This year will long be remembered as the year of COVID 19.

The first whispers of the coming pandemic began circulating in January, and the word kept becoming more ominous as the days passed.

The first case of COVID 19 in British Columbia was diagnosed on January 28, 2020.

Physical distancing (6 feet apart from other people) and self-isolation (staying at home with no direct contact with anyone, except by telephone or internet) became the norm. Gathering of more than 50 people were banned - a province-wide state of emergency was declared on March 18. March 20 saw all dine-in food sources closed and March 21 all personal service establishments such as hair and beauty salons, spas and tattoo parlours were also closed. Many public playgrounds were closed.

BC Ferries reduced sailings; there was a 7:00 PM salute to the health care workers for their efforts to care for the ill. Events such as the Pacific National Exhibition and the Celebration of Light were cancelled. As were many sports events.

By July 3, 2020, there were 2,940 cases of COVID 19 in British Columbia of those, 2,603 recovered but sadly there were also 177 deaths. The remaining cases were on-going cases, still being treated.

An October 2022 update on the statistics showed:

• Total cases in British Columbia: 385,000 cases - 4,283 deaths

• Total cases in Canada 4.28 million cases --- 45,455 deaths

• The world population in 1919 was 1.2 billion people

• The world population in 2020 was 7,734,798,739

The first mention of COVID 19 occurred in 2019 when a news report came from a source in China, referring to a "new disease" which had developed there. By February of 2020 it was also in British Columbia and soon was spreading across the globe.

Soon many nations found themselves in "lock -down" --- schools closed, businesses either closed or worked shorter hours under strict masking and other measures. Suddenly we were more idle. There was no visiting, no trips to towns or cities for: “window shopping". Parents became substitute teachers, trying to keep their children up to date on what the teachers were instructing. Personal life was disrupted, and all members of the families felt it. For seniors or those who lived alone, the isolation was nearly total.

We have seen changes in our Women's Institute meeting arrangements. Due to the necessity of isolating which resulted in a lack of interaction between members which, in turn, resulted in the lack of exchanges of friendship and the bonuses that produces.

I think we have become more appreciative of what the Women's Institute is and its members offer. There were a limited number of positive fallouts from COVID 19 and I believe this is one of the most important ones.

Wherever possible, I have included the minutes of the meetings, both Somenos branch in Somenos' book, and the district meetings in the district book. I was privileged to take part in the meetings - I mean the ones held by ZOOM. These show the positive side of group participation and how many of us adjusted to the "new norm". We helped each other assimilate to that new norm -- I think our organization is the better for that.

Although we were unable to meet in person, we persevered, just as the Institute members have done since 1897.  We should be proud of our resilience and the example we have set for others in our communities.

So, what were some of the things that Women's Institute members did to fill the idle hours COVID 19 provided us with? And what did they miss most?

• walked and cycled more

• made home improvements

• learned to use ZOOM for meetings

• spent more time communicating with family and friends online and by telephone

• learned to read smiles in eyes

• walking and hiking, observing nature

• spent time de- cluttering and downsizing

• Salt Spring Island WI held a number of meetings outdoors: where they had visits from some fairly tame deer, and the hostess' newly tamed feral cat became comfortable lying on the secretary's papers

• provided boxed variety fresh fruit every two weeks for six months to the local hospital and extended care facility

• as a surprise for the President, Margaret Reid and her husband, their daughter arranged a drive-through celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary - the local fire engine and 27 vehicles drove around the Reid's circular driveway and all had a short visit with the happy couple

After the cancellation of the Salt Spring Island Fall Fair in 2020 resulting in no pie making or pie sales, the

ladies were delighted to find that, though on a limited style, the pie stall would be in business again in 2021.

Through all this, Salt Spring Island WI has been trying to mark their 100th anniversary (1920 - 2020). They went through two cancellations during COVID 19 - just another adventure brought on by the pandemic!

Whoever suggested we should look for a way to help the Ukrainian families who have settled in the Cowichan Valley should be celebrated by us all! To me, that event and the results from it are the very best type of promotion for the Women's Institute and the people of our community (who were probably as tired of staying at home as we were!) came out to help us pickup from where we were when the pandemic arrived.

I wish to thank Salt Spring Island Women's Institute and Somenos Women's Institute for sending me the materials on what they did and achieved during the COVID 19 period. I have included these materials, in their entirety, Somenos WIs in the Somenos History book, and both in the district book.

I would also like to thank the members of Somenos and the District for their patience with me, during this time of Leonard’s health issues. I still have some catching up to do, but I think that will happen fairly soon, fingers crossed!

Yours For Home and Country, Ruth Fenner, Historian