One month ago I reached out to some of my friends around the globe who are originally from the “604” area to see how they’re doing during the COVID-19 pandemic. I decided to do a follow up Q&A to see how they’re all doing several weeks after our chat…
Vancouverites in Isolation Elsewhere: Duane in Spain Part 2
Since we last spoke, how have restrictions changed in your city?
We’ve been on lockdown in Spain for 46 days now, but thankfully the end is in sight. Spain just announced a four phase plan to slowly ease restrictions and return to a new normal, one that includes social distancing. Starting this weekend we will be able to have up to an hour of exercise per day. That may not seem like a lot, but after being basically confined to our houses for 46 days, it’s going to be heavenly.
At this point, what are you tired of cooking at home?
I haven’t really been experimenting too much in the kitchen, other than with sourdough. Because I try not to go to the grocery store too often, I tend to make big batches of food, such as chilli con carne or lentil soup. The more I write about all of this, the more it sounds like I’m in prison eating bread and soup and getting my one hour of yard time a day.
Is there something you are craving from your favourite local restaurant? Have you been getting take-out/delivery?
Take out food is still available, and I’ve used it a few times. There’s a decent Thai restaurant I sometimes get Pad Thai from (even though it doesn’t actually resemble real Pad Thai, it’s still tasty). And I grabbed a pizza one afternoon too. When this is over though, I’m really looking forward to someone else making me a nice coffee at a café.
“Eating a bit of fresh bread and avocado. This weekend kids under 14 could go outside again with their parents. Nice to hear the sound of kids playing again, and see the odd one go by on their bicycle.”
Are there any online events (concerts, workshops, etc) that have kept you entertained?
Not really to be honest. I do the odd zoom call with friends, but haven’t been super motivated for any learning seminars or the likes.
Has your outlook changed? Are you feeling more, or less positive about the outcome of isolation?
I had good moments and bad moments overall. I have tried to maintain a positive outlook, but about 10 days ago I was getting pretty melancholy with the whole experience. I’ve been pretty good at keeping busy, but the lack of nature and social interaction starts to wear on you after a while.
What’s one thing someone could do for you right now that would make you smile?
Give me a massage! I haven’t been sleeping very well (common during quarantine here it seems), and for whatever reason my neck is sore from sleeping weird on my pillow!
Read the Original Series
Anne in New YorkSteff in OttawaPatricia on Salt Spring IslandRobert in Bali
Preston in Los AngelesDuane in SpainRichard & Francesca in SingaporeDave in Japan
They say, in these times of COVID-19, that April distance brings May existence. We’re heading into a time of year when the English Bay Slide would be sailed out of hibernation and we’d be fulfilling our camping reservations for the long weekend. With distancing measures in place, our late spring will definitely look different, but we can still have some fun thanks to creative folks who are still putting on May events in Metro Vancouver, ONLINE.
Every night at 7pm we get the opportunity to not only salute our frontline workers, but to also have a shared, collective experience. From our yards, windows and balconies we come together to show our appreciation and now Gratitudo, a locally-developed app, aims to enhance that experience.
Gratitudo App Enhances 7pm Cheer Experience
How it Works
Tune in, cheer, sing-along!
Every day, Gratitudo will countdown to the 7pm cheer for frontline heroes – make sure to turn on notifications! The event begins each night at 6:58pm, where a special pre-show highlighting heroes from your local community will be shown. At 7pm, the group cheer will begin, followed by a user-voted song of the night, which can be sung together in karaoke fashion as the words appear on the screen.
After the cheer and song, the app will close by highlighting a frontline responder or “Hero of the Day” selected from a variety of submissions.
Developed by Beanworks, the project is entirely self-funded with the app being 100% free with a zero advertisement policy. As the cheer was a grassroots movement, Gratitudo aims to promote its adoption and continue to keep the focus on the frontline heroes and away from commercialization. By supporting the cheer and sharing daily stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things, Gratitudo seeks to affirm that physical distancing doesn’t have to mean social distancing.
