When, starting in February, we kept our distance from loved ones to keep each other safe, we were also searching for some connection, and some way to keep our spirits up.

At a Distance was conceived to bring people together at a safe distance, and do something delightful with our time while in quarantine.

As the summer arrived, the project became less about big ideas or funding applications and more about important and simple pleasures.

When people asked why we were walking around Shipyards Park with giant puppets on our back, it wasn’t some eloquent speech of hope or language from funding proposals that we sputtered off.

We said instead:
“Just ‘cause.”; “it’s been a hard summer”; or some other version of “So we can have some fun with people and puppets at the market!”

And we got to share this fun with everyone that helped out and participated – as well as anyone stopping to check it out.

At a Distance couldn’t have happened without contributions from a lot of people. From donating materials to volunteering as puppeteers, a lot was done to get the project on its feet. We’d like to thank everyone that made this project what it was.

Thank you Linda Leon for the giant Salmon puppet (it’s gorgeous!) and to Janet Patterson for helping us get it.

Thank you Spruce Wind Girl Guides for their donated tents, they were especially helpful materials for our rainy summer.

Thank you chip bag donors, especially Lis Pilon and Leslie Hamson – and also all you anonymous donors.

Thank you Brenda, Kasey Rae, Josh, Michelle and Casey at the Old Firehall and Yukon Arts Centre for giving the puppets a base of operations.

Thank you Kelvin, Scott and Cherie from City Whitehorse for housing puppets and puppet workshops in Shipyards Park.

Thank you to Arts in the Park folks, Sarah, Scott et al!

Thank you to the recreation staff at the long term care homes: Thayna Wasiliew at Thomson Centre, Julia Mertz at Whistlebend Place, and Taylor Cairns at Copper Ridge Place.

Thank you to all our puppet artists: Aimée Dawn Robinson, Nicole Bauberger, Allison Button and Chris Lloyd, Susie Anne Bartsch, Jacob Zimmer, Brian and Jacob Fiddler, and Lea-Ann McNally with Junior, Jack, and Johnny.

Thank you to our musicians Olivier de Colombel and Lonnie Powell for great tunes to parade to!

Thank you to all our volunteer puppeteers and helpers: Aimée Dawn Robinson, Allison Button, Alyssa Bunce, Amy Law, Augie Ness, Axel Lloyd, Brian Fidler, Chris Bartsch, Chris Lloyd, Clair Mooney, Claire Ness, Colleen Mooney, Doug Button, Emily Woodruffe, Erinkate Tredger, Hanneke Button, Jacob Fidler, Jacob Zimmer, Jenna Winter, Junior, Jack, Johnny and Lea-Ann McNally, Lennox Lloyd, Lewis Bunce, Morris Lamrock, Nava Roch, Nicole Bauberger, Olivier de Colombel, Remy Rodden, Rowan, Susie Anne Bartsch, Taylor Roch, Teneil Arcand, and Zack McCann-Armitage.

And to everyone who smiled at us!

There are already plans to bring the puppets out again, so keep your eyes peeled.