Following a trip to Europe, Luz-Maria Alvarez-Wilson and her husband, returned to Canada just as the COVID-19 pandemic began.
“I felt abundantly fortunate to be living in Canada and, particularly, in Saugeen Shores,” said Alvarez-Wilson.
Still, she found it difficult. “I needed to focus on the good things happening in my life. Number One: Living in Saugeen Shores, away from family but close to dear and caring friends, with whom we quickly developed happy hours and virtual dinners on zoom. Long walks along the shores and trails of our community always ended up with happy social distancing encounters. The soothing beauty of our surroundings made my mind drift to a space of gratitude and satisfaction.”
Instead of going with the glass-half-full attitude, she decided instead to turn to a positive outlook and, despite Covid-19 taking everyone by surprise and entering a new reality in life, she opened up an entirely new creative writing concept.
The premise was simple – What is your story? However, while the question was simple, it was also an opportunity to help the local Hospital Foundation with its equipment needs as each submission had to be accompanied by a $30-or-more donation.
A panel of three judges was chosen to adjudicate the submissions based on several criteria:
Among the many submissions, three winners were selected with a fourth ‘honourable mention’.
“My Pandemic Angel” by Sally Kidson
“What Will you do Without It” by Cynthia Matthews
“The Safe Harbour of Home” by Jennifer Frankum
“Pandemic Muses” by Michele Wake
“I want to thank everyone who took the time to express themselves through their writing to raise funds for our local hospital and to help keep health care close to home by entering the Creative Writing Contest,” said founder LuzMaria Alvarez-Wilson. “It is my opinion and that of the jurors, that every story submitted deserves an honourable mention as they all contained elements that move, intrigue, engage and inspire the reader.”
“What a privilege it has been to read these stories during Covid-19. Keep it up and keep yourselves in peace and health during this difficult times,” adds Alvarez-Wilson.
Together, in this first Creative Writing Contest, the authors raised move than $700 for the Hospital Foundation.
A creative writing contest in support of local Hospital Foundation
