Eric Bunnell's People: 'Farm hotline' reaps bumper crop of support for STEGH staff

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As a jolly parade of farm vehicles rumbled west along Elm St. to deliver thanks to St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, an ambulance sped by, lights flashing and siren screaming.

And at least for a few moments, it was a reminder – as if anyone would need reminding these days – of serious times.

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But the ambulance gone by, the tractors and sprayers and semis and trucks continued to approach, their own lights blinking and their own horns honking.

And for the 20 minutes that the parade encircled STEGH a week ago this past Wednesday in salute of the health-care workers there, you could smile and wave. And think of other things.

Organized by Elgin’s farm community and east Elgin farmer Glen Debrabandere, whose daughter is on the front line of the COVID-19 outbreak as an ER nurse at STEGH, the parade of about 50 vehicles came together from across the county on just 12 hours’ notice.

Some tractors were so big, they bobbled on their giant tires almost across 1-1/2 lanes of roadway.

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“I didn’t know what to expect, really,” Glen says. “We only started calling that morning. We just got on the farm hotline.”

But with rain the night before keeping even the earliest off the fields, it was the agricultural community’s way to tell health-care workers how much they are appreciated.

And the message was seen and heard loud and clear, as a dozen hospital staffers looked on.

Later, Heather O’Brien, a nurse for 33 years at the hospital and, currently, manager of acute medicine, appreciated the tractor parade and other thanks. (Police in St. Thomas and Elgin, and local homebuilders also have paraded to STEGH.)

“I am overwhelmed by the support shown to use by our community,” Heather e-shares.

“Working in the hospital in today’s world can be very stressful, and staff are experiencing high levels of anxiety.

“These gestures of support mean so much and are greatly appreciated!”

Glen heard back from his daughter.

“They were pretty pumped!”

The parade also attracted several dozen other onlookers – all seemingly careful to keep their two-metre distance on the sidewalk from non-family.

They included Shari Bond, husband Brad, and six-year-old daughter Addie. Shari works in the office at Ferguson Bros. veg. growers just north of St. Thomas, and the family are cash crop growers.

“It really was amazing and a nice to see the support for our frontline staff!” Shari shares.

“It is not too often you see an army of tractors driving through the city! I went with my husband and my six-year-old daughter and for that brief 20 minutes or so we all felt ‘normal’ again.”

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She adds:

“Sure, we were social distancing. But it just felt nice to be out and see some smiles on people’s faces.”

And, you know, she’s right. It certainly did.

Local singer-songwriter Dennis Kalichuk is among the latest of our musicians to find inspiration in current times.

And, also, a bit of a smile.

He has written The Coronavirus We’re Stuck at Home Song, and performed a living-room video with family – wife Becky Matthews, son Kyle and step-son Patrick (step-daughter Abbey did the recording – all in their PJs.

“Like a lot of folks, we’re just trying to stay positive and keep life as fun and enjoyable as possible,” he says.

“I think we all realize this is an historic, significant and somewhat scary global situation. But staying sombre about it doesn’t change anything or even help.”

The Jumbo Train singer shares:

“The lighthearted tune opens with, ‘Here we are, stuck at home, but we’ve got each other, and our phones!’

“Continuing, the Kalichuk original complains, ‘Man this sucks, we’ve got nowhere to go. We play Scrabble and stuff… just go with flow.’ The song takes on a hint of a more sincere note when it offers, ‘We miss our friends… grand-folks too. We just want to say – we love you.'”

Dennis then solos with an encouraging, ‘COVID-19 – you’re making us nuts, but listen to us, we’re going to…’ followed by the family chiming in for ‘Kick – your – butt!'”

The vid’s on YouTube and at JumboTrain.com

“I’m sure most musicians and patrons alike are missing the live music scene right now,” Dennis says.

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“It’s nice to see so many musicians providing folks with so many online live and recorded music offerings. We just have to look ahead and keep on keeping on the best we can.”

