These were Hello! Canada readers' favourite photos from the Canada Covid Portrait challenge

The <a href=/tags/0/coronavirus><strong>coronavirus</a></strong> has changed the world this year, and across Canada we've all had to adjust to the new reality of living with the threat of <strong><a href=/tags/0/covid-19>COVID-19</a></strong>. <p>As Canadians began social distancing, wearing masks in public to keep each other safe and mostly staying indoors from March to present, many photographers began taking photos of these changes and what life started to look like in this new reality. <p>The <a href=https://www.instagram.com/canadacovidportrait/>Canada Covid Portrait</a> challenge documented these changes across the country. The project, led by photographer <strong>George Pimentel</strong>, hopes to create an archive of images taken during this extraordinary time. Canadians can enter it by using the #CanadaCovidPortrait hashtag on Instagram and by emailing photos to submissions@canadacovidportrait.ca. <p>Over the summer, we ran a series of polls in which we asked you to choose your favourite photos from the challenge every week. There were plenty of captivating images to choose from, and these are the ones that resonated with you the most. <p><strong>Scroll through the gallery (or click through if you're on mobile) to see the photos you picked as your favourites!</strong> <p>Photos: &copy; Liz Rubincam, David Chiu and Maggie Devereux
<h2>Ashley Wadhwani</h2> <p>Ashley's image shows her wearing a mask featuring white daisies... while posing in front of some real-life daisies! She wanted to get the importance of wearing a mask across with her photo as well. <p>"As the country reopens businesses and public spaces and Canadians are given the green light to expand their pandemic bubble, the dance between safety and socializing is a fickle one," she said. <p>"Wearing a mask is one way (in addition to frequently washing my hands, staying home when feeling sick and physically distancing) to not just keep myself safe from others, but keep fellow Canadians safe. <p>"Masks don't have to be medical-grade or scary. They can be beautiful and reusable and – just like clothing – be another way to share a bit of yourself with the world." <p>Photo: &copy; Ashley Wadhwani
<h2>Christy Turner</h2> <p>Christy's photo shows <strong>Cheyann Clarke-Colbourne</strong> in an outfit she planned to wear at her high school graduation. <p>Unfortunately, it was cancelled due to COVID-19. So the family improvised, taking a picture of Cheyann on a horse, gesturing at a rainbow behind her, on a farm just outside Calgary. <p> "As we made our way [out to the farm], I was not sure the shoot was even going to happen as there was a torrential downpour of rain, hail and thunder," Christy said. <p>"[But] as we got Cheyann's horse ready for the shoot, I saw the storm retreating, the sun setting and thought maybe, just maybe, we'd get something a little dramatic to work with. Not only were we gifted with an entire sky filled with mamatus clouds, but also a rainbow, just in time for Cheyann to hold a piece of it for her photo!" <p>Photo: &copy; Christy Turner
<h2>David Bastedo</h2> <p>David's photo shows his parents <strong>Tom</strong> and <strong>Alice</strong> attending a church service via Zoom in Muskoka, Ont. His parents have been doing their best to keep things as normal as possible during the pandemic, and even dressed up for the service. <p>Photo: &copy; David Bastedo
<h2>Liz Rubincam</h2> <p>Liz's photo shows <strong>Harold</strong>, a firefighter, at home during the pandemic. She's been capturing photos of Victoria residents as they isolate due to COVID-19. <p> "Each individual or group was photographed behind glass," Liz said. "The resulting multi-layered images provide a glimpse into this time of self-isolation and the environments that offer shelter and protection. The people in my photographs are senior in isolation, first-responders, busy families, couples in love, just to name a few." <p> "I realized early on that I'm not a teacher and have the utmost respect for educators and how they keep kids attentive for most of the day," Harold said of his time in isolation. <p>Photo: &copy; Liz Rubincam
<h2>Len Wagg</h2> <p>Len's photo will touch Canadians' hearts and truly exemplifies the spirit of togetherness during this pandemic. It shows a "street pantry" in Halifax in April, set up to help those who are homeless or under-housed. <p>"It is tough to isolate when you live on the street," Len said. <p>Photo: &copy; Len Wagg
<h2>Shelly Marriage</h2> <p>Shelly's photo shows <strong>Erika Skretkowski</strong>, <strong>Nicole Restrepo</strong> and <strong>Lucy Giavon</strong> wearing masks, lined up in a row. They are eighth grade students who did not have the opportunity to take a graduation photo together, so they improvised. <p> "They staged their own grad photo shoot, carefully wearing masks and trying to match their dresses to make the most of the 'new norm,'" Shelly said. <p>Photo: &copy; Shelly Marriage
<h2>Valerian Matazaud</h2> <p> Valerian's photo shows a circus performer outside a long-term care home in Montreal. The performer is on stilts in a special costume while she plays a violin. <p>Valerian said the Droldadon company came to the Habitations de Chambley seniors' residence in the city's Rosemont district to give a show for those who had been stuck inside for months. <p>Photo: &copy; Valerian Matazaud
<h2>Maggie Devereux</h2> <p> Maggie's image shows her daughter having an "impromptu play date" with her best friend while their families were in the backyards at the same time. The two live next door to each other in Toronto. Maggie's photo shows the importance of human connection and resilience during the pandemic. <p> "They chit chatted over the fence and then took turns going into their respective houses to get stuffs and toys to show each other one by one, including their mutual favourite, the bootie shaking llama," Maggie said. "They both got one for their birthdays this year and often play with them together, pretending that the stuffs are sisters and they're the parents. <p>"It's human nature to want to connect and I guess where there's a will, there's a way. It warmed my heart to see these two finding a way to feel each other's warmth, despite having to keep a distance." <p>Photo: &copy; Maggie Devereux
<h2>David Chiu</h2> <p> Many Canadians will probably be able to relate to David Chiu's photo. It shows how the Torontonian visited his mom to celebrate the special day – his family normally gets together to do that, but COVID-19 made things different this year. <p> "On Mother's Day, I dropped by my mom's place with some gifts and to see her," he says. "Keeping our social distance, this selfie was captured in my mom's backyard. There were big smiles behind those masks, which my mom had made. <p>"We chatted and gave each other social distanced hugs and kisses – definitely a memorable Mother's Day." <p>Photo: &copy; David Chiu
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