Winnipeg, MB – Today, Mayor Brian Bowman announced plans for a temporary memorial that will honour the Winnipeg lives lost as a result of the pandemic.
“On March 11, 2020, the world as we knew it changed when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic as COVID-19 began to spread around the world,” said Mayor Bowman. “We’ve lost over 600 Winnipeggers to date to COVID-19 and those losses have been felt by our community. In memory of the lives lost in Winnipeg, candles for each lost Winnipegger will be lit in front of a dimmed Winnipeg sign from March 11-14.”
The day after the WHO pandemic declaration, Winnipeg saw its first presumptive case of COVID-19 within our city. 15 days later, on March 27, Winnipeg learned of its first local loss of life. There have been 640 deaths in Winnipeg to date since that time due to COVID-19.
“As a result of the provincial public health orders, many Winnipeggers were restricted from being by the side of their loved ones in their final days,” said Mayor Bowman. “It is heartbreaking to think of how that impacted so many in our community. I hope this small gesture of support will provide some measure of solace to those who have lost loved ones knowing that Winnipeggers share the sorrow they feel.”
The team at the Forks will assist with setting up the candles and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights will be lighting their tower blue in tribute to our community’s healthcare heroes to coincide with the memorial from March 11-14.
“I’d like to thank the team at the Forks and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights for partnering on this temporary memorial,” said Mayor Bowman.