The pandemic’s end should mark the beginning of memorials to recognize its victims in Barrie.
City council decided Monday night that all requests or recommendations for memorials be referred to the city clerk to maintain a list until the COVID-19 pandemic is declared finished. At that time, the city clerk will review requests with the municipal naming working group and the appropriate departments for the evaluation and response for a report back to councillors.
“As we sit here in the hopefully… I’m not even going to say which stage of our pandemic, but we all hope we’re getting near the end,” Coun. Jim Harris said. “Certainly, we’ve lost some citizens, family friends, colleagues and such so there will be representation and having something done in a co-ordinated plan or fashion is appropriate, so this could help us do that in a respectful way.”
The Barrie District Realtors Association has already raised the possibility of installing a recognition fixture in remembrance of the victims of COVID-19, while the Rotary Club of Barrie has made a request to design and construct a COVID-19 Pandemic Heroes Garden in Sunnidale Park.
“I think it does make imminent sense to put all of these suggestions that we’re getting together,” said Coun. Clare Riepma, “and hopefully we can get the various parties that are making proposals to work together and to really develop something that is very worthwhile.”
But Coun. Morales asked if there was flexibility for organizations who want to do something now.
“I just don’t want to turn away a group that today, tomorrow, next week is willing to contribute, but they’re a bit on a timeline for budgetary reasons or for resources (and) they essentially get put in this… holding pattern,” he said. “I’m all for doing it together… at the right time, whatever time that might be. I just don’t want to lose an interested organization down the pipeline because they were stuck.”
He was told staff could report back to councillors by a memo if there is an individual request that for some reason asks to do something sooner rather than later.
