but she’s counting her blessings, too, and finding solace in music (including the latest by ottawa hip-hop artist city fidelia).
“we have a roof over our heads. we have food every day. we’re healthy, and we have a great time,” she said. “there are great moments, and that’s important. i’m trying to look on the bright side. i know that this will pass. it has to.”
with the canada-u.s. border closed because of the covid-19 pandemic, tristann parchment’s baby girl, born april 1, has not yet met her father.
“my daughter has her father and other loved ones in the u.s. who can’t come and see her and help me out,” says the 28 year old, who’s on maternity leave from her job at a major retailer. “although i do have my family, he’s the father. he’d like to come over and see his daughter. it’s very frustrating.”
parchment and baby isla live with her parents, sister, brother and sister-in-law. her mother is a personal-support worker who works in a seniors home. despite the multi-generational household, the lockdown is a challenge.
“i feel very isolated, i’m not going to lie,” parchment says. “i’m an outside person, i like to be outside. just the fact that i had to stay in for two weeks, and before that i had a hip injury so i wasn’t able to walk or move — that was very frustrating. i’m starting to slowly take walks and stuff but it takes a toll on you just being inside for so long.”