On behalf of the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care Team; Linda, Kent, JJ, Dan and me, I want you to know that are thinking of you during this unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. We appreciate all the efforts our front line health professionals, public health officials, food and support service teams, facility managers and community organisations, are making on our behalf to keep us safe and well. Thank you! We also understand the economic hardship and uncertainty that many face.
I once met a woman who lived through the bombings in London during the Second World War. She told me that while she didn't realize it at the time, it was the happiest time of her life. "Everyone had no idea of what tomorrow would bring, but there was a sense that we were all in this together. The outpouring of care for one another was phenomenal" she told me.
While today we are getting used to things like social distancing, I see people reconnecting with nature, friends and family checking in on one each other more often, neighbours shopping for food and prescriptions and telemedicine finally taking off. As Winston Churchill said "Never waste a good crisis."
In challenging times we must question the accepted reality because things are going wrong, rapid answers are needed and the solutions may well be found outside of the usual mindsets. We will come through this crisis and when we do, we may benefit from a new relationship with one another and with nature.
Keep well.
- Neil Ritchie, Executive Director