Alumni Notebook - July 2020

Q: What changes have you had to make in your working life?
A: Practicing medicine is now completely different since COVID-19 became a pandemic. In order to ensure patient safety, we are encouraging phone call or "virtual" visits for anything that can be managed over the phone. As for in-clinic visits, no longer can I walk in and out of each room going from patient to patient.

Gearing up or "donning" full PPE takes time and then "doffing," which is removing PPE without contaminating oneself, and then doing it all over again for the next patient has completely changed our interactions with patients. It certainly makes you appreciate the ease we once had before infection protocol became such a large issue. I think the relationship between a patient and their family doctor is an important relationship for people, and most of my patients have commented on how they miss the face-to-face interaction we once had as trying to practice medicine over the phone is definitely far from ideal. It really goes to show that there will always be a need for one-on-one physician-to-patient care.

Q: How do these changes affect your daily routine?
A: My daily routine is completely different, and I definitely miss practicing medicine pre-COVID. The one-on-one interaction with patients is lost over the phone and in-clinic visits are changed by me having to wear a mask at all times and ensuring everything is wiped down and sanitized after each patient. Practicing medicine is definitely not as easy these days.

Q: How do these changes affect your family?
A: The concern for all of us practicing medicine during the pandemic is the worry that we may get this virus and bring it home to our family. My husband has asthma, so it is a constant worry; I have to rely on my knowledge of infection protocol and make sure I do not contaminate myself at work. I haven't seen my siblings or their children since pre-COVID as I don’t want to risk being around them because of my high risk occupation.

Q: Do you feel especially vulnerable? More so during the pandemic?
A: I think everyone working in medicine feels vulnerable, but as I have said to everyone who has asked me about this, I signed up to be a physician. Pandemic or no pandemic, this is the job I chose and I am grateful to be a physician.

Q: What kind of health and wellness routines do you follow to keep you feeling well?
A: I have always valued regular physical exercise to help me stay physically and mentally strong. Although all the gyms are closed, I am still trying to keep up with physical activity. Now that the weather is nicer, getting out to ride on my road or mountain bike is a great mental boost.

Q: What are your top tips for friends and family to move safely through this period of time?
A: Be strategic about what you listen to on social media and the news. As a scientist, there is a lot of false information out there. So far, Canada has done an excellent job in "flattening the curve," yet there is a lot of negativity and fear out there. I still recall Mr. Robertson speaking to us in chapel about the adage "This, too, shall pass." This, too, shall pass, and it certainly has made me even more grateful for all the amazing things in my life.

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:I am very grateful for my job, my loved ones and my life. I have always loved that I am intellectually curious and that I always try to continue learning. Mr. Lane definitely was a great influence in my time at Shawnigan, as even at a young age, I admired his intellectual curiosity. He always believed I could achieve anything I set my mind to and I have great memories of him as my teacher. Mrs. Grass and Mrs. Leary were two women who did everything with conviction and love and grace, and they were important role models for me during my time at the School. It's wonderful to know Mrs. Grass is still at Shawnigan, continuing to pass down these strengths to students. I will always cherish my parents’ belief in Shawnigan; enrolling me and my three siblings in the School made them so proud. Shawnigan has helped form me into the person I am today and am I proud of who I am. I carry my Shawnigan lessons and experiences with me to this day in every stage of my life.

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: I have to say I get a little weepy and teary every time I hear the city banging on their pots and pans at nightfall to thank the medical and front line workers. Being a physician is an amazing career but it can be incredibly difficult as the magnitude of having to be on, intellectually and emotionally, every day can be taxing. To hear the support we are receiving every night or patients thanking me for what we do is such a blessing and very much appreciated.

Q: How can we support essential workers at this time?
A: Tell the essential workers how much you appreciate the work we are doing! A quick and simple thank you is very much appreciated and can lift a person's day! Never forget how great our Canadian healthcare system is and that it's the people behind that system that we all turn to in hard times.

After graduating from Shawnigan in ’01, I went on to receive two university degrees at the University of Alberta. I completed a Bachelor of Education as well as a Bachelor of Physical Education. I ran nationally recognized hockey and lacrosse academies for several years until I started my career in emergency services.

