The Museum of Health Care in Kingston wants to hear your COVID-19 stories. The museum has issued a nationwide call asking Canadians to share their personal COVID experiences. Even though many people would like to forget about the pandemic the museum is assembling a look at pandemic life for the future.
Savannah Sewell is the project lead and research fellow.
“We’re looking for any medical representation in artifacts as well as personal narratives of the COVID-19 pandemic. Something like PPEs, vaccine vials, any test kits or digital print media — things like that — as well as personal stories.”
Those involved in the project including Sewell say the George Street museum has the expertise to capture this time in history for future generations.
“As redundant as it seems now that we’re living it every single day we forget so easily — humans are so great at forgetting what just happened. So in a couple of years, we’ll have this intact and modern story that’s holistic in a load of different ways.”
Museum manager and program director Kevin Moorhouse says it tricky collecting things because you’re collecting something not for now but for later.
“The idea is that we can collect a wide variety of sources and stories from people who interact with those sources to have a good knowledge base for future historians to learn from these things. Because again we’re not collecting for now, we’re collecting for people who will tell this story maybe in a hundred years.”
The museum already has some covid related artifacts but according to Sewell, it’s the narratives now that they’re looking for.
“Because we have been pushing the collection — so no story is too small — whether it is a positive one, a negative one. Something that you feel you want to share with us.
Anyone interested in participating can contact the museum either by website at museum@kingstonhsc.ca or call 613-548-2419.
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