In a time when every day brings us much stress and uncertainty about the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a new tradition that people across the world have come to look forward to.
Every night at 7 p.m., citizens from countries around the globe are coming together to show their support for their community’s health care heroes in a minute of public displays of appreciation. From their balconies, doorsteps, and windows, citizens are making some noise and clapping for all essential service workers to loudly and proudly share their gratitude for their efforts to keep every person safe and healthy.
Communities across Metro Vancouver have been committed to this movement of cheering on B.C.’s health care workers, including Vancouver’s largest port.
An iconic fixture on Vancouver’s waterfront, Canada Place has joined in on the nightly tradition by showcasing their support through sight and sound. The Sails of Light at Canada Place are lighting up in a blue colour (to represent the colour of health care worker scrubs) until April 10, and then again from April 12-16. In addition to the standard horn time at noon, Canada Place’s Heritage Horns are sounding off at 7 p.m. every evening until April 16.
Photo: Chamber of Shipping
With what will be one of the grandest displays of support on the province’s shores, the Chamber of Shipping is coordinating a “sounding of ships’ whistles” on all ships alongside and at anchor in B.C.
Starting on Friday, April 3 at 7 p.m. and continuing weekly on Fridays thereafter, ships all along the coast will sound their horns in solidarity with the movement to thank the health care workers on the front lines of COVID-19.
This celebration of Canada’s health care workers by the marine shipping industry is noteworthy, as this essential workforce is continuing to facilitate the transport of critical cargo directly supporting medical efforts and to ensure the delivery of supplies that allow our communities to function. The Port of Vancouver is essential to Canada, now more than ever, and the nation depends on the port functioning efficiently to ensure that goods like food, pharmaceuticals and other essential household products can reach communities across the country.
The 7 p.m. movement spreads a lot of goodwill in our communities and adds positivity and hope to the current news cycle. These collective efforts prove that, in spite of the crisis we’re currently facing, our city can and will get through the hard times when we stand together.
To find out more about the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s response to COVID-19, visit portvancouver.com
