By Cecilia Nasmith

Young people getting through the months of the COVID-19 pandemic are tackling the challenge in many ways, and two special projects give young residents of Alnwick-Haldimand Township the opportunity to celebrate their creativity and their kindness as they do so.

Community program co-ordinator Jennifer Steen shared the details of the two programs, open to township residents under the age of 18.

The Time Capsule project encourages young people to submit their drawings, photos, notes, poems, stories and songs created during the shutdown that reflect what they've been going through – a photo of a favourite pet who has shared the confinement, a new recipe shared with the family, a poem about that unusual family-only birthday party, wistful stories of how much they miss their friends or grandparents.

Submissions will be shared on the township's web page and Facebook account (https://www.ahtwp.ca/en/explore-and-play/covid-connections-project.aspx and https://www.facebook.com/Township-of-AlnwickHaldimand), with some chosen for the actual time capsule that will be put away and opened up on Canada Day 2070.

The Kindness Ambassador program honours a young person who has shown exceptional kindness during these challenging weeks that deserves to be recognized. Each Kindness Ambassador will receive a certificate from Mayor Gail Latchford and a thank-you note – and each month, one of these amazing young people will be highlighted on the township's website and Facebook page.

Steen gives the mayor much of the credit for the project.
“Mayor Latchford was looking for a way to thank and celebrate the youth of Alnwick-Haldimand for all their efforts during the pandemic,” she said.

“She wanted to acknowledge the ways they have adapted to life, give them a chance to record history for the next generation and celebrate those that have gone above and beyond to extend kindness within the community.”

Watching her own children finding ways to have fun while staying at home, enjoying such activities as back-yard camp-outs and painting rocks to use as markers for the vegetable garden they have planted, Steen is looking forward to seeing the entries that share how other families are coping.

Looking ahead half a century, these activities will be of interest to the children of 2070 who may wonder what everyday life was really like during the big COVID-19 Pandemic for their peers of 2020. This is a chance for the children of today to fill in the blanks for the children of tomorrow.

“We hope that all youth of the township will consider submitting something creative, whether it be a photo, a poem, a painting or a song,” Steen said, adding that suggestions can be found on the township's Facebook page.

“We also hope to highlight some of the people spreading kindness during this difficult time. Please consider nominating someone you know to be a Kindness Ambassador.”

Submission forms are available on the township website.