WHERE THE WHISTLE BLOWS
Columnist Jeremy Fraser says volunteers are a big part of the New Waterford community.
Volunteers are a big part of the New Waterford community
You don’t have to look far to see them. You might not realize it, but they’re right in front of you every day.
Volunteers are known to have a major impact on communities and in the New Waterford and surrounding area, that’s no different. The reason you may not know people are volunteering is because many don’t want recognition for their service.
But many people take volunteers for granted, not truly knowing the impact they are having on the community and how they are making their hometown better each day.
There are many great volunteers in New Waterford, too many to name. Some volunteers may be visible, helping with tagging days or selling tickets for different organizations and committees at different stores across town, while others may stay behind the scenes, making sure different community events run smoothly.
A lot of people consider volunteering as those who coach or organize sports associations. Yes, they too are outstanding volunteers and are instrumental in helping give children an opportunity to play sports in their communities, nobody can take that away from them, but there are more volunteers in other aspects as well.
In schools, there are volunteers helping out every morning for breakfast programs, among other programs throughout the year. One volunteer who stands out for that aspect is Francis Reid of New Waterford.
During my school years at Greenfield Elementary School in River Ryan, it wasn’t unusual to see Francis helping with the school’s breakfast program in the morning, and it certainly wasn’t unusual to see him back at the school at noontime, heating lunches in the microwave, and after school for various events.
Not only does Francis volunteer to help at Greenfield, he also volunteers for many events including the annual Coal Bowl Classic, the Vince Ryan Memorial Hockey Tournament, and to be honest, anything else that happens in New Waterford. He doesn’t volunteer to be recognized. He does it because he wants to make the area better for residents, and his efforts have certainly not gone unnoticed.
Another group of volunteers that stand out are those involved in the New Waterford Rotary Club. The club is an important part of the community and their efforts to make the town better are felt by many different organizations, including food banks, local sports teams, etc.
Joan Chiasson-MacDonald and Mary MacMillan are more volunteers that continue to work hard in the community.
Joan, a member of the Rotary Club, volunteers for many different organizations including the Island Breast Friends group. Aside from those groups, she is also the leading force in organizing the annual Clean up the Town Day, where volunteers go across the community picking up litter, keeping the town clean and beautiful prior to tourism season.
Mary has been volunteering her time with the Carmel Centre Society since she moved home to New Waterford in the 1990s. She
“I’m positive I would need at least five or six more pages in the paper to be able to explain and mention all the wonderful volunteers in my community, but I can’t stress enough all your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed.”
is also part of the retired teachers group, a board member for the Cape Breton Residential Society, all of which are on volunteer bases, and also volunteers with the Parish of Saint Leonard.
I also can’t forget to mention our outstanding volunteer firefighters at the New Waterford, Scotchtown and New Victoria fire departments.
I’ve certainly only scratched the surface of some of the outstanding volunteers in New Waterford. I’m positive I would need at least five or six more pages in the paper to be able to explain and mention all the wonderful volunteers in my community, but I can’t stress enough all your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed, even if I can’t mention everyone.
Volunteering comes in many forms and is as diverse as our country itself, but no matter how you recognize volunteers in 2017, remember: volunteer efforts create positive impact in every community, not just in New Waterford.
National Volunteer Week in Canada runs each April. This year’s volunteer week is set for April 23-29.
During National Volunteer Week, be sure to take some time to say thank you to the volunteers in your community. In a hustle and bustle world where many
things are overlooked, a thank you goes a long way with most volunteers. It’s for sure to brighten their day, knowing people appreciate their efforts in our communities.
To all volunteers, especially those in my hometown of New Waterford and surrounding community, thank you for your hard work and dedication to making our Cape Breton communities better places to live every day.
Jeremy Fraser is a reporter for the Cape Breton Post. The 23-year-old graduated from Holland College in Charlottetown, P.E.I., with a journalism diploma, and has been working in the journalism field for the past nine years. His monthly column “Where the Whistle Blows” will feature the past, the present and the future of the New Waterford and surrounding communities, looking at the community and sports history, and the people, as well as the issues and conversations surrounding the area. Jeremy can be contact by email at jeremy.fraser@cbpost.com or follow him on Twitter @CBPOST_Jeremy.