Patricia Grinsteed, 91-year-old COVID-19 Survivor, is "Walking For Women"

Lynn Valley Care Centre (LVCC) in North Vancouver received a lot of attention during the early days of the pandemic. Canada’s first COVID-19 related death occurred there.  When the outbreak was deemed over: 52 residents would test positive, 20 families would lose loved ones, 32 residents would survive. Patricia Grinsteed, a 91-year-old feminist and life-long social activist, would be counted among the survivors.

Everything changed at LVCC on March 5^th. No more meals in the dining room, all activities suspended, the residents were confined and isolated to their rooms. Soon no visitors would be allowed. A few weeks into the outbreak Patricia came down with a head cold, felt greatly fatigued and tested positive for COVID-19. Fortunately, she had a relatively mild case and officially recovered by mid April.  Two months after the isolation began, the outbreak status at LVCC was lifted on May 4^th. Patricia was depressed to learn her confinement would continue due to the restrictions now in place across the whole province.

After 11 weeks of isolation amid a growing concern about Patricia getting enough exercise, an idea emerged.  Inspired by Captain Tom Moore from the UK, her family would appeal to Patricia’s social activism to walk 200 laps around LVCC by raising funds for the North Shore Women’s Centre. 

The campaign is called Walking-for-Women.  Patricia explained “I’ve been walking for women since Christmas Eve 1971” when she joined her first women’s march.  Patricia is aware of how the stay-at-home circumstances related to COVID-19 can amplify domestic violence, leaving many women isolated in unsafe situations.  Her goal is to bring awareness to the issue and raise funds to support the many programs offered by her local women’s resource centre.  Patricia is both humbled and honored to realize she still has the capacity to make a difference for her community. 

More About Patricia

Patricia is a survivor!

Born in 1928, the youngest of a large, extended and loving family, Patricia’s early years exposed her to the poverty of the Great Depression in London’s east end.  WW2 broke out in Europe, as bombs began to fall on London she was evacuated to escape the Blitz. Before the war ended she would lose her closest sister (and young family) to the bombing.  The poverty, personal loss and war experience in general, would shape her views about peace and social justice for the rest of her life.

Patricia would marry and emigrate to Canada with her husband in 1956.  The mid-1960’s would find Patricia 36 years old, pregnant with her 3^rd child , walking into the Unitarian church for the first time.  She immediately felt at home amidst the socially conscious church members promoting slogans like “Make Love Not War”.  Patricia’s career in community activism would start here and span the next 5 decades.

Patricia was on the vanguard of the Women’s Movement in Toronto.  They were successful is pressuring the Ontario government to include the word “sex” in their recently enacted Human Rights Code to outlaw discrimination.  Women gathered around their kitchen tables to workshop and prioritize the issues most important.  Four themes emerged:  1) Equal pay for equal work; 2) Affordable and accessible daycare; 3) Reproductive rights; 4) Removal of gender-based roles in education system.  This was the 1970’s.  (See relevant photo of Patricia at Women’s March 2018 in Vancouver, BC.)

Patricia would go on to support the Gay Rights Movement, walking in countless Gay Pride parades across her career in Toronto, Kelowna, Victoria and Vancouver.  She would eventually move to Kelowna, BC and establish a gaggle (chapter) of Raging Grannies.  Patricia would eventually identify as a feminist, peace activist and active environmentalist.  She would retire from her last official community position as a Suzuki Elder, at 86 years old. 

Tragedy would strike once again for Patricia a couple years later when she was violently assaulted by a stranger in her own home.  Patricia says her survival and ultimate recovery would not have been possible without her knowledge and experience gained from the Women’s movement and community-based support groups.  One more reason why it’s so important for our society to support these kinds of organizations and initiatives.

Patricia would survive the near-death experience only to descend into the foggy brain of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.  Her PTSD diagnosis would lead her to needing long-term care.  She moved into Lynn Valley Care Center and went to work with a therapist on her recovery.  For Patricia, it looked like a good start to the year 2020.  She said the pit in her stomach causing her panic attacks (PTSD) was not present anymore and her brain was clear from the fog.  All things were looking up.

COVID-19 arrived and changed everything.  Patricia’s residence would have the first virus related death in Canada.  Even after being isolated in her room, Patricia tested positive a couple weeks into the outbreak.  She fully recovered only to realize her isolation would continue.  She misses hugging her family, friends and care workers.  Her “Walking-for-Women” campaign is an opportunity for her to feel more connected. She is honored and humbled to realize she still has the capacity to impact her community in this way.

About the North Shore Women's Centre

Located in North Vancouver, BC, the North Shore Women’s Centre is dedicated to improving the social, economic, legal and political status of women, and encourages and supports self-empowerment by acting as a resource and a catalyst for change, from feminist perspectives. We aim to provide women with access to resources and assist them with life choices, actively address violence against women at all levels of the community, challenge sexism and discrimination in the community, and work towards the elimination of the feminization of poverty. The NSWC welcomes women and gender diverse individuals, including those who identify as trans, Two-Spirit, and/or non-binary.

*We are thrilled to have passed our original goal!* Money raised beyond $2,500 will support our low-barrier resource centre, and our services continuing during COVID-19. During this time, staff continue to provide peer counselling, support and resources to clients over phone and email. Many women have reached out for information about available supports in the community, so we've created a resource list for the North Shore, available on our website. Since mid-march, we have stepped up our Emergency Food & Toiletry Program to meet demand, giving out approximately 150 bags of essential food/toiletries.

With help from Telus, we have supplied tablets and cellphones to those in need of technology or internet connection. Through a partnership with Cause We Care Foundation, we've been able to deliver grocery hampers to single mothers in our Single Mothers Support Group. Our Support Groups and Family Law Clinic continue to operate online.

To combat isolation, we’ve been hosting online, weekly public workshops for women, on a variety of topics, such as mindfulness, nutrition to boost immune function, exercise, yoga, tri-partite separation workshop, etc. We are looking forward to offering a 'Fearless' teen girls empowerment camp this summer!

To learn more about our Programs & Services, please visit: www.northshorewomen.ca