Embracing gratitude during COVID-19

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This article was published 16/10/2020 (959 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As Thanksgiving 2020 approaches, many Fort Garry residents will be celebrating differently this year.

 With Winnipeg recently entering the restricted, or orange, pandemic response level, public health advice states that we should all limit close contacts with people from outside our homes.

Despite these restrictions and challenges, there is still much to be grateful for. Personally, I am grateful for the frontline workers who have protected us from the virus, cared for those who contracted it, and who have provided other essential services for Manitobans. I would also like to express my gratitude to the folks of Fort Garry who have all made sacrifices this year for the greater good. Your actions have made a difference in slowing down the spread of COVID-19.

Thanksgiving is a time for family. I know this may be a challenging time for many families who can’t be together in-person for the holiday. I have no doubt; however, that Manitobans will find a way to make the occasion special, regardless. I have been constantly amazed since this pandemic began with the ingenuity and creativity in my constituency and across the province. Perhaps a virtual thanksgiving dinner is a possibility for some?

Even if you don’t have the technological capacity for that, take the time to check in on loved ones over the phone, especially your family, friends, or neighbours who are older, more vulnerable, or more isolated. Everyone needs to know that they are loved and cared for. This includes thinking about those in our communities who are struggling, whether as a result of COVID-19 or for some other reason. As winter approaches, many Manitobans are even more in need of food and shelter, or struggling with their mental health.

Every generation has faced challenges and has had to make sacrifices for the good of society. Wearing a mask, washing your hands, and physical distancing whenever possible is a key factor in our pandemic recovery and is a relatively small sacrifice to ask in return for some degree of normalcy in our lives. Thank you again to the residents of Fort Garry for working so hard to keep each other safe. I am grateful for you.

If there is anything I can help you with, please get in touch with my office at 202-1383 Pembina Highway, or contact us at 204-421-4241 or mark.wasyliw@yourmanitoba.ca

Mark Wasyliw
Fort Garry constituency report

Mark Wasyliw is the NDP MLA for Fort Garry.

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