While many are held up in their homes, working from dining room tables and emerging only for the quick grocery trip during the COVID-19 outbreak, there are frontline workers all around the City and Township, and not just the ones who are working hard in hospitals or supermarkets.
They are the civil service workers who keep transit options open, municipal operations running, and even mail coming to the door.
Kyle Simpson, manager of engineering operations for the City of 91原创, said there is a lot for his team to do that may not be on the forefront of resident鈥檚 minds.
鈥淩ight now we are doing a lot of water main flushing鈥� boulevard maintenance鈥� picking up litter off the ground. We also do sign maintenance and work on traffic signs,鈥� Simpson explained, adding that COVID-19 has no doubt affected their daily life.
鈥淲e have been following provincial guidelines 鈥� keeping the two meter distance, washing our hands and carrying out extra cleaning of touch points,鈥� Simpson said.
鈥淲ork-wise, there actually haven鈥檛 been a whole lot of changes since we鈥檙e a smaller municipality,鈥� he noted, pointing out 91原创 City鈥檚 parks and engineering operations team consists of 30 full-time staff members.
Simpson said one of the more usual, yet obvious, obstacles for his crew is that they can only allow one person in a vehicle at a time.
鈥淲e would often normally have three or four people in a vehicle, but you can鈥檛 maintain a safe distance inside the cab,鈥� Simpson explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a bit of an adjustment, but we鈥檝e leased a few more trucks and have allowed the use of employee鈥檚 own personal vehicles.鈥�
The manager also said 91原创 residents can do their part to help the operations and parks team conduct their work in a safer manner by disposing of their masks and gloves properly.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been finding a lot just left on the ground,鈥� he noted, asking for them to be safely disposed inside a trash receptacle so no contact has to be made.
鈥淣on-flushable items, such as cleaning wipes are ending up down the toilet, which could cause sewer pump problems or back ups,鈥� Simpson added, advising people to read up on what can and cannot be flushed.
Roeland Zwaag, director of public works for the Township of 91原创, echoed Simpson鈥檚 concerns and experiences.
The Township has increased cleaning activities such as pressure washing bus stops, street furniture, and garbage cans. Park rangers at park sites are reminding the public about facility closures and educating users on physical distancing.
The Township additionally adjusted some work programs amid COVID-19 and are not presently crack-sealing roads due to physical distancing limitations, instead focusing on more shoulder and pothole repairs.
Guylene Leroux is another type of civil service worker; she is a rural and suburban letter carrier for Canada Post who services a route in Willoughby and works out of the 91原创 depot.
鈥淚 feel safe,鈥� Leroux assured, saying she wears gloves, a mask, and carries hand sanitizer.
While it鈥檚 not mandatory, she said Canada Post supplies those materials for carriers who want them.
鈥淐ustomers are aware at mailboxes and are sure to keep their distance by going around if a letter carrier is there,鈥� Leroux added. 鈥淭he schedule has changed so different waves start at 7 and 9 a.m. and disinfecting is done in between,鈥� Leroux explained.
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She said carriers are also spaced out at their sorting stations so there is an empty space between employees.
Registered mail is to have no contact with anyone, meaning signatures on scanners are prohibited and everything is dropped off 鈥� except mail that requires someone over the age of 19 to accept it.
It can be hard to keep new protocols and social distancing in mind with such a busy job; Leroux said the amount of parcels having increased because of online demand.
鈥淭he volume feels like the high peak of Christmas,鈥� she said, a time that sees 1.8 million items delivered daily across Canada.
Of course, just as healthcare workers have experienced, Leroux has also noticed support from the community.
鈥淐ustomers have been leaving positive notes by my community mailbox. Someone drew a chalk drawing with the caption 鈥榯hank you so much letter carrier,鈥� which brought a tear to my eye,鈥� Leroux recounted. 鈥淪ome people just give me the thumbs up or tell me 鈥榯hank you for keeping us connected鈥�.鈥�
Despite the onslaught of growing changes and dangers that have resulted in deaths around the world, taking pride in work鈥� as Lerox, Zwaag, and Simpson do 鈥� is keeping communities together.
Leroux added 鈥淚鈥檓 thankful to be working and everyone I work with is always ready to go above and beyond what we do.鈥�
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Email: ryan.uytdewilligen@langleyadvancetimes.com
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