A Look Back at 2020
By Jay Turner
Residents spread out on the CHS turf field — following COVID-19 social distancing requirements — during the annual town meeting in June. (Mike Tureski photo)
The following is an excerpt from the Canton Citizen’s 2020 year in review. Check out the Jan. 7 print edition for a look back at the top news stories of 2020, athletes and teams of the year, and more.
COVID-19 transforms daily life
It went from minor media curiosity to a major topic of conversation within a span of a few short weeks in early 2020, and by the middle of March the novel coronavirus had completely transformed Americans’ day-to-day lives. Closer to home, the changes came in rapid succession, advancing from reminders about hand-washing and coughing etiquette to a quasi-shutdown across the commonwealth in a matter of days. On March 15, the day that both CHS ice hockey teams had been scheduled to compete at the TD Garden, Governor Charlie Baker announced his first major set of emergency orders — closing schools, prohibiting dining in restaurants, and reducing gathering sizes to 25 people. Several additional measures would follow over the ensuing weeks, including the closure of all non-essential businesses, a “stay-at-home” advisory, and eventually a face covering mandate as positive COVID cases, as well as hospitalizations and deaths, particularly among the elderly, surged across Massachusetts and beyond.
In Canton specifically, town offices and parks were closed; the library and senior center were shuttered; and youth sports leagues canceled the remainder of their seasons. Meetings, both public and private, were shifted to a virtual format as residents of all ages familiarized themselves with videoconferencing technology and adjusted to a new mode of communication. As the pandemic worsened and it became clear that a short-term fix was unlikely, residents began to adjust to a new normal — hosting “Zoom” dinners, coordinating drive-by birthday parades, and organizing virtual fundraisers. Eventually, with the arrival of warmer weather and strong adherence to health protocols, Massachusetts was able to “flatten the curve” as the state embarked on a successful phased reopening plan. An anticipated fall surge, however, led to a tightening of restrictions, and as 2020 came to a close, the focus shifted toward avoiding private gatherings and continued vigilance as Americans prepared for the rollout of a potentially life-saving — and game-changing — COVID-19 vaccine.
Canton strives for greater racial understanding
Amid a wave of protests and a national outpouring of grief and anger over the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and several other Black Americans at the hands of law enforcement, hundreds of Canton residents gathered at Town Hall in June to publicly denounce racial violence and “stand in solidarity” with the growing Black Lives Matter movement. The peaceful rally, attended by people of all ages and diverse backgrounds along with police officers and local leaders, featured speeches, songs, poetry, and a tear-filled moment of silence, and culminated later that evening with a spirited march through Canton Center. More importantly, the event helped open a broader dialogue on race in the community that carried through the summer and fall, drawing strength from a group of determined young women committed to uplifting minority voices.
The town of Canton, meanwhile, took its own concrete steps to ensure that more voices would be heard, launching a new 13-member Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee that continues to meet regularly. And a Canton father of three, together with his wife, helped spark a town-wide movement with their simple, hand-made sign calling for “More Unity and Less Division.” An entirely different kind of sign, featuring racially charged messaging and appearing to be the work of a right-wing extremist group, opened fresh wounds when it was discovered at Canton Junction in September. However, it also underscored the progress that had been made as many rushed to condemn the sign and its imagery, including the Canton Select Board, who called on all citizens to work together to “make Canton, Massachusetts and the United States places to be proud of …
Check out this week’s print edition for more year in review coverage. Not a subscriber? Click here to order your subscription today (also available in digital form).
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=72164
Posted by Jay Turner
on Jan 9 2021. Filed under Featured Content.
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