Shared Stories

The BCM&CC welcomes additional essays, papers, articles, stories, photo journals etc. providing the perspective of Bruce County high school students. 

Heather Anderson, High School Student, Excerpts from Journal Entries June 2020 

“Months after, Canada started to report cases, especially in Ontario.  The media was flooded with headlines about a deadly pandemic, and that lockdowns may be put in place.  At that time, they knew very little about how to stop the virus, so they stated that stores are to be closed, borders must be shut, and to stay home as much as possible.” … ” Watching the news made me feel hopeless, because it seemed to me that this virus was very dangerous and that we may never be able to see friends, because you could carry the disease and not even feel symptoms. On social media, there was apparently some false information being spread around about the corona virus, so I made sure to keep educating myself on what was true and not true. Today, information about this pandemic is found on every news platform and online. For almost four months, we have heard about it non-stop.” 

…

“I would contact my friends almost everyday on Snapchat and Instagram so I could feel connected with everyone.  Missing out on my last semester of grade 11 makes me sad but also excited for coming back for grade 12, if we can be safe and stop the spread.  I felt happy though about the school closures in Ontario because I knew that it would have maybe prevented any possible infections and outbreaks happening at schools, especially Sacred Heart High School.  I really do believe that it was a smart move that the government made to close all schools across Ontario and Canada for the rest of the year.” 

…

“There are many things that have made me happy during this pandemic. Being at home mostly everyday has made me become a cleaner, a chef, a hardworking person, and a musician.  Staying home encouraged me to try new things and pick up some new hobbies.” 

…

“I believe that this pandemic will change our society moving forward, in many different ways.” … “Society during this pandemic became more appreciative of front line workers because they have only made us safer, but those who chose to stay at work put the lives of others before them.  People showed their support for the workers by making noise outside of their home some days, creating signs, and just by staying home and following rules.  Moving forward, we will continue to support front line workers because we realize that they have always done so much for our communities, not just right now.” 

The full text of all four Journal Entries is available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre.

Meghan R. Hinsperger, High School Student:  Excerpts from “Discovering How COVID-19 is Affecting the Mental Health of Individuals” 

This student donated a paper based on research related to the effect of COVID-19 on Canadians and their mental health.  “One hundred eighty-one anonymous volunteers took part in the survey, as well as four interviewees for further in depth inquiries.  Once data was collected, it was discovered that roughly 60% of participants stated that yes, COVID-19 is impacting their mental health.” … 

The following excerpts are statements related to the interviews conducted in the course of research:  

“There is much uncertainty when it comes to education right now, and with so many jobs being lost, that puts pressure on teens as post-secondary education is quite expensive. It is clear to see the extra strain that this is causing.”  …

“Many adults are worried about their jobs currently and how this pandemic could affect them and their families in the long run.”  …

“Here, it is once again clear to see the stresses it puts on teens right now. At this time in their life, friendships are very important, and many teens like to get out and about. As this is unable to happen right now, any person can see and understand how that is hurting their mental well being.” …

“’I watch the news and it’s scary. For someone my age if I was to catch it, it would be bad for me. I haven’t gone anywhere in many weeks and I am getting sick of being cooped up at home. I miss my grandkids, not being able to have Easter where I normally see them all was disappointing. I want to get back to going to Church and seeing my friends, we aren’t getting any younger!’ After talking to this lady, it was realized that many of the seniors may be feeling the same way.” 

The full paper is available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre. 

Serena Kurien, Grade 8 student, Reflections

Serena Kurien, then Grade 8 student, wrote some reflections on the Pandemic in May 2020.  Part of her reflections include impacts on school life and the interdependency of our communities:

“I set an alarm for myself every day at 9:00 and change into school clothes, then I come downstairs and look at my schedule on Google Sheets.  My home environment has changed a lot, too.  With both of my parents working from home, we all have our little “zones” of the house.  It’s hard for all of us to be able to each lunch at the same time because of our schedules.  But an unintended positive consequence of social distancing measures is that after everyone’s activities are done, we can all cozy up around the T.V. with the dog and watch a movie. 

In our communities we are totally interdependent.  We rely on the fact that everyone will have common sense and stay home.  Just one person could be the cause of an outbreak in our town.  And, we have to continue to contain the virus the way that we are, or increase the safety measures, not go backwards by cutting off funding to the WHO, …”

The full paper is available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre. 

