The pandemic has shown us what’s important, and for most of us, our loved ones top the list.
Feb. 12, 2021
The pandemic has shown us what’s important, and for most of us, our loved ones top the list. So Family Day is a great opportunity to try something different and fun together.
Here’s an idea – bundle up and explore a park or lesser-known trail you haven’t visited before in Coquitlam. It might just become a new favourite.
The City’s recreation team has also been busy creating a variety of in-person and virtual activities for a safe Family Day. These include pop-up fitness circuits and family painting sessions at local parks, and a host of things to do online. Check out www.coquitlam.ca/familyday for information and ideas.
We’ve been lucky with our mild winter so far, so I encourage you to get outside as much as you can. We all need to find healthy ways to relieve our stress and tension as the pandemic wears on. We’re all dealing with pandemic fatigue, but it’s important that we continue to follow the advice of the experts and be kind and tolerant with each other.
And it’s not all been bad news. We have seen some silver linings. For one, as a society we’re better at public health – we’ve shut down seasonal flu by wearing masks and washing our hands, and that’s absolutely wonderful.
We’ve also seen vaccines start to roll out this year, protecting the most vulnerable in our society, and that will continue in the months ahead.
For the rest of us, our job continues to be not getting COVID and not spreading it while we wait for our own vaccines. As soon as it’s my turn, I’ll be right there with my sleeves rolled up.
Little by little, the light at the end of the tunnel is getting stronger.
And beyond the pandemic, some other positive things have happened in the last year, among them a growing awareness of diversity and equity – issues that we as a society can no longer ignore.
The events south of the border have opened our eyes, and now let’s go forward together to create a more just, safer, accepting and equitable place for all of us, including people of colour and others who are marginalized.
We’ve always prided ourselves on our diversity here in Coquitlam, but we all have more to learn.
I encourage you to take advantage of opportunities to educate yourself about our history and the cultures that make up our community. For example, as part of Black History Month, Coquitlam Heritage has put together an online exhibit We’ve Been Here All Along: Uncovering BC’s Black History (www.coquitlamheritage.ca/weve-been-here-all-along). Cultural celebrations like Lunar New Year on Feb. 12 also provide insight and understanding – as well as a chance to try new flavours while supporting local restaurants offering Lunar New Year specials.
As we continue to navigate COVID’s uncertain and often frustrating path, let’s make the effort to maintain our humanity and our kindness, and try to come out better on the other side.
Richard Stewart
Mayor
Supporting Our Community During the Pandemic
The City of Coquitlam is here to help, with these resources:
- www.coquitlam.ca/csrp: Details about the City’s Community Support and Recovery Plan, which is supporting non-profits, businesses and residents through the pandemic;
- www.coquitlam.ca/spirit: Free activities for all ages, including fitness, arts and culture, outdoor activities and ways to stay engaged; and
- www.coquitlam.ca/covid19: City service updates and COVID-19 health resources.
Stay up-to-date about City news and service changes by: