An Online Ceremony that Touched and Transformed: The Saskatchewan Covid Vigil
Last week, I gathered with hundreds of my neighbours to mark one year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Together we cried and we laughed… We were soothed and inspired…
And we did it all online.
Together in Remembrance, Together in Hope
This month, I was honoured to be a part of a diverse community of people in Saskatchewan who organized an online vigil to give the people of Saskatchewan a place to share their losses resulting from the pandemic and their hopes for the future — all within the safe embrace of community. Held on March 11, 2021, the vigil featured a number of special guests, music, poetry, and the opportunity for prayer or silent contemplation. I co-hosted, along with Blake Sittler (St. Paul’s Hospital) and Lyndon Linklater (Neyhiyaw/Anishinabe Knowledge Keeper). The ceremony was conducted in English, Cree and French.
A recording of the vigil is available below:
From Many Peoples, Strength
I opened the vigil with the motto of Saskatchewan, which is: “From Many Peoples, Strength”. In my opinion, these words could apply to any thoughtfully planned and skillfully facilitated gathering — but they were particularly appropriate for the Saskatchewan vigil. It was reassuring and uplifting to look at the sea of faces on my screen of people tuning in from their living rooms and kitchens across the province and beyond.
Over 500 people participated in the vigil live on Zoom and YouTube and, as of the time of this writing, 750 people have viewed the recording. You might wonder how a huge online gathering like this could possibly foster community and connection….
The fact is, the virtual vigil indeed touched and transformed everyone in attendance.
Why?
This past year has been full of uncertainty, loss, and fear for all of us — and for some more than others. The vigil responded to people’s need to gather in community and mark this shared milestone together. We were connected by the knowledge that each face on our screen was a person who, like us, was hurting and hopeful in their own way.
How?
The power of the vigil came from the meaningful participation of special guests and participants alike:
Respected local physician Dr. Hassan Masri spoke as a medical professional and a citizen as he shared the impact of the pandemic on his life and community.
Well-loved Saskatchewan musicians Thomas Yu, Wyndham Thiessen, and Munirih Sparrow offered solace by sharing their gifts of music.
Everyone was invited to join in a community candle-lighting and to share their losses, griefs and hopes in the chat.
Dozens of Saskatchewanians shared what they are looking forward to after the pandemic in this inspiring photo montage:
For the occasion, Peace Akintade, Saskatchewan’s Youth Poet Laureate, wrote a poem entitled Table of Hope (see full text at the bottom of this post). While the whole poem is inspiring, this line in particular stands out for me:
This excerpt from Peace’s poem evokes two simple truths:
Our stories are powerful and how we gather matters.
Because we gathered in community in a way that was inclusive and intentional, something special happened at the virtual Saskatchewan Covid Vigil. This was affirmed by many of the comments received:
The gathering was healing, inspiring and fostered meaningful connection — despite the fact that it all took place online.
In many ways, the vigil was more inclusive than it might have been without public health restrictions around gathering. After all, with the vigil held online, we were able to welcome and include Saskatchewanians from the far reaches of the province. (Pssst…I’m told that several non-Saskies also tuned in out of curiosity and — of course — they were more than welcome!)
The online platform also gave everyone the opportunity to share — something that would have been unmanageable in-person with so many participants. When people were invited to share their losses and hopes — however big or small — in the chat, it was as if the flood gates had opened. Hundreds of messages poured in, with participants sharing and responding to each other with compassion and enthusiasm.
After Peace’s poem and our closing words, credits ran on the screen thanking the many, many people who had been involved. To my great surprise and delight, over one hundred people remained on the line when the credits and five minutes of outro music ended! Like me, they were not quite ready to let the magic of the evening end.
With the recording stopped but the Zoom meeting still active, we stayed on the line and chatted. It had the cosy feel of a kitchen party or a reception after a wedding or funeral, where folks gather for fellowship and to break bread. The only thing missing was a toast!
At one point earlier in the evening, someone had written “This is the Saskatchewan I love!” in the chat. I couldn’t agree more! To this, I reiterate: “From Many Peoples, Strength”.
Although we aren’t able to come together in the ways we usually love to do, it is still possible - and perhaps more important than ever - to connect and mark milestones in meaningful ways.
Learn more about how I can help you mark your big moments:
Photo by Aaron Burden
Celebrations of Life
Pay tribute to your loved one with a ceremony that honours their life, and connects and comforts those left behind.
Photo by Aaron Burden
Weddings & Unions
Celebrate your most important relationship with a ceremony that is joyful, meaningful, and crafted to reflect your story.
Photo by Aperture Vintage
Life Milestones
Find meaning, support, joy and connection as you mark an important event in your life, family, community, or organization.
Photo: Emma Love Photography
AUTHOR: KARLA COMBRES
As a Legacy Guide & Celebrant, I help individuals, couples, families and organizations make the big and small moments in life count, and shape their legacy along the way. I offer:
Drawing on my vast experience as a Life-Cycle Celebrant and in working with people at the end of life, I am uniquely qualified to help people move through transitions meaningfully and to think about how they want to leave this world so they can live better now.
I’m based in Saskatchewan, Canada and serve clients worldwide. Read more about me here.
Find me :
Click below for Full text of Table of Hope, by Peace Akintade.
Click to open a larger image.