A Year of COVID: Reflections Exhibit

It might seem unbelieveable that we have been living with the COVID-19 pandemic for almost a year now. We know a lot has changed!

We want your help to build a shared reflections exhibit! We want to know:

What has your experience been like in the last year?
What were the challenges?
Were there any unexpected blessings?

We are asking you to reflect on the last 12 months and share photos, poetry, essays, or artwork about your experience. Submissions will be displayed online on our website and on social media for the month of March. A display will also be up in the library!

the work essential written in multicoloured chalk on black background

Year of COVID: Submissions

Take a look at the gallery below of all the incredible Year of COVID submissions! Use the arrows at the bottom to scroll. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Blue river lined with tall pine trees. Sky is cloudy. Red canoes and a dock sit on the right side of the river.

Photo by Becky Matthews

Calm Before the Storm. I had biked to the Pinery Provincial Park to camp with a couple of friends March 2020. The Pandemic was working it's way into our area. After dinner one of the park rangers delivered a government notice to vacate our site by 8 the next morning as the parks were being closed. Then came schools, restaurants, workplaces etc. A year later...still eerily similar.

two white clay men with masks stand on a light wood table with clay spelling out '6 feet' between them

Photo by Ben

artistic collage of faces, some wearing masks, on computers, in social settings

Photo by Carmen

Painting of Justin Trudeau standing in front of a black door holding red flowers. Two shrubs on either side of the door, with a background of red and grey covid cells

Artwork by Cindy

This is a painting from 2020 titled "Waiting for good news". Every day our PM would step out his front door and give us updates. I was sick at the time and this work helped me through.

Comic depicting cartoon people acting out public health guidelines, like mask wearing and physical distancing.

Artwork by Gio

Poem by Fiona

Quiet roads and cities- Under lockdown Anxious hearts peer out their windows Reflections on the blessings we have Amidst the chaos, sickness, and disease… We Need thee every hour, oh God of Truth In all circumstances we bless your Name for ever and Ever. Written by Fiona. April 21, 2020.

A cat-like cartoon creature with an eyepatch and striped shirt with 2020 written on it's arm

Artwork by Lylia Grey

Abstract painting of bird-like figure with gold halo. Right wing outstretched holding blue eggs and a black cat

Artwork by Michele Desjardins

"caretaker" Jan 17, 2021 Chalk Pastel on paper "caretaker" is an expression of taking care of self while in lockdown. Juggling balls in the air with a wise cat's council.

black and white graphic comic strip style artwork of man waving to friends distantly, next panel: holding up a piece of hair in the mirror, next panel: making air guitar movement while listening to headphones. next panel: lying in bed watching something on cell phone

Artwork by Miguel

comic strop style art...a young man wearing a mask holds a cell phone. Next panel: a young child jumps down from an open car door. Next panel: a family sits at a picnic table at a distance from a young man in a folding chair

Artwork by Miguel

Panel 1: My dad said he'd stop by drop off some extra cord for my modem. Panel 2: They brought my siblings along. Surprising move. Panel 3: COVID's been kind of bad around the GTA. Part of me thought to tell them to leave. Social distancing and all that. I couldn't say no. Not to them. Panel 4: We compromised. They brought a folding table to set up outside so that they wouldn't have to enter the house. I'm glad I got to see them, but six feet never felt so damn far.

Poem by Sarah

Coronavirus Hope It’s hard, it’s trying Many people are dying Everywhere is under lockdown Lots of people are starting to frown “Stay home.” They say “Wear masks. Stay safe. Practice social distancing.” Many people are scared Some, they simply don’t care Doctors don’t know The fear is starting to grow Everyone has to stay home Nobody is allowed to roam While some chose to rest, Others go out to protest. But, in it all we have to trust In the confusion we must Lean on God’s Word And share it with the world We must see the rainbow in the storm A time to reflect, a time to rest, So that we can overcome the next test.

young girl sits in front of a laptop and schoolwork with her chin on her hands and hands on her knee looking out a window to a backyard area

Photo and Poem by Sarah

I'm sick, but not from Covid. I'm sick, because of Covid. I'm sick and tired of Covid.

Collage of photographs. Two boys play leapfrog over each other on a boardwalk. Boy standing in the snow looking back at the camera. Serene pond with vibrant sunset. Two boys stand arm in arm on trail surrounded by fall colours. Two boys play in crashing waves in a lake. Two boys on bikes on a summer day. Two boys post with umbrellas next to a glass cabinet filled with books on a trail

Photo and prose by Tracy

The year of Covid has certainly changed everyone's life. As a single mum with two boys, I thought two weeks of work would be great off. But as days went to weeks to months, life became interesting. Good and bad. I lost my job. My oldest son lost his. I tried to be positive the best way I could by lots of early morning and sunset walks. Crafts, board games and puzzles galore. Tennis, badminton, hikes, swimming at the beach at 7am. The unknown was the scariest thing. I had no answers for myself or my boys. I learned who my friends really are during this time. I learned a huge lesson from my oldest. Do not make someone a priority when you are only an option. I love this saying now. It is so true. It hurts. I have learned when you are together for so long that we all have habits that annoy us. I have learned that I can not hide chocolate from them as they can sniff it out. I have learned my boys never stop eating. I have learned how much I miss taking my boys to the grocery store. They loved going. They did everything but pay. My boys have learned some new words from me as sometimes, somedays suck. I have learned that it is ok to not be ok. It is ok to be scared. It is ok to cry in the shower. Some good things did happen during this time. My oldest was able to volunteer during the summer. He absolutely loved helping. I found a new job with wonderful co workers. My youngest has tried many new things especially getting hurt but we are a clumsy family. We certainly had alot of quality time together. I learned how much I really love my boys. I really appreciate who they are. I appreciate how adaptable they have become in this strange world we live in. I appreciate the little things in life so much more.

Photo and prose by Wyatt Gordon

2020 was a big surprise to everyone. It changed a lot of things but some parts were fun. I got to hang out with my family and see some cool animals/ Like herons, baby geese, baby ducks, and baby seagulls. I also learned how to ride a bike. I rode with my family, and I found a new thing that I really liked. I got to complete puzzles and play board games which was super fun. When we played board games I usually won. I couldn’t go to school, but I had to be online. At first it was weird but then it was fine. I watched a show called The Office and it was super cool. I made it out of LEGO and some other stuff that was cool. I built my family, a Dwight bust, and some more. I played guitar and I got a trophy for. Playing for a year, and I was happy as can be. That was how 2020 was, to me.