'It was a relief': Winnipeg couple married over 70 years reunite after being separated due to COVID-19
In a world dominated by negative COVID-19 news for the last two years, there was a positive outcome coming from the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre on Tuesday.
A Winnipeg couple who got married in 1950 were able to reunite after being separated by COVID.
Shirley Kleiman had to isolate after testing positive for COVID-19, meaning her husband Sam, was not able to visit her in person, which he had been doing every day for the last four years.
But on Tuesday, her isolation came to an end and the centre held a recovery parade and there to greet her was Sam.
"It was like, you finally could exhale. It was a relief," said Sam.
He said it was hard to originally learn that Shirley tested positive for COVID.
"It was another kick in the shins," he said, "Because that lady doesn't deserve any loading on."
But now the couple, who are 94, are able to resume their daily visits, with Sam noting he was visiting Shirley on Friday.
He also gives the staff at Simkin Centre a ton of credit for the work they do.
"I have to say that they go above and beyond whatever is required just to make sure that their residents are being looked after."
Laurie Cerqueti, the CEO of the Simkin Centre, said ever since the pandemic started they have held recovery parades to honour the special moment of recovering from COVID.
"When we do have our parades it is really a staff morale booster. We invite the families to join…it is just so beautiful to seeing them being able to reunite," said Cerqueti.
She said the parade features a theme song of 'Stayin' Alive' and each resident that comes out of isolation gets a special t-shirt that says virus survivor.
Cerqueti said it was an incredible moment to see Sam and Shirley being able to reunite after being apart.
"I think the devotion is just so admirable," she said.
Sam said he is happy to see Shirley getting the attention that he feels she deserves.
"In her life, she has been exemplary. She is kind, considerate, of other people. That's the way she has lived her life and she deserves whatever commendation she can get. She's a remarkable lady," said Sam.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
1 killed, 3 injured including toddler, after Hwy. 417 crash in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.