'We're all in this together': Saskatoon residents sing, bang pots to support workers during COVID-19 pandemic

Health-care workers are grateful to those organizing neighbourhood rallies across Saskatoon in their honour, says one nurse.

Groups across Saskatoon sang andbanged pots and pans Sunday at 7p.m. from theirfront yards and balconiesand are encouraging others to join them in the coming evenings.

"We're just doing our jobs, but it's incredibly heartwarming," said Cindy Seidl, a flight nurse and provincial director of operations for STARS Air Ambulance.

"We definitely feel the love and support."

Seidl said it's been a busy, stressful time for everyone, butit feels great to know the public "is behind us every step of the way. Our mission is to be there for them."

Residents of Saskatoon condominium The Bentley stood on their balconies Sunday evening singing You Are My Sunshine.

Many Bentley residents live alone, and it's been difficult to stay connected with others, said Elaine Harder. She said it felt great to do something as a group.

"We wanted to do something that was visible to say thankyou to all the front-line workers who are out there sacrificing their own health and the health perhaps of their families, just to look after us," she said.

Harder said she got the idea after talking to herfriend, retired lab technologist Roberta Materie.

Materie and her neighbours staged their own event Sunday evening a few kilometres away in Saskatoon's Nutana neighbourhood. They stood in their yards banging pots and pans as loud as they could.

Rob and Heather Millar, along with their kids Fergus and Isla, joined the tribute.

"It was a great feeling. We want to show that we're all in this together," Rob Miller said. He said the gesture had extra meaning for his family, as Heather works at Royal University Hospital.

Their neighbour, Glenda Murdoch, was out banging a cookie sheet with a wooden spoon. She said she's been trying to think of ways to show gratitude to health workers "and all those other poor people slogging through in the grocery stores, doing deliveries and other places."

Harder, Miller and Murdoch hope other Saskatchewan residents will follow with their own show of support in the coming days.

"It's something you can safely do from home. It's something tangible," Murdoch said.

Residents of Ontario, Italy, Spain and elsewhere have staged similar rallies in recent days.