Today is superhero day. Back in 1995, Marvel employees created this day as a way for everyone to celebrate their favourite superhero. They went out into the community to ask children what superpowers they would want if they could be superheroes. The discussion evolved to include more than just Batman and Wonder Woman—people talked about everyday heroes who inspired them. That got us thinking about the idea of heroes during the pandemic. There have been a lot of people going above and beyond to protect, inform, and entertain the citizens of Canada while we all deal with COVID-19. So today, we’re choosing to celebrate some of those heroes.
Superheroes vs. COVID-19
Contec makes contamination control products used in manufacturing environments that include the biomedical, pharmaceutical, and lab industries. What does this have to do with superheroes during the pandemic? Well, last year Contec created a series that imaged how 10 superheroes would fare against the Coronavirus. Each is ranked in regards to how their powers and outfits would measure up against COVID-19. The result is a fun and engaging way to talk about protecting yourself against COVID-19. A few examples from the site:
- The Hulk ranks high on the vulnerability scale. “He is constantly roaring at his opponents, spitting his germs out into the air with no physical barrier.”
- Thor doesn’t do much better because of his jet-setting lifestyle. “Thor is constantly traveling, whether it be to his home on Asgard, Earth or the garbage planet of SaKaar.”
- Wonder Woman, along with many others, needs a face mask for better protection against the virus.
- The Black Panther lost marks for not respecting physical distancing. “His suit allows him to fight enemies from afar, however, he prefers hand-to-hand combat, putting him at risk of catching the virus.”
- Spiderman’s full-coverage suit with Tony Stark enhancements fares pretty well on this list. Same goes for the costumes of Ant Man and Iron Man.
- Deadpool comes in at number one. He is best-suited to avoid infection because he’s immune to the effects of disease.
Celebrity Doctors
If you live in Ontario, you’re probably familiar with Dr. David Williams. If you live in the Toronto area, you’re probably also familiar with Dr. Eileen de Villa. These are the Chief Medical Officer of the province and the Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto, respectively. Across Canada, chief medical officers and prominent medical officials have become a trusted source of virus information during the pandemic. Their knowledgeable and calm demeanors soothe the masses as they explain what’s happening.
Led by the reassuring missives of Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, these are superheroes. Out west, B.C. residents are placated by the smooth voice of Dr. Bonnie Henry while in Alberta, Dr. Deena Hinshaw is known for her confident leadership and a certain periodic table-themed dress. Doctors and medical professionals are the hero du jour. Yes, they’ve always been heroes, but in a global pandemic, they’ve become superheroes. They are the leaders we need for information and advice on how to navigate the difficult path of COVID-19.
Hooray for Art that Entertains!
We’ve all been spending a lot of time at home. With movie theatres, concerts, restaurants, and clubs shut down, and in the absence of a commute, we’re looking for something to do in our free time. There are plenty of artists and art organizations, many of them Canadian, stepping in to fill the entertainment void. These superheroes are organizing Zoom clubs for the queer community, creating beautiful beaded masks, and setting up physically distanced and remote gatherings and festivals. Out in Seattle, a Free Little Art Gallery has drawn all kinds of visitors and participants. And we’re guessing that by now you’ve seen at least one of Gurdeep Pandher’s Bhangra dance videos. No? Click below to experience the Yuokon-based sensation.
Guide Dog Hero
We have one more superhero to honour in this blog because today is also Guide Dogs Day. There’s a guide dog shortage in Canada with a spike in demand since the beginning of the pandemic. To illustrate the superhero capacity of the guide dog, let’s look at one special dog called Roselle. She was the companion to Michael Hingson on September 11, 2001. Hingson and Roselle were on the 78th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center when a plane crashed into the building. Just as she had done every day of her service, Roselle carried out her duties with calm and confidence. This truly incredible story is told on the This is Love podcast “Roselle and Michael”. You can also read more about how the pair made it out of the tower in Hingson’s Book Thunder Dog.
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Salute a Superhero Today
We’re big superhero fans here at KWV. In fact, this isn’t the first blog we’ve posted about them. Why not take the time today to thank a superhero? It may be the health care worker who gives you a vaccine or the front-line cashier ringing up your groceries. Really, any day is a good day to recognize someone who is going above and beyond to selflessly make life better for others.
