Barry's Bay, The Valley Gazette - Christmas Wishes 2021

— Happy Holidays — Holiday lights, strung intricately around one another, often shine as hopeful metaphors: anticipation of eager fingers fumbling under Christmas trees, heavy spoonfuls of turkey, and enthusiastically sung carols. But, the holidays bring challenges too. We may desperately miss loved ones, spend the time alone, or not have enough to give. We all need and want differently at this time. As such, entering into a holiday season opens our eyes to others. It’s been nearly two years living through a pandemic—a reality that is significantly easier to write than believe. When the World Health Organization announced a global pandemic on March 11 many of us began recording the events, professionally or otherwise. How would we make sense of times that felt so unreal? At the Valley Gazette, we continued to cover local community stories— although some looked different from usual. Many events were virtual, like the Seniors’ Centre Without Walls activity program by Barry’s Bay & Area Senior Citizens Home Support Services. Some featured contactless drive-throughs like the Combermere Recreation Committee hunters’ supper. Council meetings glitched with audio technical difficulties on Zoom and YouTube. Most of us got better with technology than we had been. Times changed, but we managed to work through those changes. And many events that were closed last year are now back in action. As the County of Renfrew continues to expand and the unemployment rate drops, may we be able to carry the lessons we’ve learned into 2022. Thank you to all of our readers, supporters, and advertisers for your continued contribution and dedication to this paper. We would be nowhere without you—thank you so much. It’s always a pleasure to work with you and see your smiling faces in the office and at events. However you celebrate your holidays and whatever they mean to you, may your days be as bright as they can be. We at the Valley Gazette wish you warmth on a snow-sprinkled eve, overflowing marshmallows with cocoa, and at least one sparkling smile to enter into 2022. Thank you, from us all. - Sarah Crookall