michelle shortridge - ʔaq̓am Community Government

I'd like to introduce Michelle Shortridge.

What is your name, role/title, and name of organization/business you’re with?

My name is Michelle Shortridge and I am the Director of Operations and Community Services of ʔaq̓am Community Government. Within my role, I oversee Housing, Facilities and Operations, Language and Culture, Health and Wellness, ʔaq̓amnik Elementary School, ʔaq̓amnik Daycare and Capital Projects for the community.

How has the current Covid-19 situation affected your daily operations?

It has made my days busier than normal and I am always busy J I have been leading a skeleton crew that has been working on site to ensure our community continues to be supported in staying home and that business operations continue. In addition to our regular workload, my team has also been working to delivery food and supplies to our community, providing wellness and health related checks and services, implementing distance learning with our school and daycare and taking care of and keeping all our facilities running. The organization has transitioned 90% of the staff to a work from home so it has been challenging staying connected to my team, who have been off site since March. We have adjusted to meeting on Zoom rather than in person and have made a concerted effort to stay connected as a team. We were in the midst of finishing construction of our new Health and Wellness Facility and gearing up to kick off a number of new projects this spring so it has been interesting navigating challenges and continuing to keep things on track.

What positive or uplifting things are you seeing during this time?

People have shown how resilient, creative and adaptable they are. I have witnessed people working together to find unique approaches and opportunities to get what they need done. People are finding unique ways to stay connected while being apart and are looking for ways to ensure that each other is looked after. . For me personally, participating with my Education team to organize a learning parade to deliver school learning packages to each student at ʔaq̓amnik School has been a highlight. I have enjoyed seeing the Birthday Parades that are happening in Cranbrook and people who are using their time and talents to raise funds for organizations such as the food bank.

What are you doing to find joy right now?

Getting out in the sunshine as much as possible. I have been enjoying taking walks with my kids. Laughing, finding and expressing gratitude each day has helped me to not get down on the particularly busy or hard days. Is there anything specific you’d like to share, or wish people knew right now?

I think this situation has shown me the value in allowing my life to slow down. We live in a time where there are so many demands on our time and so many things to fill up our lives that we almost have forgotten to take joy and savour the experiences and the people we have. Life is full of challenges, struggles and trials, choosing to find the good in these hard times will ensure that we come out of this Pandemic stronger, kinder, and more connected as people, communities and families.