19 © 2022 B&G Foods Canada, ULC. All Rights Reserved. *T.M. of B&G Foods North America, Inc., used under license. Throughout the CO- VID-19 pandemic, the local community has remained #DurhamStrong through our resilient spirit. As we look to the future -- and economic and community recovery -- the Region of Durham is calling on residents to share their unique experiences. STORIES OF THE PANDEMIC: SCOTT HENDERSON Bird watching became a pastime for Whitby resident Scott Henderson, dean of Trent University Durham GTA. "As the head of a university campus, it is always a busy job, with a lot of unexpected elements. COVID has added an entire other layer: public health regulations, pivoting to online teaching, dealing with new issues around tech, around social interaction, Zoom etiquette, etc. Overall, it has been relentless. There are constant adaptations to the way in which we work, which adds an entire other layer on top of things. It also means that the enjoyable social aspects, which help make the working day tolerable, have disappeared. It is strange to be constantly busy, but to almost never see the results of your work. They are happening somewhere else in the online world. This has meant seeing less of my kids, or barely seeing my two-year-old grandson throughout the pandemic. It also made visiting my 88-year-old mother very difficult, for long periods. I focused a lot more on my garden, particularly feeding and watching birds. There has likely been too much drink and television over the course of the pandemic, but there's also a lot more outdoor time. Working from home allowed me to take small breaks, to tend the garden, to walk the dog, to chat with neighbours. It has not been all bad. I'm feeling incredibly burned out, but somehow remain optimistic and hopeful. We have seen a lot of the bad side of people over the course of the pandemic. But, frankly that is a noisy, bothersome minority. Mainly we have seen people being good, coming together." Story collected by Will McGuirk on behalf of the Region of Durham's Stories of the Pandemic project. Read more local stories and submit your own at durham.ca/PandemicStories. OPINION DEAN ON SIMPLE PLEASURES DURING PANDEMIC