Elliot Lake Mayor looks ahead to 2022

Elliot Lake Mayor Dan Marchisella usually looks forward to the Mayor’s New Year’s Fete every year, but COVID19 has stopped those get-togethers. This year he has sent out a message of hope and positivity for 2022.

Marchisella says he will hold his New Year’s Levee virtually January 8th instead to share his thoughts on what lies ahead in the New Year, including a look back at the accomplishments and the challenges of 2021, as well as to present several awards to deserving recipients in the community.

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The Mayor’s Message. With 2021 coming to an end, we roll into a new year with an outlook of hope and positivity. I know many have struggled through the ups and downs of COVID-19. We have already lost over 30,000 Canadians to this virus, and so many more to suicide and drug overdoses, it is hard for so many to fight the depression and loneliness, but help is out there.

We are now living through a moment that will be recorded in the history books, how will we fare as Canadians? Moreover, how will the story be written regarding the global effort? I know from sitting as a community leader on city council that it has been extremely difficult trying to ensure that we stay ahead of the spread to keep our community safe. We have been on top of the situation in putting in place all recommended or mandated protocols, which has not always made everyone happy, but has kept us safe.

We have had a delivery program in place since day one to ensure the essentials could get to your door, and we ran it long enough to ride out the hardest part of the storm and opened the door for local business to take over. We’ve tried to have a few small social victories when the opportunity was there; children’s bouncy land, fireworks, static parade, unveiling of final miner’s monument piece, but still wish we could do more.

Our city has seen massive road and infrastructure projects still take place, like Pine and Poplar reconstruction and Esten to Esten trail upgrades, park updates, accessibility upgrades along with many other projects. Projects like this during a pandemic have been straining on staff and construction crews, but they have figured it out and I am thankful. We have now learned new ways of doing business and staying connected with loved ones, through technology, which is so important for our mental health.

Surprisingly enough we have seen many new businesses open, houses remain full, and developers take interest in the future of growing our community. We have seen local business adapt and find ways to evolve with the restrictions of COVID. This amazing community has seen our regular volunteers that usually get involved in city events, jump on the task of volunteering at our COVID clinics, ensuring that our residents are able to get the vaccinations they need in a timely manner.

Throughout this pandemic, I have heard so many positive stories of neighbours helping each other out and checking in on one another. I am so proud to be an Elliot Laker when I look at how we’ve been able to keep our virus numbers down, even with the temptations of travel and ignoring the rules for a day. As tough as it has been, we have seen that we can pull together for one another; we have seen that projects and ideas can continue to move forward.

We need to keep this positive mental attitude and help it spread to those who feel they are just too tired. If we can accomplish so much when we are feeling knocked down, then think of how amazing things will feel again when the barriers and restrictions of COVID are finally gone. Think of the tomorrow when the battle against this invisible enemy is over.

Remember that this is not our permanent story, just a future page in a history book. If I can give any recommendation that anyone will listen too, it is this; never give up, soldier on, and I will see you out of the trenches on the other side.