From the Mayor's Desk:

We Are Grateful

Doug Lawrance - Sioux Lookout Mayor

The streets of our communities are quiet these days. We are grateful for everyone who is complying with the messages of social distancing and staying home. Yet some essential work must continue. 
We are grateful for all those on both the front lines and back offices of health care and public health.  And so many others are contributing.
In the municipal sector, workers keep the water flowing, collect garbage, maintain public works, and keep the office running. Police, fire, by-law, and ambulance services continue to keep us safe. 
We are also grateful for the business sector who are innovating to keep us and their staff safe as we get groceries, fill prescriptions, and purchase other essentials. 
We are grateful for all those carrying on work in essential services for vulnerable people who continue to need support through this public health crisis.
We can all be grateful that we live in Canada, in Ontario, in Northwestern Ontario. The value of the investments in health care and public health systems are now clear to see. We are grateful for the responses to this crisis from both Federal and Provincial Governments. We will come through this difficult time.  And as we do, we are learning. We will be well-informed to make improvements to our systems.
Some of us have been impacted by lost income. Federal and Provincial programs are being created to help. But if you, a friend, or a neighbour is in need, please contact local agencies such as the Kenora District Services Board. We must find a way to help each and everyone in this challenging time. 
Most businesses have been impacted. Both now and when we open up again, we can all help by shopping locally whenever possible. Evolving programs are coming from senior governments and municipalities are helping through available methods.
In this era when panic news can spread quickly, we can also be grateful for our local media who provide us with credible local information. Thank you to The Sioux Lookout Bulletin for all you do for Sioux Lookout. Thank you to CKDR for your regional coverage.
As we now know that the coronavirus has arrived in our communities, let us all continue to act responsibly and respectfully to each other. 
And if you do have coronavirus questions, I urge you to contact the Northwestern Health Unit.
Stay well.  Social distance. Stay home if you can. And we can all be grateful for the ongoing individual and collective actions we are taking to minimize the impact of this virus.