Wellness, stands ready to connect seniors with volunteer chatters for free phone calls to alleviate their loneliness. Read the full article here.
- Kisbey, Sask., celebrated one of its senior residents with a parade of more than 70 vehicles, including the local fire and police departments, antique cars, a tractor-trailer and more in celebration for his 100th The gift was a perfect fit for the World War II veterans, who has a long-standing love for parades. “He looked and the vehicles kept coming and coming, and he turned and said, ‘they’re still coming!’” a family member said. Read the full article here.
- In Toronto, a toddler was the beneficiary of a unique – and well received – parade of garbage trucks. The 3-year-old aspires to be a sanitation worker when he grows up and was adapted as a mascot by the sanitation workers whose route took them past his home. When the pandemic made a birthday celebration unworkable, the sanitation workers took time out of their day to make it special. Read the full article here.
We hope these stories have brought some much-needed levity to your day. As always, if you’re interested in learning more about our programs, we’re happy to have you contact us.