But March 11 was like flipping a switch. It was the day the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic, Tom Hanks was diagnosed and the NBA cancelled its season. And, oh, Vancouver Island saw its first COVID case, a man in his 60s, just back from Egypt. After that, the world we had taken for granted disappeared as the great shutdown began. First to fall, all the events. Michelle Obama’s sold-out Victoria talk was cancelled. Figure skater Kurt Browning, having flown here for three shows, never got a blade on the ice. The Royals’ season was over. Ditto for the TC10K and the book sale.