Ross Sutherland - On council and family life

Ross Sutherland | Apr 22, 2020

For me life in the time of COVID has been frustrating, challenging, occasionally lonely and sometimes wonderous.

When responding as a Township Councillor to community problems, whether it is a pothole that needs fixing, a neighbour’s chickens in someone’s yard, a new building that is blocking drainage or a clear-cut shoreline I like to research, be well prepared and ‘lay eyes’ on the issue. But the next step, talking face to face is equally important for the best outcome.

It shows that I am taking the issue seriously, especially if I don’t see the problem the way it was presented. Talking together allows for nuance and greater latitude to explore the issue. Whether I agree or not, people’s stories and concerns are always interesting and make me think. Face-to-face it is easier to see if someone is getting emotional, or if they agree or disagree. It is easier to judge if what I am saying makes sense to them. Do I need to listen harder, ask more questions or go at the problem another way? Making these judgements are all more difficult over the phone. Calling has the advantage of speed but is a more one-dimensional discussion.

Direct discussion also works better when talking with staff. It allows for questions that might arise and for a more informal explanation of alternatives. The lockdown impacts that all-important relationship building and understanding of people’s stories which, for me, are the best parts of the Councillor’s job.

Last week I was dropping off some food for a family and left the boxes, as protocol demands, at the end of their driveway. That delivery left me with a very unpleasant, incomplete feeling, like was dealing with an outcast rather than extending a helping hand, which I would prefer to literally do, to a neighbour. I can only imagine how it made them feel.

The lockdown is also frustrating because it negatively impacts constituents’ involvement in both the political process and in building our community: important goals for me. Watching a meeting on a Facebook live feed is not the same as talking with Councillors about an issue before a meeting, or raising questions at the end of the meeting.

It is encouraging that many people have stepped up to provide extra food through community pantries while others are leaving heart warming rocks along trails. Many are helping neighbours who are housebound or making extra donations, such as buying gift cards to help local businesses. These are all remarkable personal initiatives, but community organizing is more difficult.

I participate in two volunteer groups, the Friends of the Cataraqui Trail and the Lakes and Trails Festival, which are taking small steps to continuing organizing on line. It will be a chance to update and say hi to friends. It will allow an opportunity for those who have put in many hours on a project to be involved in potentially difficult decisions on how we go forward. However, these meetings require a new, and sometime frustrating skill: learning how to sign up and run a conference call.

At my home, the lockdown has been a mixed blessing. On the one hand, we live in a marvelous place and spending more leisure time here has long been on the agenda. We have seen otters mating in our marsh and a pair of very amorous Piliated Woodpeckers are hanging around because we have been able to provide more consistent suet. Maybe we will soon be foster-grandparents to otter pups and Piliated chicks.

At the same time, it is often lonely without people dropping in and being unable to go into town to catch up on coffee and gossip. And talking to friends on the phone is not the same as sharing a meal and hugs.

My most difficult issue, one shared with many around the province, has been helping my mother who is in declining health (unrelated to COVID). She has steadfastly chosen to live at home, probably a wise decision considering the crisis in long term care homes, but it means she requires more care than Home Care can provide. Even before the outbreak Home Care, while good on paper, was unreliable, with many missed visits. Now there is the added stress, of possibly bringing the viral infection to her. The tension escalated when Home Care asked whether or not we, her children, could take over all of her care if they had to stop her Personal Support Worker (PSW) visits. Luckily this has not yet happened and our mother remains as healthy as possible. Nonetheless, it highlighted for me how we, as a society, are not prepared to care for our seniors.

I had a personal struggle deciding whether to come out of retirement and return to some form of nursing work. Both age and residual wear and tear from the HIV-AIDs and SARs epidemic frontlines have made me realize that this would not be a good idea: but it is hard to step back.

I am finding life and politics in the time of COVID different. The personal touch and nuance are diminished. The situation is both frustrating and scary, feelings I undoubtedly share with many. This time has also had its wonderous moments. While the next few years will be challenging, seeing the ways people are coping and “going beyond” makes me hopeful. We will continue to help each other, build our communities and make them better.