Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Jessica Shmigelsky
August 09, 2020 - 9:26 AM
While some visitors and residents are reporting that they’ve been harassed for their out-of-province plates, one woman wanted to share a different message.
Jessica Shmigelsky, from Edmonton, has spent the last week in Kelowna. On Tuesday, Aug. 4, she was spending time at Rotary Beach when she came back to her parked vehicle to find a note.
“At first we thought it would be a shitty note, but it was completely opposite. Our hearts are full, and this restores all sorts of faith in humanity,” she said in a Facebook post.
“Thank you to the kind stranger who made our day.”
Shmigelsky said initially she was nervous to see the note, knowing how others had reported harassment, but the message, printed on heart-shaped blue paper, read “We’re glad you’re here in B.C. with us. Welcome. #FellowCanadians.”
She was very happy to see the positive message she said, adding that she was a bit nervous to visit the Central Okanagan initially.
READ MORE: Washington plates in Kelowna: UBC Okanagan urges understanding for students
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has asked British Columbians to be kind to those with out-of-province plates, in late July.
“There are many reasons why people have different license plates here in B.C.,” she said.
She also said she’s aware of many people who came home to look after elderly family members.
“We need to respect that,” she said. “We also need to respect that many people have been here for a long time. They may have done their isolation, and they are members of our community and we need to treat everybody with kindness and with respect. We do not know everybody's story.”
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Jessica Shmigelsky
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