Christmas is a bit different this year, and we all know it.
We’ve just spent nine months in the worst pandemic many of us have ever experienced, and will return to stricter lockdown only a day after the big day. Whitewater was spared the worst of the outbreaks, save for a few local schools and a closed community, both of which responded in exemplary fashion. Likely many of us have lost income to this.
Whitewater region has handled the pandemic well. New businesses such as Lakeview General Store have opened. Westmeath’s arena completed its ramp. Life’s gone on despite delays.
I got my job here during the pandemic. I’ve been covering Whitewater events weekly since Megan left at the end of June, and I’ve seen people and businesses taking all the precautions necessary to keep the virus from spreading. I have little confidence in our province, but not in Whitewater Region.
Leaving lockdown until after Christmas is, frankly, a dangerous move. Christmas preparation, not just travel, is a tremendous risk to the health of everyone, with the virus able to spread rapidly. I understand that everyone needs to be locked down to prevent problem areas from simply coming to us if we’re not locked down, but then the lockdown should have started before Christmas.
We would have made do.
We’ve all made sacrifices this year. We’ve all been good, for ourselves and for our neighbours. And when the results of this delayed and hesitant lockdown result in a spike of cases anyway, we can’t just blame the victims.
Christmas is a time for family and for generosity; but it’s not so at the expense of others. Many of us have our family nearby, but some don’t; the unfortunate reality is that everyone’s life is different, and some are more difficult than others. An important element of the season is respecting and understanding those differences, and trying to make it easier for those more at risk and less fortunate. Curtailing travel plans and avoiding large gatherings is a gift to communities, protecting them from a disease we are all at risk for.
For those of you who’ve had to sacrifice, thank you, and I’m sorry you’ve had to. I know many of you didn’t have a choice, or at least didn’t feel like you had one. It’s not your fault it’s turned out like this.
Keep doing our part, and it’ll lessen the chances of things getting worse.
Merry Christmas.
