City activity has ground to a halt as people stay at home in order to stop the coronavirus from spreading and overloading the country’s health care systems. The only way many are getting out of the house these days is by taking walks. While stopping to chat and share words of support with neighbours is not recommended, people are finding new ways to spread positivity, namely by leaving banners in front of hospitals, drawings in windows and chalk messages on the sidewalk, to be admired by frontline health care workers and others on their daily fresh-air jaunts. Here’s a collection of these colourful and positive displays on social media across Canada:
@QWrdsb @TheSmileCEO @wrdsb positive chalk messages #HeroThruCovid #Resilience #StayPositive #JustKeepSwimming #HeroSchool #HeroGem pic.twitter.com/kjD6Y2Ppl5
— Mrs. Britt (@Kendrab22459621) March 27, 2020
The rain may have washed away the chalk but the message remains. #StayHome #StayAtHomeAndStaySafe #Covid_19 #HealthCareHeroes #ourcmh pic.twitter.com/KC0bnuwmsr
— CMH (@_CMHospital) March 29, 2020
COVID scenery at the office and hospital pic.twitter.com/RQMUtbkbXl
— Artur Gevorgyan (@sinuscentre) March 24, 2020
Neighbours in Fall River, N.S., where the province’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Robert Strang lives, have left encouraging messages of thanks to the health official they’re turning to for updates during the pandemic.
So everyone in my neighborhood has been making signs/chalk drawings thanking my dad because they know he goes for daily walks. This was so touching and heartwarming to see on our evening walk tonight ♥️ pic.twitter.com/33LZknpacr
— ALEX (@AlexandraStrang) March 29, 2020
Love seeing things like this around the neighbourhood ! #Covid19 #StayHome pic.twitter.com/KbkZI4Qj3d
— Rachel Schoutsen TWN (@RachelSchoutsen) March 24, 2020
A YouTuber in Quebec ‘reviews’ rainbow drawings that have popped up in his neighbourhood—all in good fun, of course.
Judging the neighbourhood kids’ coronavirus rainbow artwork! Full video on my second YouTube channel :-) https://t.co/6pddFtGFlK pic.twitter.com/d6Y4WaQzPt
— Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) March 29, 2020
I saw this on the street walking the dog this morning. Thought it was nice. pic.twitter.com/N2aMuREoun
— Viva Frei (@thevivafrei) March 23, 2020
Spotted around my neighbourhood on driveways and sidewalks…messages of hope. Turns out it was a senior couple who were responsible. ❤️ #Hamont #coronavirus #caremongering pic.twitter.com/FtA64zQZlz
— Kim MacDonald (@KMacTWN) March 27, 2020
A Calgary neighbourhood brought the zoo to their front porches for children out on their walks.
Thank you Evanston for sharing some of the incredible Neighbourhood Window Walk themed “Animals” you’re seeing on your walks today! Well done to everyone – our teams loved seeing these at home zoos, aquariums and more! 🐼🐧🦛🐒🐻🦁 pic.twitter.com/fn68mDxZJd
— Calgary Zoo (@calgaryzoo) March 23, 2020
And on a bigger scale…
Wow! Samuel De Champlain Bridge @SDeChamplainMTL in #Montreal is rainbow-colored in a sign of hope and solidarity in our fight against #COVID19 🌈 #champlainbridge #pontchamplain #Quebec #Canada #covid19Canada pic.twitter.com/LElBpCTILj
— George Stamatis (@stamatgeorge) March 30, 2020
Canada, we see you. #cavabienaller🌈#WeWillGetThroughThis #StayHomeSaveLives #StrongerTogether #ChamplainBridge #SamuelDeChamplainBridge pic.twitter.com/BMHoyJY96K
— Infrastructure Canada (@INFC_eng) March 30, 2020