Wednesday, July 01, 2020

Canada Day 2020


Canada Day in the Time of COVID. Tourism is the lifeblood of our town. And the tourists have arrived in groups, shoulder to shoulder. They don't wear masks. When the locals remind them of the rules, their response is: "There's no COVID here!"

It's all rather surreal. In two weeks, we'll discover what kind of a day this was.

Nonetheless, Happy Canada Day.

Image: South China Morning Post

16 comments:

Lorne said...

I'm sorry to hear that, Owen.

Happy Canada Day.

Marie Snyder said...

Yikes! Stay safe, Owen!

Danneau said...

Happy Canada Day to you as well, happy because there are a few who recognize that our country isn't really living up to the ideals that it purports to express and who are beavering away and changing that direction. I take a regular dose of NR pretty much every day, a balm that sometimes enrages, but which always holds out the hope of a better Canada. Thank you!

Owen Gray said...

We live in a time when individualism has become a fetish, Lorne. Fetishes purposely ignore reality. Happy Canada Day.

Owen Gray said...

In this house, we're doing our best, Marie. You stay safe, too. Happy Canada Day.

Owen Gray said...

As Browning wrote, Danneau, "Oh that a man's reach should exceed his grasp." What matters is that we keep on reaching. Happy Canada Day.

Anonymous said...

It's amazing how moving to phase two has caused people to act they just got the all-clear signal. The stores got more crowded and many of them removed the physical distancing marks on the floor, large groups started gathering in the parks, and people began acting like wearing a mask allows them to invade others physical space. It's maddening. I expect we'll need to shut everything down again to contain another outbreak.

Anyway, Happy Canada Day, Owen!

Cap

Owen Gray said...

We're acting like children, Cap. That's not how big people handle a problem. Nonetheless, Happy Canada Day.

The Disaffected Lib said...

I'm not going anywhere near the beaches today, Owen. I don't plan on leaving the house. My town usually does it up with a parade, a fly-past (several locals own WWII aircraft), and then a fireworks show to cap off the evening.

Apparently this year there'll be a 'virtual parade' whatever that is. I guess it will be streaming on YouTube.

Happy Canada Day, Owen.

The Disaffected Lib said...

I'm waiting for Covid Saturday in the States. That should be a party.

Owen Gray said...

We're staying close to home, too, Mound. My wife went -- with her mask -- to a brief ceremony at the cenotaph this morning. We will celebrate quietly.

ffd said...

People on their home turf tend to behave far better for fear their Mom, boss, neigbours etc will see them. Once away from anyone they know, many people behave like hooligans. They have no inner standards or values beyond doing what everyone else does.

We are having major problems in my area with people ignoring all and any public health rules and Public Health is not doing anything fast enough. There is no enforcement which makes attempts at common sense and order worse than useless. All that rules without enforcement do is show how powerless Public Health is. Non enforcement is practically sanctioning bad behaviour and making people who follow the rules look like idiots. As one staff member pointed out, why are they sanitizing constantly and being so careful when their efforts are thrown away by people's antisocial behaviour.

Canadians are so timid about enforcement generally.

Owen Gray said...

A rule without consequences is no rule at all, ffd.

Owen Gray said...

Insanity rules south of the border, Mound. That virus is worse than COVID.

Lulymay said...

Tod"wet" coast it is raining like heck for all those flag-wavers today. So, I have one important question for all these July 1st Canadians. As "responsible and loyal" Canadians who celebrate Canada Day, do you also exercise your freedom by voting in any Canadian elections? And if you do, are you fully informed as to what your candidate stands for and more importantly, how that particular political belief will affect ALL Canadians? Because if you don't, a flag means nothing.

On the other hand, Owen, I am having beautiful fresh sockeye salmon - straight from the Pacific Ocean, not some tank floating somewhere out in Asia, along with locally grown potatoes and some green beans that are frozen but were grown in someone's locally grown garden.

Happy Canada Day to all!

Owen Gray said...

Rain or shine, Lulymay, those of you on the Left Coast have much to celebrate. Happy Canada Day.