Mason O’Leary, High School Student, Excerpts from “My Personal Covid-19 Experience” 

“From December through January, my family and I watched, and we talked a ton at school about Covid-19.  The number of cases increased around the globe, along with the number of deaths.  Finally on January 25th 2020 the first presumptive case of Covid-19 was discovered in Toronto, the first case in Canada.  This is when I realized that the virus could potentially affect me, and it became a reality very quickly. Over the rest of January and into February, cases across the country skyrocketed.  This is when the term social distancing became the rule to life.” 

[Mason writes about her mother being in close proximity to a person who was confirmed to have the virus in March …] “This is when reality was hitting us pretty hard, as my mom could have easy gotten the virus, meaning I could have too.” 

… 

“March 16th 2020 was my sweet 16 birthday.  Although my mom did not want to go to the city because there were many more cases down there at the time, I was fortunate enough to e able to get my G1 license.  Lucy for me the license office was still open, although I was definitely one of the last people to receive their G1, as buildings were shut down days after.  This was definitely not the sweet 16 birthday I was expecting.  I was unable to see my friends and family, could not have any type of gathering and could go nowhere at all.” 

… 

“At the end of March break is when the country was on complete lockdown.  Grocery stores, Pharmacies, Hospitals and minimal other stores were the only thing opened.  … We were not even allowed to visit our own family members, unless they live in the same household.  Only essential visits to the grocery store were allowed, and most laces became ghost towns quickly.  People went CRAZY buying toilet paper, lysol, peroxide, gloves, masks and anything they thought would help them.  The stores were completely bare in numerous sections including cleaning supplies and canned foots/pasta. …” 

… 

“Online schooling has actually been really enjoyable for me.  I find it is much faster and am able to put more effort int o my school work while I’m at home alone.  However, my sibling sand I along with our mom are all sitting at our dining room table to complete our work, which gets very annoying.  My teacher shave been keeping the work consistent which is nice and gives me something to do.  IT is sometimes a little difficult if I have any questions, as I have to email my teacher instead of just asking them in person, however overall it has been a good experience.” 

… 

The full paper is available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre.

Cassandra Parker, High School Student    

Cassandra submitted a digital art piece depicting celebrity Asians with their mouths blacked out and words over their mouths saying “We’re NOT a Virus.”    The following is an excerpt from her accompanying written submission, reflecting on her experiences during this time: 

“My experience with Covid-19 has been very stressful. I have personally experienced only a little bit of racism during quarantine but it is still uncomfortable because I have been here 17 years before this pandemic and people still believe that I have Covid-19 because of my ethnicity. Being given dirty looks and people telling their family to avoid going that way just because of my ethnicity is very degrading. The virus has brought to light just how being quarantined brings out the worst in people. I know that people are very stressed but even so, people can’t blame things fully on all Asians because it’s not like I could have done anything to create or stop this situation.”   

… 

“The Covid-19 pandemic has been stressful to me for other reasons as well such as with quarantine, I am not able to go over to my friend’s house or see any of my them and the only way I am able to see my family of friends is through a phone screen on a call. My friends and I have called and texted each other a lot but it just isn’t the same as seeing each other in person, in the halls at school, in the classes we have together, hanging out after school. Many of my friends who are not even social butterflies miss talking to people and want to see people.” 

… 

“I believe that after this pandemic has passed, everyone will be relieved but also more cautious because of the fact that something like this has been spread so quickly and widely.” 

 The full narrative and piece of artwork is available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre. 

The BCM&CC welcomes additional essays, articles, stories, photo journals etc. providing the perspective of Bruce County university students.

Kendra Klages, University Student, Excepts from “A New Normal for University Students” 

… “On March 21st, like many of my friends, I returned home to Bruce County to finish my second year Bachelor of Music and Concurrent Education courses. I couldn’t imagine what to expect, and as many students have agreed upon, everything was a bit overwhelming at times. I prepared all year for a final performance exam, my classes are very hands-on, and the musical ensembles, I am part of, practice twice a week for concerts for the general public. In a matter of days, that was all part of the former “normal”. All concerts and final performance exams were cancelled, my teachers had to find ways to make hands-on classes into online classes, and my teachers had to change our exams with only a few weeks of preparation, so we could still complete exams remotely” …  

“My fellow Queen’s University Concurrent Education students and I are beginning to complete our practicums through an online learning module. Instead of being able to work alongside a teacher and ask questions to better our knowledge, we are watching videos of teachers teaching a classroom full of students and reflecting on what we see. The hands-on work we would have done would have benefitted us significantly more. There is no better way to teach us to be teachers than to put us into the field.”   

