By Hannah Manning
These are new and unfamiliar times. The usually bustling ByWard Market has never been quieter as Ottawa battles COVID-19. Many of our favourite local shops and restaurants have closed. It feels odd that warmer, sunnier days are coupled with instructions to stay home, but it is clearly within everyone’s best interest to follow the advice of medical professionals and do just that. While this is a difficult time, there have been some incredible stories of kindness and innovation in our communities and across the country. With the future unknown, here are some ways to stay social in a time of social distancing.
Even though you can’t stop in for a visit, now is a great time to reach out to your friends, family and neighbours to see how they’re doing. If you’re able, offer to pick up some groceries next time you’re out, or help with online ordering. Swap your favourite recipes and try something new, then enjoy a virtual meal together while staying safe at home.
There are plenty of ways to stay connected while observing the recommended physical distancing rules. Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, Gone are the days of sending a letter to a loved one and waiting days or weeks for a reply. That said, Project Local Love [https://www.projectlocallove.com] (@projectlocallove on Instagram) is an easy way to send a free postcard featuring an Ottawa scene to a friend or family member across the country.
Many museums in town are offering virtual tours or sharing photos of their exhibitions. In Lowertown, the National Gallery of Canada, the ByTown Museum and the Royal Canadian Mint are sharing photos and videos online. Take a virtual tour [https://bytownmuseum.com/virtual-tour/] of the Commissariat, Ottawa’s oldest stone building and home to the ByTown Museum.
Ottawa is rich in arts and culture, and some local musicians have reacted to the closure of event spaces by offering live streams. The National Arts Centre is hosting a new series called #CanadaPerforms [https://nac-cna.ca/en/series/canadaperforms] where musicians can perform online to audiences around the globe. The ByWard Market is home to many great music venues and online performances are a great way to support local musicians while we wait out COVID-19. If you can, consider purchasing music or donating to your favourite local artists.
As we all know, Lowertown is home to many great restaurants. While some have made the difficult decision to close, many are still open for takeout or delivery. In addition to the usual delivery choices of Uber Eats and Skip the Dishes, many local businesses are opting into new ways to reach their customs. Love Local Delivery [https://responsiblechoice.ca/lovelocaldelivery/] is a new local delivery service that connects neighbourhood gems with the Ottawa community. At last check, a few of Lowertown’s great restaurants were already on board: Das Lokal, Khao Thai, Ahora, Bistro Ristoro and Zak’s Diner.
Ottawa Public Health, known for their great sense of humour on social media, is an excellent source of information related to COVID19 in Ottawa. As they have noted, things change rapidly during a pandemic. Find a trusted source of information and follow it.
The time will come to visit our favourite spots again, but until then, support local businesses by purchasing gift cards or placing online orders.
We know this is an uncertain time but one thing is certain: you are not in this alone. We can do this! Stay home, stay safe, stay healthy!