Whatever happened to the banging of pots and pans as a “thank-you” to those on the frontlines? Victoria resident Darlene Caroline Campana says it’s a fad that disappeared quite a while ago.
“I loved that at 7 p.m. for the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were out there in our neighbourhoods clanking pots, ringing our bells and making noise to thank the frontline workers,” Campana told Victoria Buzz.
Now, as the pandemic rages on, the registered nurse finds her fellow healthcare colleagues are “weary” and “tired.”
It’s what’s prompting her to rally together drivers to “Care-A-Van” around three Greater Victoria hospitals this weekend, to show healthcare workers that their hard work is appreciated.
“We’re doing a play on words there,” Campana said.
This Sunday, March 13th, she’s inviting people to assemble at Centennial Park in Saanichton at 12:30 p.m., with their vehicles decked out in balloons and gratitude signs.
The convoy will hit the road at around 1 p.m., cruising past Saanich Peninsula Hospital first, then onto Victoria General, with a final stop at Royal Jubilee at 2:30 p.m. or so.
“The honking, unfortunately, has a bit of a negative impact now,” Campana said, “but we’ll do a little bit of that so they know we’re there. I think it will mainly be an overwhelming shout of ‘thank you.’”
According to Campana, she hasn’t organized anything like this before. In fact, she says the “Care-A-Van” was inspired from up island.
“It came for a woman up in Ladysmith who did a similar thing with a group of people, and I thought we have to do that down here,” she explained.
“I’ve been a nurse for 37 years, and I worked in emergency for 32 of those, so I have a real heart for what’s going on in hospitals. We were looking for a way to support them, and then I saw this woman had done this up in Ladysmith, so we jumped on it.”
“I’m really excited.”
According to Campana, her “trigger” to organize the convoy was recent reports of healthcare workers being harassed on the job.
Last month, an Island Health care worker alleged anti-mandate protestors yelled obscenities at them while driving to a patient’s home in James Bay.
“It just makes no sense to me,” Campana said.
In anticipation of Sunday, she’s been in touch with the leadership staff at all three hospitals, letting them know of their approximate arrival time.
“If nurses, doctors and everybody in there were able to look out a window or come outside, they would be able to feel our appreciation,” Campana added.
“That’s my hope.”
Greater Victoria hospitals “Care-A-Van”
- When: Sunday, March 13th; 12:30 p.m.
- Where: Meet at Centennial Park, 7526 Wallace Drive, Saanichton
