tom shypitka - mla for the east kootenays

I'd like to introduce Tom Shypitka the MLA for the East Kootenay region.

How has the Covid-19 situation affected your daily operation in your job?

Our office is still in full operation with the exception of being available to constituents in person. The 3 of us work remotely from our homes but are working more than ever. I participate in many virtual calls via “Zoom” “Go Meeting” and others. I make regular appointments with our local Chambers of Commerce, local businesses, as well as mining companies and organizations across the province to satisfy my role as Mining Critic.

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

I am seeing a lot of heartbreak with our local business community and those with financial uncertainty that COVID-19 has brought on so I want to recognize that first before I comment on things that are uplifting. Our office sends our hearts and efforts to assist them anyway we can.

If there is any silver lining in the dark cloud that this pandemic has brought on is that I see a lot of people and families communicating more. In a time when we are told to stay home a lot of us are going back to old school communication with those that mean the most to us. Personally, my family talks more, have dinners together more, and a lot more one on one time with the people we love the most. I also think that society has found a new appreciation for all of us that make up a community. Who would have thought that just 3 months ago that your local gas station attendant or grocery clerk were essential to our day to day living? What this crisis has showed us is that we all are essential and have a place in society and it is valued. I think as well we have all found an appreciation for who we are as British Columbians and ultimately Canadians. We are industrious, food producers, natural resources developers, entrepreneurs, technology providers and just plain hard working honest people. We all need each other to be successful and that we all need to be part of the space that makes us successful. We haven’t seen much as far as protesting one another during this crisis and I think that is very telling on where we have landed during this unprecedented time.

What things are you doing to find joy or entertainment right now?

I honestly have not found much time outside of work as most days are anywhere from 10 to 14 hour days. That being said my entertainment will be breaking for an hour to watch and help my son practice his hockey skills in the driveway, or finding more about how my daughter’s life is changing as a teenager with one on one discussions. My wife and I will occasionally play some board games or Zoom my eldest son, his wife and my new grandson to meet or watch a Netflix series together. I also will spend time with my parents for coffee and conversation almost daily.

Is there anything specific you'd like to share, or wish people knew right now?

I would like to personally thank everyone for doing their part during this pandemic. It has not been easy but our region has been very successful in the first phase of controlling the outbreak. As we head to phase two of economic recovery I want people to really support their local businesses. This is a very crucial time for all of them and your support now could determine whether they make it out of this or not. I also want people to be mindful of personal attacks on others and to worry more about their own behaviour. Sometimes things are not what they seem so if it is a person that has a different color licence plate than you have or a person that is apparently hoarding shopping supplies it sometimes means something totally different to what you may interpret. We simply need to be kind and understanding that everyone has a different set of circumstances than everyone else. Whether it is bigotry, racism, sexism, or a dam virus we have seen how something contagious and infectious can have devastating effects. The way we turn it around is to set good examples for others so that this will in turn become contagious and infectious in a positive way. We simply need to fight fire with fire on this one.