Inaugural National Resilience Day calls on Canadians to turn resilience into action

“For some it’s a death in the family, for others, it’s an illness, for others it’s losing their jobs,” Lycka said.

“All of these, the common denominator is people need resilience to come through it.”

The Edmonton physician, who practised medicine for 30 years before retiring in 2019, said National Resilience Day is intended to encourage people to support others as they navigate those experiences.

An Act of Resilience could include checking in on someone, helping a caregiver, recognizing a first responder or making a phone call to someone who may be struggling, he said.

“Resilience is best done when you have somebody else helping you with it; it’s not done alone,” Lycka said.

The initiative is calling on Canadians to collectively complete one million such acts, although Lycka acknowledged that reaching the target in the first year may be difficult.

Lycka said over 34 Canadian communities have now proclaimed or acknowledged National Resilience Day, with communities represented from coast to coast to coast.

The communities include:

Alberta: Bashaw, Beaverlodge, Brooks, Canmore, Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Jasper, Red Deer, Spruce Grove, Strathcona County
British Columbia: Mission, Nanaimo, New Westminster, Oliver
Saskatchewan: Creighton, Denare Beach, Meadow Lake, North Battleford, Preeceville
Manitoba: Flin Flon
Ontario: Brockville, Cramahe Township, Peterborough, Southwest Middlesex, The Blue Mountains, Thunder Bay
Québec: Montréal, Saguenay, Victoriaville
New Brunswick: Miramichi, Saint John
Newfoundland and Labrador: Corner Brook
Northwest Territories: Yellowknife
Yukon: Whitehorse

Brooks was the first Canadian municipality to proclaim Sept. 24 as National Resilience Day of the 34 listed.

Lycka said the response has been significant considering the initiative came together in roughly two weeks.

“I think that’s nothing short of a miracle,” Lycka said.

The inaugural National Resilience Day Awards ceremony will also be held from 7 to 9 p.m. MST virtually on Thursday, recognizing people for stories of resilience.

Lycka said he anticipates the initiative to continue to grow beyond Sept. 24, with several communities unable to issue proclamations on short notice, considering doing so in the coming months.

He also hopes the acts of kindness encouraged by the day will become something people practise year-round.

“I think resilience acts will hopefully not be just one day, but will be every day for people,” Lycka said.

A petition is also being circulated with the goal of receiving 500 signatures and bringing the initiative before the House of Commons for consideration as an annual day of recognition.

However, Lycka said he does not envision National Resilience Day becoming a statutory holiday.

“Resilience never takes a holiday; it has to be there for people to dwell on. It’s the rock that moves us forward,” Lycka said.

by Jett Schwaier

Inaugural National Resilience Day calls on Canadians to turn resilience into action

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