“Now that many students are done school, they are looking for summer jobs to help them with university expenses. With the lack of businesses open, many students cannot find jobs, so we fear how we will find the money we need to pay our tuition, rent, food, and textbooks. Statistics Canada states that the average student pays $6,463 a year for just tuition. That does not include housing, groceries, textbooks, or other school expenses. This may not sound like a lot at first look, but, if you do the math, students are looking at around $25,852 for a four-year degree program. Therefore, students have become thankful for the funds that the government is putting towards helping us. For some, this will be the only money they get for school this year.” 

“Schools responded the best they could in such a limited time frame to allow us to finish our year off safely. They allowed us to continue so we would not be behind next year. Everything they have done to keep us on track with school and stay safe amazes me. There are not enough words to sum up how thankful students have been for their efforts in this tough time.” 

The full essay is available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre. 

The BCM&CC welcomes additional essays, articles, stories, photo journals etc. providing the perspective of Bruce County businesses and families. 

James Skarnikat, Entertainer, Excerpts from article dated May 14, 2020

The full article is available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre.

… “When the CoVid-19 Pandemic erupted, my work was as a care home entertainer, performing across Canada to retirement homes, long-term care homes, hospitals and seniors’ centres, including facilities in Bruce County” …    

“In 2020, leading up to my 10th anniversary as an entertainer that August, I was enjoying my biggest year ever, with around 410 concerts booked. As I write this, I was to be in Jasper, AB on week two of a 7-week 75-show western Canadian concert tour, all cancelled. My business slammed closed on Friday, March 13th, 2020, and will likely be among the last to reopen. The idea of a worker going from home to home to home is unlikely until there is a vaccine and heightened Public Health standards.”  … 

“No longer able to entertain in person, I immediately switched my focus to online music programming. Seniors were among the most affected by the pandemic, with the highest death rates and strict isolation. Images of families at the windows of their loved ones, holding signs of love and well-wishes from a distance on Mother’s Day, that with stories of homes with terrible clusters of infection, deaths by the dozens, it was a bleak time for seniors in lock-down.  … At 9 weeks since closed, I have a ½ dozen supporters, the early adopters, those that see ‘the future of care home entertainment’ as I’ve been pitching it. The others will follow. I predict that future generations reading this will be in a world where virtual entertainment for seniors is a regular thing.”  … 

“As time marches forward, what is new now will be the norm later. Born in 60s, I lived through a lot of innovations, like the first colour televisions. Basic calculators were $100 in the late 1970s. Microwaves were new when I was a boy. Chicken wings became a pub snack around the early 80s. Cantaloupe, kiwi and tropical products began being regular items as global shipping grew. When I was in high school, there were only a few Commodore 64s in the Computer Room. I got my first personal computer in 1997, connected to a screechy dial-up modum. By the time I wrote this just a quarter century later, my kids and I sit each with our own wireless iPads and my Macbook Air, enjoying Hanover’s fibre optic network, unlimited highspeed internet at 50 Mbps. Though currently ‘state of the art’, future readers should think this primitive” … 

The hope of adaptations and adoptions are nearly all I personally have going for me right now, unemployed, my career destroyed, in my mid-50s. As I hope for great societal changes, my personal pressing priority is just to survive. I’ll try to re-create my business into online programming as I wait this out. I’m losing precious years where I have so few. I am trying to enjoy this moment though. I’ll read this next to my two children, grades 5 and 6, this part of their ‘school work’, with schools world-wide closed, a few tentatively re-opening in Quebec and other places. Their education has been plunged into ‘study at home’. Teachers with little warning or preparation scramble to create virtual lessons.” 

The BCM&CC welcomes additional essays, articles, stories, photo journals etc. providing the perspective of Bruce County individuals and families.

 Nancy Thompson, sharing her experiences in providing masks for those who needed them during the COVID-19 pandemic.  

This complete submission is available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre.  Some of the items created by the Canada Sews – Grey Bruce Team, such as masks and gowns, have also been donated to the BCM&CC.

Nancy Thompson, of South Bruce Peninsula, has been quilting for 40 years.  In April 2020, she was looking for a way to use her sewing skills to create masks for those who needed them during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Her online search led her to the Canada Sews Facebook page. 

