Cherishing Our Community
NO MATTER WHICH WAY we look or listen, these are challenging times. People around the globe struggle to find hope in a bewildering array of suffering. At times, the steady stream of 24-hour news is almost too much to bear.
But with Remembrance Day quickly approaching, I think it’s worth a psychic time-out to express gratitude to all those who sacrificed so much so that those of us fortunate enough to live in Canada and on the Saanich Peninsula today can enjoy peace and prosperity – unknown and almost unfathomable in many parts of the world.
Sidney, the Peninsula and Vancouver Island offer not just respite from the world’s woes but the opportunity to feel safe and comfortable. I have little doubt that our combined energy and creative effort make a huge difference to our friends, neighbours and the many thousands of people each year who come to enjoy our community. We are lucky – very lucky.
There is something else about our part of the world – something else to cherish. People are incredibly kind and giving. Did you know, for instance, in our area, more than a million hours of good work are generated through volunteer activities each year? Hospice care, thrift and charity shops, literacy programs, food banks, Peninsula Celebrations Society events, the Shoal Centre, Sidney Library, not-for-profit boards of directors, the Sidney Museum, Mary Winspear Centre, Community Arts Centre and the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, to name but a few. These organizations are all supported by large numbers of residents who are strongly committed to volunteering and to one another. Without a doubt, it is the kindness and hard work of volunteers that helps to make our community shine.
Think about how fortunate we are to have free parking, safe and clean streets and beautifully maintained gardens and public spaces ... the many community events we enjoy: family day, parades, Christmas in Sidney and more. For a town of some 11,000 people, Sidney is extraordinarily rich.
Think, too, about our incredibly beautiful environment with its spectacular views, clean air and abundant recreational opportunities. There’s a bit of magic right on our doorstep.
The best thing about Sidney is its people – residents, business and commercial property owners, volunteers, parents, children, retired and working folks who, together, make Sidney the family-friendly place it is to live, work and enjoy.
In these challenging times, it is important to remember that Sidney and the Peninsula welcome everyone with no strings attached. As our town continues to grow in numbers and diversity, we welcome newcomers and engage them in our community. In so doing, we lay a strong and compassionate foundation for ourselves, our children, and our children’s children for generations to come.
For information about Sidney businesses and events and/or how to volunteer, or contribute to Sidney, check out: distinctlysidney.ca and sidney.ca