When Leah Mertz signed up to be the new Saskatchewanderer, she could not imagine a worldwide pandemic putting a halt on the traditional government program that has been taking place over the last decade.
COVID-19 has added interesting challenges to Mertz鈥檚 wandering journey, but she is taking it in stride and continues to find ways to celebrate the people and places of Saskatchewan.
鈥淚t has pretty much changed everything,鈥� said Mertz.
鈥淓veryone鈥檚 jobs have shifted in the last few weeks, that includes the wanderer,鈥� she added.
Mertz said she is exclusively home in Saskatoon. Her intent is to keep content going, putting out a video every Friday and taking advantage of things going on locally.
Mertz refers to her weekly videos as 鈥渧irtual wandering鈥� where she connects with past wanderers and local businesses, and continues to have a Saskatchewan experience.
鈥淚t was a few days of shifting gears. I just wanted to find something that works in the wanderer style,鈥� said Mertz.
鈥淚 am trying to stay positive and live in the moment. At the end of the day all I really have is my house and my little world that I can control. If I can do something positive, something relaxing and good for the soul, I think that will help a bit,鈥� she added.
Mertz has been the Saskatchewanderer since mid-February. She has been a traveller in her own right before her new gig, living and working from Vancouver to Montreal before settling in Saskatoon. She has been working in content creation for the last five years.
鈥淢y life has always been very unpredictable so in a sense this job is perfect for venturing into the unknown and seeing what is ahead everyday,鈥� said Mertz.
Mertz said she is going to make the best of her new circumstances and stay active. She added supporting local is important in times like these.
鈥淚t has been super inspiring seeing how businesses have had to adapt. Some have been more fortunate than others but I think as long as people focus on what is around them, I think that will make all the difference right now.鈥�
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