On our upcoming World Honour You Day (WHYD), we celebrate and honour frontline workers, who, despite the risks, continue to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need.
On this day, we also commemorate front line workers and humanitarians killed, harassed, and injured while performing their duty. This year’s theme is “Modern Day Real-Life Heroes”.
However, what does it mean to be a hero? What does it take to help those in need, the poor and at-risk communities, those who are most vulnerable when disaster strikes? Why should we hold up as heroic the deeds of those who everyday continue to extend a helping hand?
We continue to mourn the deaths of Caregivers in Hospitals and Long-term Homes who were struck down by COVID-19. They showed exemplary dedication and commitment to the situation amidst this pandemic.
They were the true frontline heroes and they are not alone.
We Honour You … commends and praises front liners from all walks … for without their help and undying commitment, the necessities of day-to-day living and existence would have been a much worse situation for us all.
In these extraordinary times, and despite the very real danger to themselves, Canadian front line workers, put their own safety and well-being aside every day to provide life-saving support and protection to people most in need.
In Canada, every day since the beginning of this pandemic, front line workers have stood in the forefront dealing with the challenges arising from COVID-19 the impact of which can be felt in every walk of life.
Front line workers have done their part in every dire situation – the rescue and clean-up efforts, displacement from floods, storms, tornados and fires, and the damage they brought along with them, as well as continuing relief efforts responding to those affected. Despite the many risks, we are proud of Canadian front liners as they continue to do their work, diligently and selflessly … aiding the most needy.
As we give recognition to local real-life heroes, we also need to protect and keep them free from harassment, threats, intimidation, and violence. Since 2003, some 4,961 humanitarians and front liners around the world have been killed, wounded, or abducted while carrying out their life-saving duties. In 2019 alone, the World Health Organization reported 1,009 attacks against health-care workers and facilities, resulting in 199 deaths and 628 injuries.
The COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled an important number of vulnerabilities as well as exposed our weaknesses in the area of prevention. It has also shown that the magnitude of the challenge is exceeding the response capacity and limits of any single partner, organization or country.
We Honour You Day represents one of the most urgent and serious calls to work together on a platform designed for front liners, businesses and communities to speak about their experiences, their strengths, their advice, recommendations to make things better and most of all use our experiences, collective strengths and efforts in facing these kind of problems head-on in future.
