Nightly cheers for B.C. front line workers set to get a massive marine boost Friday

Nightly cheers for B.C. front line workers set to get a massive marine boost Friday
CHEK

The growing movement in British Columbia to salute health care workers and essential services by clapping and making noise each evening at 7 p.m. is about to get a little louder.

The cheering has typically come from apartments, neighbourhood streets or even emergency vehicle sirens, but now those cheers will extend beyond the coast and onto the water.

A statement from the Chamber of Shipping, the voice for the marine industry on Canada’s west coast, said that all ships in BC waters will sound their horns in solidarity.

The blaring horns will join thousands of BC residents who have committed to cheering, chanting, singing and banging pots nightly at 7 pm – a typical hospital shift change time – as a way of saying thank you to all the hard work being put in by front line health care workers during, but for the Chamber of Shipping, the salute goes beyond the health care industry.

“This audible celebration of health care workers by the marine shipping industry is noteworthy, as the essential marine transportation workforce also continues to support the movement of critical cargo, some of which directly supports medical efforts, and ensures the delivery of supplies that keep our communities functioning,” said the Chamber of Shipping in a press release issued Friday.

The marine workforce travels all over the world to bring goods to BC and that has resorted to them having to “find innovative and safe ways to keep ships and cargo moving” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tonight’s blaring ship horns will be to show a united front in the battle against the virus.

“As anyone who has spent time at sea will know, we must all come together in a crisis and support each other in all possible ways,” said the release.

Neighbourhoods across Vancouver Island have been getting louder and louder each night as the sweeping support for front line health care workers continues to grow.

Other essential services on Vancouver Island, including police and fire departments, have been joining in on the nightly salute as well.

The Victoria Fire Department even joined CHEK News, as part of a cheer challenge issued from Mayor Lisa Helps of Victoria, to make sure that health care workers could hear the support from outside our studio.

The growing trend extends beyond Vancouver Island as well as cheers can be heard all throughout Vancouver and the surrounding communities on the mainland.

So tonight, at 7 p.m., join the boats, emergency vehicles and neighbourhoods and let the front line workers hear your support!

Graham CoxGraham Cox

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