Stories of Hope

"The stories we live and tell provide coherence and meaning and orient our sense of purpose" - Sharon Daloz Parks

Welcome to the Stories of Hope, where we share experiences and thoughts surrounding the pandemic, the psychological and emotional stress many of us faced over the past few months, and how we converted it into hope and opportunity for ourselves and those close to us. We highlight the challenges that manifest across different social contexts and the solutions created by local communities to enhance social solidarity. These narratives are motivating and inspirational and are examples of the way to live the new normal. For those still trying to navigate through tough times, this is also a platform to seek advice and connect with the community.

We invite everyone to share your experiences during the pandemic, dreams and hopes for the future, as well as the challenge of decoding the new normal. As we move into the recovery phase, there are many new opportunities waiting for us. Please share how you are seizing these opportunities to grow and change. Your messages or reflections can be in the form of short write-ups of your experiences or longer reflections, in which you tell the story of something special that you have done, experienced, or thought about that you wish to share with others. We will respect your choice if you want to post anonymous content… Come, join the Stories of Hope to take your message to the world.

"I hope and wish we go back to a NEW (ab)normal, being more conscious of our carbon footprints, racism, inequities... May a wiser phase of our connected lives begin,” says Anuj Jain, an ardent nature lover, who runs "Facilitators for Social Change," an Antigonish-based startup that designs projects for social change at systems level and facilitates partnerships among multi-stakeholders. READ MORE

At the time of the pandemic, when many students found themselves far away from family on Thanksgiving, we had our peers and faculty to be thankful for, who turned the holiday into a memorable Friendsgiving. READ MORE

As we look to the rest of Canada and the world as they experience the second wave of the pandemic, we may be inclined to feel fear or despair. However, I feel hope because I have personally experienced the power of a strong community that connects, collaborates and contributes for the greater good of our community, says Elizabeth Yeo. READ MORE

Elizabeth Yeo tells us about 'Neighbors Helping Neighbors' program. She says the response from our StFX and Antigonish community is a story of hope. "Knowing that we have a network of caring and compassionate people who are anxious to help others through difficult times leaves me confident that we will get through this pandemic together and be stronger for it." READ MORE

Stories of Hope looks deeper into the meaning of some of the new phrases that we collected as part of the "New Words for a New World Contest." All these words and phrases have an element of hope embedded in them as we imagine the post-Covid-19 world. READ MORE

Minding the Mind

This section answers some of the frequently answered questions about mental health during these stressful times. We have the answers for you. In case you do not find an answer here, please write to our experts at storiesofhopestfx@gmail.com

Life Line

This section provides details of resources available both online and in antigonish for seeking advice and psychological help.

Mutual Aid Network

As the university opens in fall, we are here to welcome you and provide any help that you may need settling into your routine. Email storiesofhopestfx@gmail.com, with "Mutual Aid Network" in the subject line for any help.