P.E.I. artist creates lighthouse pin for those who don’t want physical contact, especially during a pandemic

A P.E.I. artist has created a pin designed to hammer home the importance of physical distancing during a pandemic.

Lenny Gallant, who operates a reclaimed artwork and furniture business called Birdmouse in St. Georges near Cardigan, struggles with anxiety, so when COVID-19 hit in March it turned his world upside down.

He has always had problems with people who might try to hug him or shake his hand. The pandemic just exacerbated those issues.

“I had to react (to the pandemic), and my reaction was just about my first few uncomfortable situations where I had people coming to my house or I would meet people out in the world where I didn’t know where they had been," Gallant said.

“I didn’t know if that person just got off a plane from somewhere that had a high infection rate and I don’t want to actually ask you where you’ve been."

So, he set out to invent something that would remove any doubt as to whether he was a hugger, a high-fiver or a handshaker.

Gallant designed a pin in the form of a lighthouse. It is worn on a shirt collar and is meant to convey a message to people to keep their distance.

“It really was about looking for a symbol, and I thought the perfect one was the lighthouse. I mean, that’s what a lighthouse does for ships, right? It gives them a little warning that says you might not want to get too close to this."

Gallant sketched the design himself and sent it off to a pin manufacturer in Ontario. He filmed a little commercial for his Facebook site to advertise it and received his first pin in mid-July.

He’s now working with a lawyer to patent the design.

He has sold about 400 pins, shipping the product across Canada and into the United States. The pins sell for $10 with $1 from each sale going to the P.E.I. branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Treena Smith, executive director of the P.E.I. branch of the association, is thrilled with what Gallant has created.

"It's always nice to be included in creative projects like this one," Smith said. "We wish him much success with this initiative and gratitude for raising awareness and funds in support of mental health programs and services for people living on Prince Edward Island."

Gallant said he’s not trying to market the pin to everyone.

“Like my mother? She’s a hugger; she doesn’t want this pin, so I’m not selling this pin to her," he laughs. 

“It’s for the people that even prior to the pandemic didn’t want to hug anybody. Physical contact isn’t something that is a yes or no just during the pandemic. It’s an everyday thing for some people."

Gallant said he knows that many people who encounter someone wearing the pin may not know what it means or even see it.

“Even if the person doesn’t recognize what it means it will start a conversation (about physical distancing). If someone goes in for a hug, the person wearing the pin simply points to it."

At a glance

Following is information about the lighthouse pin designed by artist Lenny Gallant and his business:

• He operates Birdmouse in St. Georges near Cardigan.
• The business deals with salvaged wood art pieces.
• He has created a lighthouse pin people can wear to signify to others that they aren’t comfortable with physical contact, especially during a pandemic.
• The pins sell for $10 with $1 from each sale donated to the P.E.I. branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.
• Pins can be ordered from the Birdmouse Facebook page or on the website at birdmouse.ca.

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