Posted on: June 6, 2022
The North Island Hospital Campbell River was a festival of gratitude, admiration and love on Thursday, June 2nd as a local Indigenous community delivered hundreds of roses t
o hospital staff, physicians and volunteers in appreciation of their amazing efforts during the pandemic.
“Today is about sharing some gratitude, our appreciation for people who work on the front lines," said Cory Cliffe, founder of the 7 Generation Stewards Society. “The folks at the hospital have kept our town safe through this pandemic and saved many of our families from many different issues and injuries. This is our community saying 'we love you and through the thick and thin will always appreciate the job you folks do.'"
They arrived at CRG on Thursday morning, bringing drumming and powerful songs of gratitude and praise to the hospital's Gathering Place, uplifting and inspiring sounds that reverberated throughout the hospital's main floor, from the front entrance, through Registration, the lab, Medical Imaging, the café, the Wellness Centre and all the way down to Emergency. Click on image to see more photos.
They brought buckets and buckets of individually wrapped roses of many colours, and personally delivered them to staff throughout the building. Four hundred roses, as well as home-made cookies. The love and gratitude they brought was reflected back in the faces and words of the receivers, their smiles, and surprise and heartfelt thanks. Many said the roses and the sentiments behind them 'made my day', and were a wonderful, unexpected show of support.
“Today we have an opportunity to gather, to uplift all the doctors, the nurses and support staff who help this place operate," Cliffe said. “Over the last two years there's been a lot of people who have been burnt out, who've gone underappreciated, overworked, and it's nobody's fault. These people are still here. They're still pushing through every day, protecting our community.
"Our community loves you, immeasurably and with immense respect. The people who operate in this place have touched my family and every family in this community."
Cliffe said appreciation of health care workers should be voiced on an ongoing basis, at least every year “to call out our frontline workers and recognize them for the sacrifices they make."
“The long shifts, the time away from their families, the long term of education that they take, the dedication that they put into going to universities so that they can end up in a place like this to care for the most important part of anybody's life – their health," he said. “You are truly the guardians of our community. I raise my hands and I thank you."
Cliffe also presented a ceremonial paddle, created by artist Dicky Joseph, to Michelle Crosby, Campbell River Director of Clinical Services, as a gift to the hospital. Crosby thanked Cliffe and the 7 Generation Stewards Society for their “incredibly touching gift."
“I can't even put into words how touched I am by the gesture of bringing a gift to all of our staff in the hospital," she said. "This paddle – and the symbolism that we are all going to paddle together to a healthier community – it's just so wonderful. On behalf of the hospital, on behalf of the community of physicians, I really want to thank you for acknowledging us and for bringing this light and love into our building."
Formed in 2000, the Campbell River-based 7 Generation Stewards Society is a non-profit organization seeking to be a catalyst for positive change through support, empowerment and progress. Cliffe explained the organization was founded out of different members of the Kwakwak'awakw nations, mostly the Laichwiltach.
“Our society is responsible for maintaining the balance on land, sea and in our community," he said. “So as we move into our role in the community, we realize that it is important to recognize the essential services in our community that risk life and limb in many different ways to ensure our safety and well-being. So this year we are holding an essential services recognition day for each sector to say thank you from our community."
“This is such a wonderful expression of thanks," said CRG Site Director Tricia Sinclair. “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the 7 Generation Stewards Society on behalf of myself, and the staff at Campbell River Hospital, for the heartfelt gift of love and appreciation.
“Those who were here to receive roses and cookies, and connect with the society members, truly felt the compassion behind the gifting and significant demonstration of thanks for the work we do."
“It was a privilege and honor to witness the expression of gratitude offered to all of the physicians and staff at the Campbell River North Island Hospital by the members of the 7 Generation Stewards Society," said Michelle McClain, North Island Manager of Indigenous Health. “This opportunity to come together to celebrate each other's contributions through the recent pandemic, to reconnect and make new connections, was truly uplifting for all.
“It is my hope that the spirit and energy which was elevated by the sounds of the drums, shall continue to reverberate among us as we continue on this shared journey of healing and reconciliation."