The Dawn of the Pandemic: A Time of Uncertainty and Unity
The COVID-19 pandemic, declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization in March 2020, marked the beginning of a period of unprecedented disruption and change in Canada. In the early days, warnings of a mysterious flu-like illness spreading in Asia and images of lockdowns in China signaled a growing threat. Here at home, subtle signs of the impending crisis emerged: the sudden appearance of blue surgical masks, the advice to hum "Happy Birthday" while washing hands, and the sight of hand sanitizer bottles at public events. For Ren Navarro, a panellist at a beer event in Guelph, Ontario, the thinning crowds and live-streamed proceedings were an eerie precursor to what was to come. Just days later, on her 45th birthday, Navarro awoke to news of sweeping shutdowns across Ontario—a moment that left her in tears, marking the beginning of a new reality confined to her two-bedroom apartment in Kitchener.
This sudden shift was not unique to Navarro. Across Canada, the pandemic upended lives as borders closed, schools shuttered, businesses halted, and social gatherings were banned. The early days were a blur of fear and confusion as Canadians scrambled to understand the virus and protect themselves. For many, the challenge was as much about maintaining mental health as it was about physical safety. "How do I not lose my mind?" Navarro recalls thinking, echoing the sentiments of countless others. Yet, amidst the chaos, there was a sense of solidarity. Canadians adapted to new routines, from sanitizing groceries to banging pots and pans in support of healthcare workers, and found ways to connect despite the distance.
Government Response and Public Cooperation: A Fraying Social Fabric
The Canadian government’s response to the pandemic was swift and sweeping, with federal and provincial leaders initially working in tandem to implement public health measures. Canadians, by and large, complied with these directives, reflecting a high level of social cooperation and trust in public authorities. Sanjay Ruparelia, a professor of politics at Toronto Metropolitan University, notes that this cohesion was rooted in cultural norms and a shared belief that governments were acting in the public’s best interest. However, as the pandemic dragged on, this unity began to fracture.
Debates over civil liberties, vaccine mandates, and the balancing of public safety with personal freedoms became increasingly contentious. Misinformation and disinformation fueled divisions, eroding trust in institutions. By early 2022, this discontent had culminated in the "Freedom Convoy," a protest that brought truckers to Ottawa, symbolizing the growing polarization. Additionally, the worsening cost-of-living crisis further strained trust in governments. As the pandemic stretched on, Canada’s initial unity gave way to fractured social bonds, leaving many to wonder how the country would respond to future crises.
Regional Variations and Collective Memory: Lessons Lost
The pandemic’s impact varied across Canada, with some regions spared the worst of it while others bore the brunt. Quebec and Ontario, the most populous provinces, faced devastating outbreaks that ravaged long-term care systems, while Atlantic Canada’s relative isolation and "Atlantic Bubble" strategy limited infections. Nunavut remained virus-free for months, a unique outlier in a country otherwise grappling with the spread.
As time passes, the collective memory of the pandemic seems to be fading, raising concerns about whether Canada has retained the lessons of this historic crisis. For Jocelyn Titone, who contributed to a pandemic archive at Brock University, the era was marked by both absurd rituals—like wiping down groceries—and profound sacrifices, such as missing loved ones’ funerals. Yet, she worries that these moments, both mundane and traumatic, are being forgotten. "It’s almost like a sense of amnesia," Ruparelia observes. "It didn’t happen, or we’ve forgotten it happened."
Personal Loss and Resilience: Stories of Grief and Hope
For many Canadians, the pandemic was a time of profound personal loss and resilience. Heather Breadner, owner of a yarn store in Lindsay, Ontario, saw her business shuttered but found purpose in a new project: crafting a memorial blanket to honor those lost to COVID-19. Thousands of knitters joined her, creating squares that will one day form a testament to the pandemic’s toll. "There are still people dying," Breadner reminds us, urging Canadians not to forget the ongoing impact of the virus.
For Titone, the pandemic was a period of overwhelming stress, as she juggled work and childcare while grieving the loss of her grandfather. Yet, in time, she found small joys—reading, journaling, spending time outdoors—that helped her heal. Her story, like Breadner’s, highlights the resilience of ordinary Canadians, who found ways to cope, adapt, and even find meaning in the midst of crisis.
Reflections and Reckoning: Have We Learned Anything?
Five years on, the legacy of the pandemic remains deeply contested. While some remember it as a time of solidarity and reflection, others grieve the lives lost and the opportunities squandered. Navarro, reflecting on the era, laments that the lessons of the pandemic seem to have been forgotten. "We’re back to work capitalism," she says. "It’s almost like the lockdown years didn’t happen."
The pandemic exposed deep vulnerabilities in Canada’s healthcare systems, economy, and social fabric, but it also revealed remarkable human capacity for kindness, creativity, and perseverance. As the country moves forward, the question remains: will Canadians carry these lessons with them, or will they, like the virus itself, fade into memory? The answer, much like the pandemic’s long-term effects, remains uncertain.
