HALIFAX Flags were flying at half-staff Thursday in Fredericton, as Canadians from coast-to-coast mark a national day of observance to commemorate those who have died from COVID-19, exactly one year after the virus was declared a pandemic. The past year has been and continues to be challenging for Maritimers especially those in long-term care and their families. We just had a recent outbreak in Edmundston and that just put the fear of God into a lot of people, said Cecile Cassista, Executive Director of the Coalition for Seniors and Nursing Home Residents Rights in Riverview, N.B.