…

From the main Canada Sews Facebook page, Nancy branched out to create a regional group of seamstresses to organize locals within in the regions of Grey and Bruce Counties … together in one smaller Facebook page.  She thereby became the Canada Sews volunteer Regional Manager for this area

…

Nancy and the “Canada Sews – Grey Bruce” team sewed homemade non-clinical fabric masks, gowns, scrub caps, headbands for facilities within the Grey Bruce Region with donated materials.  The group received donations from local Kinsmen organizations, Wiarton Rotary, private residential donations, by posting request in various local Facebook groups and by word of mouth.

…

Face masks took about 25 minutes each to sew by an experienced person. Gowns took about two hours. This includes cutting from a pattern, start to finish.

…

 As of November 1, 2020, the Grey/Bruce Regions team had donated 9,178 items.

Margot Foster, Bruce Peninsula, Reflecting on a Home Project 

Margot writes about her inspiration for an outdoor art project (a sparkling fish behind a fire pit), her initial delay in finishing the project, and then continues: 

“Fast forward to a pandemic, forced “home time” and a need to be in charge of something when I had no control over so many other things in my life.  Cleaning and organizing vs. outdoor art, no contest! 

Fish completed, it has become a personal reflection on both my feelings and the greater world interactions during these unique times.  Some days I see the positives and feel balanced and fine.  Other days I feel frustrated, depressed and ready to scream for what was my former “normal”.  Funny as there really has never been a normal, just my own perceived realities.”  … 

This submission, along with accompanying photographs, is available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre. 

Brockton Resident, Hair Care Solutions 

“My last hair appointment for a trim and colour to my roots was on March 10, shortly before stores and shops closed to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. The pictures show how I deal with my grey roots when I need to leave the house. This is my 5-minute solution to my grey roots without the mess of hair colour dyes or sprays. I use a matte brown powder eye shadow and apply it to the roots with a flat blush brush. It’s great because I can apply it the day I need to go out shopping, and it stays on my hair until the next time I shampoo my hair. It’s not a problem even in the rain.  To date, I have only been leaving the house to go grocery shopping or shopping for other necessities.” 

This submission, along with accompanying photographs, is available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre. 

Jack Van Dorp, Sharing COVID-19 Experiences 

The following are excerpts from Jack’s submission sharing some of his family’s experiences adapting to life during the pandemic. 

“When the Pandemic Started in March 2020 we didn’t quite know what to think, but we thought to hope for the best and plan for the worst.” 

… 

“We assigned a designated shopper to run the errands and implement the wipe-down or quarantine protocol popularized by YouTube sensation
Dr. Ralph Suke.”  …  

“Pandemic activities in our household appeared to align with those of the general population, at least as far as supply and demand for consumer products was concerned: although we were not impacted by the toilet paper shortage, we had delays receiving disinfecting wipes, baking yeast, hardware cloth, and poultry, and had to hunt around to track down pressure-treated lumber.  It seemed that with everyone home and wondering what to do, exercises in self-sufficiency and DIY projects became a priority and shortages emerged.  It became a running joke that we had reached the [insert name of hard to find item] stage of the pandemic.  At work, we did contingency planning and figuring out new ways forward – how to deliver services remotely, to clients or patients; how to work and interact remotely; how we might be redeployed if things took a turn for the worst; what further isolation options might be available if one of the 4 adults in our household needed to further isolate. “ 

This full submission, along with accompanying photographs, are available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre.

To view images shared by donors reflecting experiences and observations in their communities during COVID-19, visit our Online Collections through this link:  Chronicling Community Experiences: COVID-19 Images.

These poems are part of a “Selection of Poems” by Ashley Kemila penned during the Pandemic.  Ashley continues to hold the copyright in these poems.  All 25 poems are available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre.

Pandemic Pause for Santa Claus

by Ashley Kemila

Winter approaching

People hustling about

Some buying remotely

Protocols cannot flout.

Spirits are high

We’re in a festive mood

Can’t let our guard down

Being careful understood.

Positive talks

Behind the scenes

Have emerged about

Some new vaccines.

Those most in need

Are first in line

Which is now

Just being defined.

Buying on line

To some a new thing.

Santa & Rudolph

Will have less to bring.

Better for Santa

His sleigh not so full

Easier for Rudolph

And others to pull.

Santa his tummy

Hanging so low

Rudolph his nose

Bright red all aglow.

