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Coronavirus: London Ont. neighbourhood celebrates 100 days of tribute for first responders

Click to play video: 'Neighbours pay tribute to frontline workers in London, Ont., for 100th consecutive day'
Neighbours pay tribute to frontline workers in London, Ont., for 100th consecutive day
WATCH: Neighbours on Blackthorne Crescent in London, Ont., paid their 100th consecutive day of tribute on Tuesday to front-line workers and first responders fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic. – Jul 1, 2020

A group of neighbours in London Ont.’s Westmount area paid their 100th consecutive day of tribute for front-line workers and first responders fighting the novel coronavirus pandemic Tuesday evening.

Gary Bezaire, a patrol sergeant with London Police Service as well as the organizer of the final cheer spoke with 980 CFPL’s Craig Needles on Friday.

He said it was an amazing feeling seeing the neighbours on Blackthorne Crescent cheer them on, day after day.

“Every night at 7:30 p.m., the [neighbours] are out on their front porch, there are kids riding bikes, they’re cheering, hitting pots and pans, and some of them have instruments.”

Bezaire says he even saw a full band playing once.

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The patrol sergeant is not a resident of the area himself, but says he’s visited the crescent 15 to 20 times, and tries to stop by “… every night that I’m working at that time.”

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For its final cheer on Tuesday, Bezaire invited police, other first responders and nurses to drive down to the crescent together.

“I brought a couple of other officers with me and one of the newer people,” Bezaire explained.

“I told him ‘this is going to be the best thing you’re ever going to see in your career.’ I didn’t tell him what it was, I just told him to follow me, and at the end, he said ‘that was awesome.'”

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Bezaire says the energy and positivity of these neighbours helped first responders get through the pandemic.

“There’s been times when it’s tough to work on the front lines, on the streets… To have this community do this on our behalf and to show their appreciation, it’s been awesome and motivating to know that people really do appreciate us.”

Click to play video: 'Costumed runner brings daily joy to Windsor Park neighbourhood amid coronavirus'
Costumed runner brings daily joy to Windsor Park neighbourhood amid coronavirus

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