Today is also a moment for reflection: How we came together to fight COVID-19; how our lives have changed; what we’ve lost and what we’ve gained. It’s also a time to look forward, towards recovery and to what kind of economy we build for the future. Each of us probably remembers where we were the moment life changed. I was at the Victoria airport on March 11, 2020. I’d checked in and was waiting for my flight to Ottawa for a conference and minister meetings. My phone rang and it was staff at City Hall suggesting I reconsider travelling.
The program, which started in 2019, supports families with a free renovation that improves the suitability of the home for a challenged family member. The Algar girls, Keira and Amelia, have Rett Syndrome, and are both non-mobile, requiring assistance with day-to-day activities, including eating and bathing. It had been getting more difficult and dangerous for their parents to lift them in and out of the bathtub and carry them up and down stairs, as they weigh nearly 40 pounds. The bathroom renovation will improve safety and functionality and allow the family to remain in their current home. Amanda Algar, the twins’ mother, says the renovation has made a huge difference.