In Santa’s workshop

And where the deer play

Too much nibbling

What’s in the hay?

It is their health

We want to preserve

For this year’s ritual

We all deserve.

Celebrate we will

In some shape or form.

Adapt & be safe

In this new norm.

During this pandemic

We need a pause.

We need a break

For Santa Claus!

Back to Normal

by Ashley Kemila

As the country opens up

Issues come to light.

Societies are so different

Like day opposed to night.

Cities are in party mood.

They want to flex & frolic,

But we in the country

Tend to be bucolic.

Do these casual urbanites

Relaxing in their parks

Understand six feet apart?

You don’t need high marks!

Circles in the grass

Chalked for distancing

Will this be enough

Or more enhancing?

Being apart no problem

In the rural setting

Every day we have it.

What will we be getting?

Very pent-up city folk

Ready to unravel

In our paradise with

Tires throwing gravel.

Cottage season nigh

And beaches opening

The onslaught begins

Amid this beckoning.

Will protocols be followed

With all of its demands

Like physical distancing

And simply washing hands?

If everything unfolds

Too fast & too soon

We’ll have to retreat

To prevent further ruin.

A second wave will be

Certainly inevitable

If short cuts are taken.

It would be regrettable.

Reduce the interaction

While being together

By keeping a distance

Thinking of each other.

Getting back to “normal”

May take last resorts

To enjoy again shopping,

Travelling & our sports.

Dancing through the Pandemic

Copyright: Rebecca Kroeplin & Gabriella Frank

In this submission, Gabreilla shares her experiences of continuing to learn Celtic Dance in Bruce County throughout the pandemic.

2020 started off like any other year. I was dancing and getting ready for the Maple City Feis & Corriell Blackout Championships in Chatham. Amelia and I were going to dance there at the end of the month. It was a great feis and we did really well. I continued with my Irish Dance classes after, Iearning new dances until the March Break when everything started shutting down. Everybody started talking about a pandemic. I did not know what they meant, and I wondered what was going on.

Soon I learned, I was unable to dance in studio. It was strange because I had never been out of studio that long. My mom and I kept waiting to hear when I could return to dance. Soon we learned that we would have to learn online as my dance was not “essential”.  It was not easy. I met my teachers, Mary or Quinn, online once a week from Spring to mid-Summer. They helped me learn new dances and gave me drills. The drills helped make me better. I also sent videos of my dances. They would look over my dances and let me know what I had to work on the next week. I missed being in the studio because this was different and really hard.  My mom and dad had made a little studio in our basement for me to dance on.  We set up a music player so I could hear by Celtic music.  I tried to practice very day, but sometimes I found it hard without my teachers.

Finally in mid-August, I was able to come back to the dance studio! I was so happy to be back, but it was different again. I had to wear a mask at dance, I had to fill out a form before each class to say I had none of the Covid symptoms and I always had to sanitize my hands. I got used to the mask, and the changes. It was hard to breathe, and I got really hot when I was dancing. Still, I got used to it.  In the Fall, all the feises and the Oireachtas got cancelled. There could not be a lot of people in one place. I was disappointed because I find the feises fun and at the last Oireachtas I had done really well. I continued to dance and practice, even though I could not compete.

After the Christmas Break, I went back to online learning as Ontario shut down again. I wasn’t looking forward to it – I would rather be in the studio, wearing a mask. Mary and I would meet twice each week to perfect parts of my dances. I did not find it as hard this time because I had already done it and I knew what to expect. During this time, Irish Dance teachers have also tried to challenge dancers. They created a “Splits” and a “Plank Challenge”. These challenges were to help make us better dancers. Irish Dance teachers in Eastern Canada are also looking at ways for us to compete safely. They are going to try to have an online feis for Eastern Canada and if it works, there will be others. This would allow dancers to compete in a safe way during this pandemic. I can’t wait to be back learning in studio. I have missed it because online classes are not the same. I can’t wait until I can dance without a mask and can have classes and dance camps with my friends again. Gabriella Frank Celtic Academy Canada.

The BCM&CC welcomes additional stories and photos providing the perspective of snowbirds and travellers. 

