Sealed until 2050: St. Boniface Hospital’s COVID-19 time capsule aims to honour health workers
Posted August 20, 2024 3:57 pm.
Last Updated August 20, 2024 8:14 pm.
Do you know what you’ll be doing in March 2050?
Well, staff at St. Boniface Hospital do — they’ll be unlocking a COVID-19 time capsule they sealed in front of their facility on Tuesday.
The initiative, a way to honour health-care workers for their dedication and challenges faced during the pandemic, is ensuring their efforts are remembered by future generations.
“I hope when it’s opened in 2050, that people sense that gratitude and appreciation for what we went through,” said Nicole Aminot, president and CEO of the hospital.
The time capsule was filled with a combination of letters, postcards, photos, and memorabilia. It was all put together by staff and patients of the hospital relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“They sacrificed family time, their own health to come and take care of the community and take care of our patients,” explained Aminot. “They did so with grace and put in a lot of extra hours.
“Really I’m grateful for every person on our frontline team.”
“Our COVID pandemic time capsule will be stored here in the Bihler Gallery and will be opened 26 years from now in March 2050,” said Aminot. “This is the 30th anniversary of the first COVID case that came through our emergency department.”
The capsule, which was funded by the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, not only is meant to commemorate all the hard work put in by the hospital staff and physicians who provided care during the health scare of the century, but is also a guide for the future.
“This time capsule will forever hold the committee’s strength and perseverance during the pandemic,” said Karen Fowler, president and CEO of the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation.
“I hope that future generations will really understand the extraordinary efforts made during this time.”