Yep, as Dennis says, it sucks.

Mirvish Productions now has postponed its much-anticipated presentation of Harry Potter: The Cursed Child, which was to have opened in October in TO. And I feel particularly for actors Mark Crawford and Andy Pogson, who local audiences have enjoyed on the Port Stanley Festival Theatre stage, most recently, last summer in PSFT’s hit Ed’s Garage, and who I know to say Hey! to. Rehearsals for that one were juggled so the two actors could get to Toronto for Harry Potter auditions and callbacks, and both were cast in the show.

(And after postponing a pair of season-opening curtain raisers, PSFT now has cancelled the production that was to have followed. Playwright Norm Foster was to have starred in Jonas and Barry in the Home, along with David Nairn.)

Yep. As COVID-19 continues with its unwelcome presence, it really sucks. And no one is not affected. And some, sadly, have lost lives that we can’t even come together to celebrate.

But Dennis has found a small smile. And they are out there to be had.

I smiled the other day at Foodland, standing and waiting – six feet apart! – in a checkout line with a loaf of bread. I thought how I used to tell people who wondered why on Earth I or anyone would take the train across this glorious Canada, it’s because I was starting a Slow Life movement.

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Well, I guess I now have. And thinking about it, not having to rush all the time here and there – because, with COVID-19, you really can’t – maybe isn’t quite all that bad.

I’ve noted here before that Diana Vreeland’s father famously would say in the face of things, “Worse things happen at sea.”

And maybe as long as we still are here to be able to say it, worse things really do happen at sea.

Even if COVID-19, itself, still sucks.

But we’re in this together, and we’re gonna get through this together.

That’s a message from Mayor Joe Preston who, since late March, has been posting a daily vid each and every afternoon to his Facebook page.

Originally, they were to highlight the civic response to COVID-19. But, increasingly, they are cozy Fireside Chats, as well.

“It kind of turned into that kind of thing,” Mayor Joe says on the phone. (Fireside Chats were Franklin Roosevelt’s way to soothe his country through the Depression. Look at them on YouTube and contrast FDR in 50 words or less, with the current president.)

Well, except for that vid last week, when folks who failed to physical distance got a good scolding from the mayor, who says he is prepared to say what has to be said to get people to take responsibility for themselves (though he avers “My title is Mayor, not mommy.”)

Joe, who is a local businessman and who knows how tough things are for that sector, also regularly promotes the small business community. He put up a pic the other day of him getting ready for a family feast of take-away sushi from Asuka.

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“We’re quite worried about businesses. I’ll be really straight – quite worried.”

He continues to mention the many social services that are available. And for those who need answers, the Community Help Connects hotline set up at St. Thomas Public Library. 519-631-6050 ext. 8012. It’s an initiative he hopes will remain with us.

And he cheers for organizations and individuals who are part of the community’s broad response to COVID-19, like folks from International Medical Consulting who heard the amount of trash strewn alongside the former Great Trail through downtown was just adding to the stress of already stressful times.

(They’re quoted thru Joe’s Facebook: “We know times are tough, but if we stick together even in hard times we can create a better more and even more beautiful tomorrow. We are so proud to represent this community and want to show #StThomas how much we appreciate you!”)

The mayor’s Facebook has gained just over 2,000 followers at last count. And, surprisingly for Facebook, very few cranky comments. In fact, almost none.

Joe says St. Thomas is a community that has risen to the COVID-19 challenge.

“We are almost a 100 per cent community – we’re pulling together in a big, big way during this crisis.”

And when something like a tractor parade in St. Thomas to thank health-care workers gains the attention of a TV station in Fort Worth, Tex., which it did, Mayor Joe is exactly what it means to be #stthomasproud.

“I’m really, really proud of the people here.”

He says St. Thomas has faced adversity before. And always has pulled through for the better.

“Every time, St. Thomas has grown in size and shape and economy, and its community-ness.”

And he says the city will again.

ericbunnellspeople@gmail.com