A new way of celebrating special occasions has been happening in the COVID-19 era, but physical distancing doesn't mean loved ones can’t find ways to put a smile on someone's face for their birthday.
As people try to take self-isolation seriously to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, birthday parties have been on hold for the time being, leaving some parents scrambling for ways to brighten up their child’s special day.
Ten-year-old Max had just joined the Barrie Royals and was looking forward to a season of his new favourite sport: basketball.
Mom Lisa Henderson said they had the East Bayfield Community Centre’s basketball court rented, but as the date approached, she knew it wasn’t going to happen.
“The schools were shutting down. I teach at Georgian College and we were closing, so I could tell there was no way we were going to be able to have the party we wanted,” Henderson told BarrieToday. “I cancelled it before the rec centre gave us a call, just because I knew from our end that we couldn’t have all those people in one space.
"We wanted to make sure everyone knew it wasn’t happening and do our part," she added.
Max was born March 28, 2010 at 10:55 a.m.
Approximately 30 vehicles full of family and friends met up down the street 10 minutes prior to his 10th birthday before heading up Napier Street to begin yelling and honking horns.
Henderson said the look on her son’s face said it all.
“He was so excited and flattered that everyone took the time to do it,” she said. “It was originally just going to be people driving by to yell happy birthday, but they decorated their cars, made signs and played music.
"It was like his own parade.”
No one knows how long the virus will be in communities, and Henderson says that it may be a long time spent indoors for many families.
While she hopes this is all over soon, she's also grateful for the people who made Max’s birthday special.
“It was a great day and honestly, we were all so happy,” she said. “I’m not sure when this will end, but it was a day none of us will forget.”
