Transcript: Finding joy in socially distant times

[Ambient music. Everything is more complicated these days. Simplii Financial]

[Panoramic shot of Vancouver skyline and trees from a balcony]

>> Vanessa (voiceover): So I've come back to my childhood home in Vancouver —

[Vanessa holds a baby while children play in background]

— and I'm living at my sister's house —

[Vanessa, 36. Jewellery Designer. Vanessa sits in kitchen]

>> Vanessa: — helping her and her husband, who are both doctors —

[Child hands flower to Vanessa. Baby takes a bite of food. Child blows dandelion seeds at the camera]

— take care of their 3 kids.

[Joe sits in a home office with 2 large monitors in front of him]

>> Joe (voiceover): So, financially speaking, if you're smart about your money —

[Joe, 37. Director of Development. Joe sits in home office]

>> Joe: — you always sort-of have a rainy day fund. But I never really planned for —

[Joe walks out of building onto sidewalk, wearing a face mask]

>> Joe (voiceover): — the torrential rainfall, and I don't think a lot of people did.

[Carmilla, 39. Hair & Makeup Artist. Carmilla sits in home office]

>> Carmilla: Currently, I am unable to work.

[Carmilla does her makeup, the video sped up to double-time]

>> Carmilla (voiceover): My business plan did not include a pandemic. But now it does.

[0:30] [Aris, 28. Youth Support Worker. Aris sits in living room]

>> Aris: Well, my salary is still the same.

[Video chat shows Aris calling Mama in Congo DRC]

>> Aris (voiceover): The only difference is how much I support my mom. My mom lives in Congo DRC. So it's very —

[Aris sits in living room]

>> Aris: — tough in that sense.

[Devon and his girlfriend play a videogame]

>> Devon (voiceover): So I'm isolated with my girlfriend.

[Devon, 26. Human Resources. Devon sits in kitchen]

>> Devon: She's a nurse, uh, she works in surgical units full-time.

[Miriam, 27. Public Relations. Miriam sits on couch in living room]

>> Miriam: Isolating, as important as it is right now —

[Outside Miriam’s house. Miriam stands on stoop and opens book]

>> Miriam (voiceover): — and a huge component of a much bigger picture, it can feel really restraining.

[Miriam sits on couch in living room]

>> Miriam: So giving myself little breaks —

[Miriam stands on stoop and puts sunglasses on head]

>> Miriam (voiceover): — definitely helps.

[Carmilla lifts weights]

>>Carmilla (voiceover): Working out has helped me —

[1:00][Carmilla dances]

— deal with stress and the anxiety.

[Aris dances]

>> Aris (voiceover): I dance all the time (laughs).

[Devon walks outside]

>> Devon (voiceover): My saving grace was music.

[Computer monitor shows an online boardgame]

>> Joe (voiceover): Game nights with my friends from college.

[Vanessa produces a pattern on leopard-print fabric. Vanessa cuts the fabric. Vanessa uses a sewing machine to sew mask. Niece pulls mask ear-loop]

>>Vanessa (voiceover): I started making the masks —

[Niece and Vanessa wear matching masks]

— because I felt like that was something I could do and could make.

[Carmilla sits in home office] 

>> Carmilla: Now, I'm writing a Business 101 class —

[Poster for Carmilla’s online class]

>> Carmilla (voiceover): — for makeup artists. 

[Aris videochats with a student]

>> Aris (voiceover): There's 25 kids —

[Aris sits in living room]

— that I'm working with, so that's keeping me lighthearted. 

[Miriam sits on couch in living room]

>> Miriam: It feels nice to be able to send someone a surprise. 

[Miriam shopping online on her laptop]

>> Miriam (voiceover): So I try to order from local businesses. 

[Joe feeds fish in an outdoor pond. Koi fish swim in pond]

>> Joe (voiceover): Being so isolated has really helped me —

[Joe sits in home office]

>> Joe: — to reach out to family.

[1:30][Joe videochats with Joe’s Abuela]

>> Joe’s Abuela: Hola! Mi amor!

>> Joe: So I feel like I'm more connected to people now than ever before.

[Devon videochats with parents]

>>Devon (voiceover): I love chatting with my parents over FaceTime. 

[Devon lies on couch with laptop]

It's just the small things.

[Vanessa sits in kitchen]

>> Vanessa: I think it's really a hard time for everybody, but already I feel —

[Vanessa creates art. Children play. Vanessa uses a handmixer as children watch. Vanessa makes face mask with niece]

>> Vanessa (voiceover): — very lucky for this time with my family. 

[Children bike along sidewalk]

I won't ever probably have it again. 

[Vanessa sits in kitchen]

>> Vanessa: So I'm very grateful for that.  

[All six people’s faces appear on screen in a grid. They fade away to reveal text]

[The simple things will always matter most. Simplii Financial logo. Opinions expressed in this video are those of the participants, and not necessarily those of Simplii Financial or its partners. “SIMPLII FINANCIAL” and the SIMPLII FINANCIAL DESIGNS are trademarks of CIBC. “Simplii Financial” is a division of CIBC. Banking services are not available in Quebec.]