News
Essential Alumni
A weekly feature from Rhodri Samuel
Mr. Samuel keeps up with alumni all over the globe. In recent weeks, he has been reaching out in particular to our graduates working in jobs that are deemed essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Samuel sent the following questions to Lukas Balkovec ’11 (Copeman’s), now a Constable in the London Police Service ON, and received this wonderful response:
Q: What changes have you had to make in your working life?
A: Working life has shifted dramatically since the outbreak of COVID-19. A huge emphasis has been put on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), more so than ever before, and people who call 911 are being asked specific screening questions related to COVID. My job itself has not shifted. I am still expected to respond to calls for service in the same manner and interact with the public to the best of my abilities. I am more mindful, however, of the distance I keep with people and whose homes I choose to enter or not enter. I personally have had to place an emphasis on the use of my PPE when I interact with the public as well as frequent hand washing after every call for service. Despite the pandemic, police still have a job to do and the calls continue to pour in.
Q: How do these changes affect your daily routine?
A: My daily routine has not seen any significant changes, personally or professionally. I am still fortunate to be able to go to work when scheduled and enjoy my time off when I am away. I live in the country, well outside of the city I work in, and contact with others has always been very minimal, even prior to the outbreak. I spend a lot of my daily free time working on my house, hunting, fishing and hiking with my dogs, all of which I am still thankful to be able to do during this time.
A: My daily routine has not seen any significant changes, personally or professionally. I am still fortunate to be able to go to work when scheduled and enjoy my time off when I am away. I live in the country, well outside of the city I work in, and contact with others has always been very minimal, even prior to the outbreak. I spend a lot of my daily free time working on my house, hunting, fishing and hiking with my dogs, all of which I am still thankful to be able to do during this time.
Q: How do these changes affect your family?
A: Unfortunately, in the course of my duties at work, time with my family has taken a setback. Because of the numerous people I interact with on a daily basis, I would feel extremely guilty if I were to be exposed to COVID-19 and pass it on to a member of my family, particularly anyone with previous health issues or elderly members. Luckily, there are so many ways to stay connected to family in 2020.
Q: Do you feel especially vulnerable during the pandemic?
A: I believe that the likelihood for exposure has grown, given my chosen profession, but I personally do not feel more vulnerable. I am mindful that exposure may happen, but I have trust the PPE that my workplace has provided me with, and I trust my own judgement when interacting with the public.
A: I believe that the likelihood for exposure has grown, given my chosen profession, but I personally do not feel more vulnerable. I am mindful that exposure may happen, but I have trust the PPE that my workplace has provided me with, and I trust my own judgement when interacting with the public.
Q: What kind of health and wellness routines do you follow to keep yourself feeling well?
A: My workplace has heavily invested in the mental and physical wellness of employees over the past several years. We are fortunate to have full time access to a personal psychologist, wellness coordinator, nutritionist and excellent facilities. The outbreak has shut down the exercise facilities, but I still have access to the other services listed above whenever I feel that I need help. I am also fortunate to have installed a gym in my home, which has allowed me to continue training every day. It is easy to become complacent and lazy at a time like this, but I try to maintain discipline both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, those who choose to commit crimes do not factor the pandemic into their decision making – if I allow myself to slip, physically or mentally, at this time I could pay a heavy price.
A: My workplace has heavily invested in the mental and physical wellness of employees over the past several years. We are fortunate to have full time access to a personal psychologist, wellness coordinator, nutritionist and excellent facilities. The outbreak has shut down the exercise facilities, but I still have access to the other services listed above whenever I feel that I need help. I am also fortunate to have installed a gym in my home, which has allowed me to continue training every day. It is easy to become complacent and lazy at a time like this, but I try to maintain discipline both physically and mentally. Unfortunately, those who choose to commit crimes do not factor the pandemic into their decision making – if I allow myself to slip, physically or mentally, at this time I could pay a heavy price.
Q: Do you do something different for your own emotional health?
A: Mental wellness and toughness in my field is just as important as physical health. I have tried to have a consistent approach to mental health since starting this career, so have not scrambled to change anything just because of the pandemic. I am fortunate to work with great colleagues who have similar experiences to me every day, and, along with them, I am able to share a laugh and decompress after any stressful call. My particular habits have not changed, but I do urge people who are struggling during this pandemic to reach out – isolation can be lonely, and although many things have changed, help is still out there.
A: Mental wellness and toughness in my field is just as important as physical health. I have tried to have a consistent approach to mental health since starting this career, so have not scrambled to change anything just because of the pandemic. I am fortunate to work with great colleagues who have similar experiences to me every day, and, along with them, I am able to share a laugh and decompress after any stressful call. My particular habits have not changed, but I do urge people who are struggling during this pandemic to reach out – isolation can be lonely, and although many things have changed, help is still out there.
Q: What are your top tips for friends and family to move safely through this period of time?
