Sheila, a family friend, a neighbour, a mother - stolen from her family as a child during the #sixtiesScoop - a woman who did everything she could to care for her community - our community, was left impoverished and without any help from the same state that destroyed her family.
She was couch surfing, staying with my uncle when his house caught fire in the middle of the night. The others barely made it out. Sheila did not.
Sheila was the first friend to go during the pandemic. There have been 9 more since then. I haven't even been able to begin process Sheila's passing.
I'm greatly looking forward to this permeant public reminder of a friend, but more importantly a role model - a person who despite having very little, gave it all. The same cannot be said about most.
May her death bring positivity, and foster a sense of community over consumption.