I currently work as a firefighter/paramedic for Strathcona County Emergency Services just east of Edmonton. I also work as a critical care paramedic in the aeromedical field including Stars Air Ambulance and Alberta Air Ambulance. Working alongside some of the best ICU doctors and nurses has been an amazing experience and helped improve my own clinical practice tremendously.

Working on the frontline during this time has been stressful to say the least! COVID-19 has brought many challenges to our profession that we have not previously experienced before. During these stressful times, we are actually seeing a sharp increase in mental health-related calls over actual COVID-19 calls. It is extremely important to take care of not only your physical health during this pandemic but also your mental health!

Thank you to everyone who is helping to flatten the curve. Speaking on behalf of other first responders, we have felt incredible support from our communities during these trying times.

Stay safe. Wash your hands. Check in with your family members and friends. I hope you are all doing well wherever your road has led you.

After a long and successful career on the field, Brett has recently decided to hang up his boots and retire from professional rugby. The game has taken him from the University of Victoria to the UK, where he played professionally for many years. Brett has represented Canada on many occasions, including at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in Wales. In all he had 35 caps for Canada. Following his experience at the Rugby World Cup in 2015, Brett joined the Cornish Pirates, where he was captain for the final few years of his playing career.

Brett obtained his BA in History at Plymouth University, followed by a Master’s in Business Management. He has now returned to his home town of Lindsay, Ontario, where he hopes to start a career in business in Toronto in the coming year.

Read more about Brett’s retirement from the Cornish Pirates here: https://cornish-pirates.com/rugby/skipper-beuks-announces-his-retirement/

I graduated from Shawnigan in 2010. I then went on to get my nursing degree from St. Francis Xavier University in 2014, and have been working as a registered nurse for six years. Currently, I am working at Cowichan District Hospital as a float nurse, meaning I work all over the hospital in almost all direct patient care areas – wherever I am needed, I go!

This pandemic period has been crazy! Similar to feelings in the general public, there has been a high level of anxiety felt throughout the hospital I work at. I believe this is mainly due to the uncertainties we have been faced with – being unsure how this will last, if/when we will be hit with the high numbers of cases that we are seeing in other countries, and what this would do to our healthcare system. Policies to keep patients and ourselves safe and healthy are changing almost daily. This has unfortunately created quite a bit of confusion at times, and it can be hard to stay current with all of the changes. We have been trying to keep smiles on our faces (under our masks of course) and to stay positive.

I think the most important and helpful way to support front-line workers is to simply stay home! By continuing to practice social distancing and self-isolation, people can help protect the general public and keep themselves and others healthy. By keeping the community safe it will help front-line workers, mainly healthcare workers, by keeping patient numbers at a safe and manageable level, giving us the ability to care for our patients fully while keeping ourselves safe. If the healthcare system gets overwhelmed, as we are currently seeing in other countries, unfortunately care and safety are often compromised.

The entire Cowichan Valley has been incredibly supportive! From first-responders drive-by parades at the hospital to the symphony of bells, horns, pots and pans that can he heard at 7pm in many different neighborhoods, these nods of appreciation are so thoughtful. Even though if you ask most first-responders/healthcare workers we will simply say, “we are just doing our job,” it does help lessen the anxieties knowing that we have the support of our wonderful community during this unprecedented time.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Congratulations to Max on his recent appointment to Canada’s inaugural Youth Council, a new initiative by Canada’s Chief Science Advisor, Dr. Monar Nemar. Max was one of twenty youth selected from across Canada out of 1, 115 applicants.

Max is an engineer currently working on the next generation of space exploration with MDA in Toronto. Max completed his undergraduate degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Alberta, and is a candidate for a Master’s in Applied Science from the University of Toronto in Aerospace Engineering (2020). With time spent abroad working with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), and here in Canada working on satellites and Canadarm2, he has been a part of Canada’s role in the science and space community internationally.

Throughout his studies and early career, Max has worked to bring science to everyone. With volunteer work at observatories, classroom workshops, and public lectures, Max has instilled a passion for science, as well as the exciting vision he has for Canada’s role in the scientific world. The world is becoming increasingly connected, and the impact of science and society on one another is becoming increasingly influential. Max hopes to capture the voice of youth and to engage all Canadians in the excitement of modern science, especially Canada’s emerging role in the exploration of outer space.