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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, A pr il 2, 20 20 | 6 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 80 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca newsroom@theifp.ca IndependentAndFreePress @IFP_11 WHO WE ARE Publisher Kelly Montague Regional General Manager Steve Foreman Regional Managing Editor Catherine O'Hara Managing Editor Karen Miceli Distribution Representative Iouliana Polar Real Estate Kristie Pells Regional Production Manager Manuel Garcia Production Shelli Harrison Halton Media General Manager Vicki Dillane CONTACT US The Independent & Free Press 280 Guelph Street, Unit 77 Georgetown, ON L7G 4B1 Phone: 905-873-0301 Classifieds: 1-800-263-6480 Fax: 905-873-0398 Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at theifp.ca Delivery For all delivery inquiries, please e-mail lpolar@miltoncanadianchampion.com or call 905-234-1019. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT THEIFP.CA As a front-line health-care work- er, the last few weeks have been in- teresting to say the least. With the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent cases confirmed in our communities, along with the near-constant head- lines depicting suffering and pande- monium, I find myself experiencing a roller-coaster of emotions. I feel the apprehension I imagine a soldier may feel heading to the trenches of a war whose enemy fights using unknown tactics and can't be defeated with the ammuni- tion at hand. But I realize, like pro- fessional fighters, my colleagues and I have been training for this ep- ic battle since the onset of our ca- reers. Uncertainty isn't new in this pro- fession. In fact, I would suggest it is rare to walk up to a door knowing exactly what will be found on the other side. Paramedics are experts at adjusting to ever-changing situa- tions and we gain this experience daily as we respond to the un- known, muddle through inclement weather, troubleshoot difficult ex- trications, and provide treatments in imperfect environments. Our medical authority frequently up- dates our directives, and we adapt. We are skilled at keeping level- headed and making sound judg- ments based on the information available to us, while being fluid enough in our processes to make modifications when the conditions change. Dwelling on the catastrophic po- tential of this virus has not been helpful for my well-being. It has caused me to feel scared, anxious, confused, and insecure. Speaking with my colleagues I know I don't feel alone in this, and I believe ac- knowledging this fear-based re- sponse is valuable; allowing myself to instead choose, with intention, a more empowered reaction. Remem- bering and affirming all the strengths that have led me through a 20-year career on the front line thus far is helpful. I have been groomed and well-equipped to en- ter this battle with my peers and an- swer one call at a time with care, compassion, knowledge, and com- petence. I -- along with all para- medics -- will attend to business as usual because people will still re- quire our help when they fall, be- come injured, or struggle with a medical problem. However, I cannot deny I am con- cerned about our front-line work- ers' ability to maintain a strong con- stitution for the long-haul. We've never had to collaborate like this on a global scale, and we are depending on the assistance of our friends and neighbours. When I see groups of people congregating on the street to engage in play, or continuing to dis- regard the pleas of our health and government officials, I feel angry and question my reasoning for put- ting myself and my family at fur- ther risk. I understand most of us have trouble processing the severi- ty of this illness, and, in my opinion, it's likely because in our culture we are shielded from bearing witness to hardship, torment, and death. In- stead, there's a general sense of in- vincibility. Am I scared of what may hap- pen? Absolutely. My coworkers and I expect to be face-to-face with this vi- rus and be stretched to the limits of our capabilities, and I've had mo- ments of simply wanting to hide in a hole rather than confront this. Miti- gating the risk and slowing down the spread so we can endure the war would really help us feel our efforts are not in vain. This international crisis has po- tential to unfold into a story of to- getherness and unity of the human spirit. Every one of us has an impor- tant, valuable role to play. Frontline workers are depending on your sup- portive actions so we all remain physically and mentally resilient. Whether staying home, working re- motely, continuing services at an essential business, self-isolating when asked, or providing health care, we are all warriors in this bat- tle. Angie Morrison is a paramedic for Northumberland Paramedics. EVERYONE HAS ROLE TO PLAY COLUMNIST ANGIE MORRISON DISCUSSES WIDE RANGE OF EMOTIONS FRONT-LINE HEALTH-CARE WORKERS FACE #SUPPORTOURHEROES ANGIE MORRISON Column We are in unprecedented times. Ontario, like most of the rest of the world, has closed its doors to visitors. Families have closed their doors to friends and rela- tives. Many businesses, except for essential services, have closed their doors to customers and em- ployees. Yet our front-line health-care workers are being called on every day to go against the norm, to show up for work to make sure others in our society are taken care of during the COVID-19 crisis that has dealt the world a punch to the gut. While the rest of us are in self- isolation or practising social dis- tancing, the majority of Ontario's 60,000 front-line health-care workers are showing up to work. Many are worried about their families falling sick to the virus. Afraid they might transfer it when they return home after a long day of work. They deserve our admiration, respect and thanks. They embody the true definition of a hero, a prime example of that person who runs toward the emergency while everyone else is running for cov- er. For many of those workers, their dedication to their job is helped by a support system at home. Many have children and older family members they are con- stantly worried about. They can only do their job knowing some- one is with their loved ones. Someone they can trust. But it isn't only health-care workers who deserve our admira- tion during this pandemic. The person delivering the mail, driving a bus or making sure gas is delivered to your local gas sta- tion deserves applause. The per- son who puts food on the shelves at your local grocery store is also working to make sure we get through this. As is the cashier or the person working in the back of the store to restock shelves, the hydro work- ers keeping the lights on and the pharmacist who makes sure resi- dents get their needed medica- tion. Employees at this newspaper are also doing their part to make sure you are kept up-to-date with the latest news and information you can trust. Even the carrier who gets the newspaper to your door, using acceptable social dis- tancing techniques, is doing their part. There have been a few reports of angry people complaining they have to bag their own groceries or spouting off about long lines, but thankfully the vast majority of residents understand the sacrific- es these heroes are making. That gratitude is growing daily in dif- ferent ways: through signs in win- dows, delivery of treats, sign boards popping up on street cor- ners or virtual praise on Face- book, Twitter and other social sites. We want to do our part to help you show your gratitude and let these frontline workers know we are thinking about them. Take a photo of your family of- fering your support and share it on Twitter, Facebook or Insta- gram using #saluteourheroes and tag us. We will select the best of the bunch to appear online and/ or in our upcoming print editions. We still aren't sure how long these unprecedented times are going to last. But it is reassuring to know there are people headed to work each day because they realize their job is important to keeping our province running. And for that we say thank you, thank you, thank you. FRONT-LINE WORKERS DESERVE GRATITUDE DURING CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK GIVE A WELL-DESERVED THANK YOU WHEN YOU CAN #SUPPORTOURHEROES For more columns and news on the coronavirus crisis, visit our website at theifp.ca