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Families Reunite After Nova Scotia Lifts Border Restrictions

Brooklyn Wilkins , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Due to travel restrictions being lifted between the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia borders, families are finally reuniting with their loved ones after being separated since January. 

The provinces locked-down borders in mid-January after the Christmas-related outbreak of COVID 19 hit both provinces, but the Nova Scotia provincial government has since lifted their required restrictions with the New Brunswick government planning to follow their example on April 19th , under the condition that COVID cases in New Brunswick remain low. 

As Nova Scotia borders lift travel restrictions for New Brunswickers, people are back on the roads, ready to reunite with their loved ones. [Source: Brooklyn Wilkins]
For inter-provincial families, this news means the chance to see each other for, in most cases, the first time in four months or more. 

“ As an adult, it was hard on me not seeing my parents and my grandparents…I handled it a lot better being an adult. However, I think the hardest part of being separated for the long lockdowns that we’ve had, was probably seeing the kids, and my parents, struggling not being able to see each other,” said Jessica O’Dell; a New Brunswick mother of two (ages seven and two) who is “extremely close” with her Nova Scotian family. 

O’Dell said that one of the hardest things was knowing that her parents were missing fundamental growths and moments in her young children’s lives and that, alternatively, if a health emergency were to happen to her parents or grandparents. She would not be able to go to them. 

“Of course, being separated from people you’re close to is tough enough as it is, but adding children to the mix, or health issues or concerns for people that you love, makes it even harder,” said O’Dell. 

After hearing the news about the border reopening, O’Dell said that it “felt like a breath of fresh air” and that it had been a “very emotional” piece of news to share with her children. 

Inter-provincial families breathe a sigh of relief at once again being able to reunite. [Source: Jessica O’Dell / Via: Facebook]
“ I know that it was very emotional for Audrey and her being seven. She’s kind of stuck in between the age of understanding why those rules were put in place, and also still having a hard time coping with the separation. When she had found that we could be [in Nova Scotia again] she actually collapsed to her knees crying and sobbing. Just because she was so happy and overwhelmed by being able to finally go see her grandparents,” said O’Dell 

For other separated loved ones, such as Nova Scotia Community College student, Wyatt Pettipas and his New Brunswick girlfriend, the long-distance separation wasn’t entirely new.  As a result, the couple was already well prepared with resources to ease the distance. 

“Since my first year [of college] we’ve been [in a] long-distance [relationship]. So it wasn’t really anything new. I couldn’t see [my girlfriend] for a longer period of time, but it wasn’t so bad because we would FaceTime every night and talk often,” said Pettipas. 

Despite having reunited recently, Pettipas said that, though happy, it was strange to see his girlfriend in person again, and took about a day to get used to any changes made during their time apart.

“ It was weird at first just seeing her in person and not on camera. She looked different than when I  had last seen her and she sounded a little bit off because I haven’t heard her voice come directly from her [in so long]; I’ve always heard it through a computer. It was different but after a couple of hours to a day, everything was back to normal again,” said Pettipas.