On March 14, we had our first COVID-19 case here in the Northern Health region and we went into self-isolation. Four months later, due to the worldwide pandemic, our tourism industry is experiencing a lot of uncertainty for their immediate future. Tourism and the tourism workforce are virtually at a standstill and many companies are finding it difficult to stay afloat.
One of the answers is for all of us to take a staycation, which means taking a vacation in our own country rather than abroad or just staying around home and taking day trips or weekend trips to local attractions.
Our own staycation plans are booked for August and we will be setting a firm start and end date to make it feel like a traditional vacation. Now, we just have to decide whether we will travel north, south, east or west. Up until now we have been relaxing and enjoying some down time in our own back yard and indulging in our favorite hobby of gardening and for now, we have become hooked on that.
I have had lots of time to check out Pinterest ideas and recipes and get back to my cross-stitching projects and writing my column is starting to get back to normal (whatever normal means these days).
In the meantime, here are the birthdays and anniversaries that I know about for the months of June and July.
June birthdays that I know about: Matt Pauley, Mike Morris, Rod McLeod, Marlene Ongman, Egil Lindquist, June Chamberland, Linda Earles, Clarence Switzer, Diane Sultano, Ivor Buchi, Louise Bundock, Jean Liversidge, Gladys Thorp, Francine Bussieres, Ethel Rhodes, Carol Bailey, Linda Wenzel, Adele Mingay, Pauline Anderson, Lee Abra, Pam Meyer, Hilda Lippke, Otto Arndt, Connie Buchanan, Robert Reid, Mary Kirby, Lois Bittner, Frank Mauro, Helen Checkley, Gladys Goyer, Euclide Goyer, Dody Morehouse, John Wemyss, Heather Carter, Don Carpenter, Keith McLachlan, Rod Holmes, Skip Cleave, Margaret Girling, Margaret McConaghy, Marlene Pauls, Joyce Antonation, Judy Green, Elaine Lamb, Louise Little, Marilyn Rayner, Lena Rossi, Erwin Stoll, Doreen Gray, Linda Parkinson, Dave Erickson, Dave Stolar, Joan Griffiths, June Mackay, Ed Seidlitz, Terry Roy, Gena Fournier, Keith Anderson, Kay Wendland, Janice Burt, Gwen Tindill, Roberta Case, Ann Hiebert, Nancy Nieson, Shelley Major, Debbie Bisson, Colleen Lemon and Frank Pighin just turned 92.
Wedding Anniversaries: 70 years for Frank and Aline Pighin, 66 years for Mike and Louise Bundock, 64 years for Walter and Marilyn Shelest, 59 years for Otto and Janice Arndt, 55 years for Stan and Margaret Smith, 54 years for Dennis and Sandy Houston, 52 years for Otto and Lynn Kedl, 51 years for Terry and Heather Carter, 50 years for Tony and Dodie Bond.
July Birthdays that I know about are: Bonnie Pauley, Scott Pauley, Aline Pighin, Marilyn Shelest, Jack Tremblay, Meg Imrich, Joan Buchi, Fred Buchi (96), Evie Padalec, Gloria Thorpe, Della Walker, Mildred Green, Lavinia Ouellet, Gary Kwast, Roy Green, Bernice Carrier, Carole Pitchko, Helen Sarrazin, Henri LeFebvre, Richard LeFebvre, Delores Baza, Phil Girard, Catherine Gladwin, Karen Kryzanowski, George Lippke, Barbara Mulock, Mary Taschner, Pat Sexsmith, Alice Westra, Red McKenzie, Karen McKenzie, Leonard Duperron, Doris Bolduc, Eileen Slusarenko, Isobel Blair, Carmen Foucher, Bob Collison, Mary Radke, Elmer Braun, Dyanne Hoff, Pam Hoechrel, Reina Mcafee, Ernestine Schreiner, Linda Moore, Kathleen Boyes, Shirley Dewald, Joyce Kennedy, Ta Mackay, Alan Nunweiler, Ben Wilson, Pete Goodall, Gervin Halladay, Ken Schroeder, Norma Raycraft, Leone Sadowick, Dyanne Hoff, Carol Hunter, Robert Wright, Linda Letawski, Dorcas Raines, Garry Doucette, Garth Grunerud, Mavis Kenmuir, Cyril Beaulieu, Connie Halvorson, Robert Whitehead, Wally Worthington, Joan Castle, Ted Heyninck and Gail Gromball.
July Anniversaries: 70 Years for Romeo and Lillian Parent, 65 years for Wil and Elsie Wiens, 62 years for Heinz and Ruth Kwiatkowski, 59 years for Rudy and Velma Wortman, 58 years for Don and Joyce Grantham, 55 years for Walter and Joyce Hanik, 54 years for Dawn and Clarence Wigmore, 49 years for Linda and Andy Horwath and 41 years for Chuck and Sue Chin.
