During the third annual celebration by the UHNBC Drummers to honour all frontline healthcare workers and first responders about 150 people gathered Saturday morning at the Health Unit parking lot.
The event saw community come together to share thoughts, prayers, drumming and song.
Lheidli T’enneh Elder Darlene McIntosh was there to ground everyone to Mother Earth while lifting everyone up with her wise words of welcome.
And nobody said it better than MLA Shirley Bond as she offered heartfelt words of appreciation to those frontline workers for all they did during the pandemic and what they all continue to do so tirelessly.
“As I look at the group of first responders who are standing in front of us my heart is filled with enormous gratitude,” Bond said.
“They were asked to go to work, take care of us, while we were in our homes with our families. I hope that each and every one of us will always remember the sacrificial giving of the men and women who step up in times of need and in times of crisis and instead of running away they run to the scene to take care of us. I want you to know how incredibly grateful I am. I know that you are tired. It has been a long three years being on the front lines and we want you to know that we are here to hold you up today and to surround you with gratitude and love and care so that you know that we are one community.”
The UHNBC Drummers, led by group co-founder Wesley Mitchell, called upon 15 people to show their appreciation and to honour them by gifting them with tokens of appreciation for what they do in the community.
The celebration continued until 2 p.m. with dance, song, drumming and food.
