Regina man creates HOPE sign to spread positivity during COVID-19 pandemic

Christopher Kayter is hoping to literally bring a ray of hope to people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

An electrician by trade, Kayter has created a light-up sign that reads HOPE and has placed it outside of his north Regina home.

Kayter said he created the sign to get people’s minds off of the negativity in the world right now.

“People that walk by need to know that they’re doing their part and see positive messages in their daily routine,” Kayter said earlier this week.

When Kayter originally took to Facebook to share a photo of the sign, he said the post was met with a lot of positive response.

Now he’s noticing more and more people coming by to get a look at the sign in person.

“I get a lot of people just stopping and looking at it. For four little letters to say such a big message to the community is big in my eyes,” Kayter said.

Like many others in Saskatchewan, Kayter has seen his life greatly affected due to COVID-19.

Kayter, who owns JLB Electric, has had to lay off six employees. His wife runs a home daycare but kids are no longer going there.

“(Our) kids aren’t going to school; everything along those lines is huge,” he said. “We’ve pretty much been isolated for 4 1/2 weeks. I do have some work but the work’s really shut down in the construction industry right now.”

As many in Saskatchewan practise social distancing, Kayter says he has heard from people who have used online methods to keep in touch with family and friends.

“It seems like Saskatchewan is really doing their part right now by just staying home. Finding different ways to cope, I think it just goes to show you what type of people we have in Saskatchewan. When things get tough, we buckle down and do what we need to,” Kayter said.