A: The most important way to move through this pandemic is to listen to and follow the procedures that our health professionals and government have put in place. People may feel that many of the restrictions in place are unfair or even unconstitutional, but everyone needs to realize that they are for our safety and to keep us alive. Unfortunately, at work over the past few weeks, I have seen a lot of citizens contravene orders. These people may feel that they are doing nothing wrong, but they put others at risk. If everyone does their part, Canada will flatten the curve and life will eventually cycle back to some sort of normality. Support your loved ones, communicate with each other in the best way you can, and be patient.
A: The most important way to move through this pandemic is to listen to and follow the procedures that our health professionals and government have put in place. People may feel that many of the restrictions in place are unfair or even unconstitutional, but everyone needs to realize that they are for our safety and to keep us alive. Unfortunately, at work over the past few weeks, I have seen a lot of citizens contravene orders. These people may feel that they are doing nothing wrong, but they put others at risk. If everyone does their part, Canada will flatten the curve and life will eventually cycle back to some sort of normality. Support your loved ones, communicate with each other in the best way you can, and be patient.
Q: Are you aware of any supports for essential workers? Have these improved/lifted your mood or inspired you?
A: People have shown a tremendous support, particularly for police, during this pandemic. Unfortunately, on any given day, police are not received as well as one may expect, and it seems that it has taken a pandemic for people's minds to shift. We don't often deal with people on the best days of their lives; most often we see them on the worst (for example, a death, a motor vehicle collision, an arrest, etc.). Negative feelings against police are inherent in society due to the role we play. During this time, however, I have had numerous interactions with citizens who have now been able to see the compassionate and selfless side of my profession. The changes in support have given me and my colleagues the hope that we can further strengthen our bond within the community as we start to heal from this outbreak.
A: People have shown a tremendous support, particularly for police, during this pandemic. Unfortunately, on any given day, police are not received as well as one may expect, and it seems that it has taken a pandemic for people's minds to shift. We don't often deal with people on the best days of their lives; most often we see them on the worst (for example, a death, a motor vehicle collision, an arrest, etc.). Negative feelings against police are inherent in society due to the role we play. During this time, however, I have had numerous interactions with citizens who have now been able to see the compassionate and selfless side of my profession. The changes in support have given me and my colleagues the hope that we can further strengthen our bond within the community as we start to heal from this outbreak.
Q: Can you look back at your Shawnigan career and point to a program or teacher who inspired/taught you and helped you become the person you are now?
A: On initial reading of this question, it seemed impossible to only pick one program or teacher who helped shape my character and the person I am today. My entire experience at Shawnigan Lake School provided me with ample lessons that I now carry with me every day personally and professionally. The athletics programs that I was involved in (soccer, basketball and rugby) and the coaches I played for both taught me the invaluable lessons of perseverance, effort and teamwork. The fine arts that I participated in (pottery and woodwork) pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me new and unique skills. Last, but certainly not least, the academic staff at Shawnigan believed in me, even in subjects where I struggled. They took time out of their busy days to ensure my success. These are lessons that I will carry with me forever and I believe that much of any success I have experienced can be traced back to the years spent at the School with the best House directing staff (Mr. David Hyde-Lay), teachers and coaches I could ever have asked for.
Q: Is there a short, anecdotal story you could tell us about kindness/courage/patience you’ve come across in the last couple of months?
A: Since the outbreak of COVID-19, most businesses within my city have shut down. There are certain facets to policing that many people may not consider, one in particular being where members can go to the washroom. As our city is fairly large and our shifts long (12 hours), members do not always have the luxury to drive downtown to our station to use the facilities and businesses that would usually be open are now closed. The community saw this issue and fortunately for us, numerous churches around the city have given us private access to use their washrooms, kitchens and break rooms. This simple act of kindness has raised morale during the pandemic and it further demonstrates the outpouring of support for police while we navigate these waters. Sometimes, the smallest gesture can have the biggest impact.
Q: How can we support essential workers at this time?
A: In my particular line of work, the best way that the public can support essential workers is to limit all personal contact with others. This includes non-emergency calls to police and non-emergency visits to the emergency room. Too often, emergency workers see a backlog of calls that are non-emergent and tie up vital resources that need to be left available to respond to critical incidents. If members of the public continue to stay home, limit non-essential contact with others, and only use emergency services for emergencies, we will see an improvement in the current trends. The best way to say thank you to an essential worker is to stay home.
Q: Do you know of any of your Shawnigan friends or contacts who are also on the frontline at this time? Have you been able to connect with them and offer mutual support?
A: Due to my line of work, I tend to stay off of social media as much as possible and having moved away from British Columbia years ago, I have lost touch with many of my classmates and old friends. To any Shawnigan alumni who are out there, both those on the frontlines or at home, I hope you are all staying safe, healthy and supporting your friends and family the best you can. I wish everyone the best during these challenging times.
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