Jeff Smith, Seasonal Resident and U.S. Traveler 

The following excerpts are taken from a narrative written by Jeff Smith, a Port Elgin resident who married a Florida girl, and who now lives there through most of the year.  His children go to school there but when school is out, he and the boys come back here for the summer. The trip was very different in 2020.  His narrative discusses the differences in his experiences throughout different states in the United States and in Canada.  These excerpts focus primarily on his Canadian Experiences: 

On June 12, Tanner and I left Stuart, Florida on a cross continental trek (south to north and back) intended to open his eyes to potential university options.  Our goal was to visit as many schools as possible by following an oval shaped course that looped around Lake Erie with a month long stay at our Port Elgin cottage.    

… 

Florida had opened.   Wearers of Masks were rare.

… 

The first real sign of “mask wearers” came at a gas station near Pittsburgh. 

… 

We stopped for gas and food supplies in New York—the grocery store required masks—a first on this journey.  It was odd to wear one.  We wanted to do what was “right” in their eyes.  We also knew what was coming and we had to be ready for it—the “closed-to-all-but-the essential” Canadian border.  Loaded with groceries and a tank full of gas, we were the only car crossing the Peace Bridge.    In typical Canadian fashion, the border guard was as polite and courteous as one would expect.  She remarked on how “nice” we were to have our groceries already loaded and that our tank was full.  She made each of us Pledge Allegiance to the obviously lawyer written “Quarantine Oath” and acknowledge the possibility of a $750,000 fine for not honouring it. (Yes $750 thousand)—these guys were clearly taking this seriously.  She grudgingly allowed the car from Florida to pass.  As if she held the keys to the castle, and against her better wishes, she had allowed “those people” in. 

Over the next 14 days, Tanner and I stayed sequestered and isolated in our cottage.  6 times the Canadian Government called to ensure we were where we said we would be.  We heard the loud whispers from neighbours unashamedly chastising us for going to our cottage.  We learned of pictures taken, questions asked:  Had their car moved during the night?   …

… 

This was a different world than South Florida.  Everyone wore masks.  Everyone dutifully followed the “footprints” artistically drawn on the grocery store floor.  If someone ahead of you stopped to collect an item, the whole train of shoppers must also stop and patiently wait– spaced exactly 6 feet apart.   …

The days spent in Ontario changed us.  Masks were worn.  Distance was respected. People no longer invited anyone into their house.  “Don’t burst my bubble!” was always on their mind. 

… 

The full nine-page narrative is available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre. 

Gerard Walsh, International Traveller, Excerpt 

“By 28 February, Deirdre and I, were almost three weeks into our two month holiday in Ireland when the first case was diagnosed there. I recall it created quite a stir on the radio call in shows.  The case involved somebody who had just returned from a skiing holiday in Northern Italy. We saw no cause for alarm.  However, it did get us thinking about our departure at Toronto Airport three weeks previously, when everybody at one end of the terminal was wearing masks but nobody was wearing a mask for the Irish flight.  The masked folks appeared to be attached to Chinese flights and in some warped logic this all kind of made sense.” … 

By the weekend of 7 – 8 March, as the number of cases started to rise, the virus was starting to dominate the day to day conversation.  Still no major alarm.  I went to the supermarket on the 9 March and I was astonished to see that all the shelves had been cleared of toilet paper.  This was the moment when the pin dropped.  As one gentleman said to me at the checkout “some people know something that we don’t know.” … 

“Trudeau was telling us to get back as soon as possible, but with the pubs closed there was definitely no reason to stay any longer in Ireland.  By this stage 100% of news coverage was given over to the virus.”  …  “After a considerable effort, we succeeded in booking an early flight back to Canada via Air Canada.”  

… 

“Just before we got off the plane we were advised in very official terms that we were now under the jurisdiction of Canadian Health (which we thought was a good thing) but we had to self isolate for 14 days. Toronto Airport was good – with not much crowding.  We got back home to Port Elgin and started our 14 day term!  Fortunately our university going kids had come back to the house to stock it up with food.  They left before we arrived.”   

… 

“By the end of the week we were starting to run out of essential supplies and Caroline our brave and kindly neighbour dropped off several bags of groceries on our door step …. before she fled the “house of plague”.  Mike another kindly neighbour dropped off a case of beer. “  

… 

“Virtually immediately after day 14, our kids came back from university and completed their lectures and exams remotely…. Almost two months after arriving home I was starting to look like an early version of John Lennon … so the family nominated Deirdre to cut my hair…and  now I have another reason to isolate for a further six weeks.” 

The full story will later be available to view in the Research Room at the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre when it re-opens to the public.