The Storytelling Chairs

Seven wooden storytelling chairs sit at the heart of the COVID in the House of Old exhibit, speaking to seven lives indelibly altered by the COVID pandemic’s spread through long-term care. Each individual represented by a chair stands in place for hundreds or thousands of Canadians who faced similar circumstances.

The chairs’ audios were culled from a series of interviews conducted over the Fall of 2021. Daughters, sons, and grandchildren told tales of devastating loss. Survivor residents spoke of painful separation. Workers described confusion, exhaustion and terrible stress.

Yet, the people profiled here are much more than casualties of history. Their stories are also about aspiration, accomplishment, enthusiasm, good times, bravery and deep personal connection. A representational object is mounted on the back of each chair, while paper “Valentine” acknowledgements, lovingly created by family, friends and project researchers, rest on each seat.

Bob’s Chair

Bob was a deeply loved husband, father, and grandfather. He had a successful career at BC Tel and was active in recreational sports on Vancouver’s North Shore. He died of COVID at Lynn Valley Care Centre in April 2020. Listen to the 5-minute audio about Bob here 

Maggie’s Chair

Maggie, born in Toronto to parents from Trinidad and Jamaica, was a secretary, a single mother, a volunteer and a devoted grandmother. She died of COVID in Toronto’s Wellesley Central Place in April 2020. Listen to the 5-minutes audio about Maggie here 

Moon’s Chair

Moon was born, married and made a family in Hong Kong. Moving to Vancouver in the 1990s, she enjoyed bingo, cooking, volunteering and family time. She dies of COVID in Little Mountain Place in December 2020. Listen to the 5-minute audio about Moon here.

Esther's Chair

Esther is a care aide (PSW) in a long-term care facility in Toronto. A registered nurse originally from Uganda, Esther has the ambition and passion to build a fulfilling career in Canada’s healthcare system as a nurse. Listen to the five-minute audio of Esther here. 

Jacobus’ Chair

Jacobus was born in the Netherlands. A father and a grandfather, he left his long-term care facility in Ontario in July 2020 to live with his daughter on Hornby Island, BC. Jacobus loves nature, farming, languages, and his family. Listen to the five-minute audio about Jacobus here.

Karen’s Chair

Karen was a Squamish First Nation resident of Hilltop House, a long-term care facility in Squamish, BC. She loved her son and daughter and her culture. Karen died unexpectedly in November 2021. Listen to the five-minute audio about Karen here. 

Wikwemikong Nursing Home

The Wikwemikong Nursing Home lies on the Wikwemikong Unceded Territory in Northern Ontario (Manitoulin Island in the Great Lakes area) and holds this chair. This is a place where Indigenous and non-Indigenous elders are honoured and cared for with kindness and respect.

The Wikwemikong Nursing Home chair speaks to the Truth and Reconciliation calls for Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge and practices to be recognized as equally valid. In fact, the story of the Wiky Nursing Home community is a signpost for settler Canadians to a better way of caring for our vulnerable elders.

Nursing home residents made the paper “Valentines” that rest on the chair and cluster around its base. The objects mounted on the Wikwemikong Nursing Home chair were selected by members of the home community with input from Elder Rita Corbiere. A Wikwemikong craftsperson created the birch bark canoe and the Wikwemikong crest was carved by a student at the local high school. Listen to the five-minute audio about the Wikwemikong Nursing Home here.