It's time for spring cleaning and this year is different than any other year.
One local family decided to put their worries to the side for a morning and used their morning walk to clean up their neighbourhood.
Just as people are being asked to keep some social distance from each other to combat the COVID-19 spread, the snow is melting and the weather is warmer. Getting outside gives some a break from being stuck indoors.
Erin Magill used that time to get to work beautifying her neighbourhood.
Magill, her five-year-old daughter Natalie, mom Virginia and dog Sawyer took advantage of Wednesday’s beautiful weather and took some trash bags to clean up the Big Bay Point and Pine Drive area.
“Natalie has done this at school and she enjoyed it. It's a great way to teach these good habits of giving back,” said Magill. “We filled a kitchen garbage bag full of garbage, so it was a success.”
Anything to keep upbeat is a good thing for Magill, who works at breakfast eatery Gibby G’s. The restaurant industry is being hit hard as the provincial government has decreed that all bars and restaurants must close; take-out and delivery are now the only options.
As a server, Magill is now waiting for work to start back up, which is stressful enough without the fact she is 20 weeks pregnant.
“Yeah, kind of a scary time for me,” said Magill. “(Tuesday) was our last day open and I don’t know when we’re back. We’re just inside, washing our hands and trying to keep from all the drama on Facebook. It's getting a little out of hand.”
With a baby on the way, Magill’s boyfriend is still working until he is ordered differently.
Young Natalie has been kept away from too much of the health crisis information going on around her, but a conversation was needed as her father is in self-isolation after recently getting home from Europe.
“Her dad is home from Italy and we had to explain to her why she couldn’t see him right now,” said Magill. “She understands that there is something making people sick where he went and everybody wants to be careful, but he would be fine.”
Natalie took the news well and even explained to her dad over Skype why it was best he stayed home.
“She told him about Italy and that mommy was pregnant and it wouldn’t be a good idea right now. She is quite the smart little kid,” said Magill.
As the self-distancing days continue and Magill looks for things to do to keep little Natalie occupied, she’s sure all will be well soon enough.
“I really think if everyone takes the isolating thing serious, we’ll all get out of this sooner than later. We’re just going to have to sacrifice a little.”