Tulips are a lovely sight to see at this time of year, from the millions of bulbs in the Fraser Valley, to gardens and groves in the heart of the city. They have a very special meaning here in Canada, and their story is told through the 800 Liberation Tulips now blooming outside the Seaforth Armoury on Burrard Street.
Liberation Tulips. Photo by Josh Muir CD SHOC Regimental Association President
800 Liberation Tulips Now Blooming
On May 1st, over 40 local members and Regimental Family of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, Vancouver’s Infantry Regiment, were planning to fly to Holland to mark and celebrate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Holland during World War II.
Members of the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada were responsible for liberating Amsterdam and several other Dutch towns and cities during the war so plans were for Seaforths to attend official veteran ceremonies at War Cemeteries, tour the liberation route of the Seaforth Highlanders, visit battles sites and to recreate the May 8, 1945 march into Amsterdam.
Like so many other events, plans changed overnight with COVID-19 and the only marker of this milestone is the 800 Liberation Tulips planted outside the Seaforth Armoury on Burrard Street. For the Liberation Tulip campaign, goal was to plant 1.1-million across the country, to commemorate the 1.1-million Canadians who served for their country during the Second World War.
In the fall of 2019, Canadians were encouraged to plant the red “Triumph” tulip, which would be blooming right now. Brian Minter wrote in the Vancouver Sun:
As a symbol, this tulip was to be a recognition of liberation, an expression of deep appreciation and a means to create awareness among the younger generations of the role Canadians played. The goal of planting one million tulips in schools, parks and home gardens was set. The Dutch Canadian 2020 Liberation Society decided that this should be a not-for-profit campaign here in B.C. with the net proceeds going to the Royal Canadian Legion, B.C. and Yukon Command.
As a thank-you for Canadian’s efforts in World War II, the Dutch Royal Family has been giving Canada 100,000 tulip bulbs each year since the war to be planted in the Ottawa region, but this year they will be donating ‘Liberation 75’ bulbs to 1,100 schools across the country, as well as 750 bulbs to provincial capitals. The National Capital Commission, the official gardener of the Capital, has also agreed to match this donation by planting 100,000 ‘Liberation 75’ tulips around our Capital.
You can see the Liberation Tulips at Burrard and First Ave. If you snap a photo during a morning constitutional, tag the Seaforth Highlanders on social media and #Liberation75 #LiberationTulips to share the beauty of these flowers, and their meaning.
This morning the Vancouver Park Board announced that VanDusen Botanical Garden will be opening on May 1, 2020 along with two city-run golf courses, Fraserview and McCleery. The sites will operate with new physical distancing procedures for users and staff to ensure a safe experience.
VanDusen Botanical Garden Opening
Vancouver Park Board Image
VanDusen Botanical Garden provides hundreds of acres of green space for the community. The Park Board assures that the site will be highly supervised, attendance is managed, and that facilities allow for new physical distancing protocols.
Visitors and Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association (“VBGA”) members will be required to book an entry time slot in advance.
Hours of operation will be modified to provide the safest visitor experience. The Garden will open to the public Monday to Friday, 10:00am to 7:00pm, and from 9:00am to 7:00pm on weekends. VBGA members will have morning access from 9:00am to 10:00am, Monday to Friday.
A maximum of 30 visitors will be permitted in each time slot (every half hour).
Select facility features will be closed (such as the gift shop and cafe), some pathways will be marked as one-way, and guided tours will not be available.
Visitors will be required to maintain a two-metre distance from others at all times.
Enhanced and rigorous cleaning protocols will be implemented at all shared services (washrooms etc.).
One individual/household will be permitted in the maze at a time; the maze will be staffed to ensure compliance with this restriction.
Measures have also been introduced to keep VanDusen Botanical Garden and golf course maintenance staff safe. Schedules have been adapted and on-site procedures adopted to distance staff. Personal Protection Equipment has also been provided and will be in use for maintenance staff.
Langara Golf Course will remain closed for play, as the clubhouse is currently being used to prepare meals for residents of the Downtown Eastside. Pitch and putts in Stanley, Rupert, and Queen Elizabeth parks will also remain closed.
