Killam's Council & Administration recently invited members of our Volunteer community to a special event where we could recognize & thank them for all they do.
Volunteers are the Lifeblood of a Community. I have said this before many times, because I
believe it to be an absolute fact. In
smaller communities especially – communities like Killam, and like the
Flagstaff region – volunteers play a vital role in delivering those services
that work to define us.
In Killam we like to say we are living “Life Without Compromise”. A huge part of that is because of our
community builders, and your desire to give back.
His Excellency the Right Honourable David
Johnston, Governor General of Canada, spoke of giving back to
one’s community in his New Years Address just a few weeks ago. His message, in part, states -
"The 150th anniversary of Confederation, which we
will celebrate in 2017, gives us a unique opportunity to think about the kind
of country we desire, and to work towards it.
"It is so
important that we give back to our communities and to Canada. As my
predecessor, Georges Vanier, once said, 'If Canada
is to attain the greatness worthy of it, each of us must say, ‘I ask only to
serve.’
"This
statement of truth is elegantly simple. Each of us has something unique and
important to offer, and the New Year provides an opportune time to commit to
giving back to Canada.
"It doesn’t
matter how you get involved— just do it. By helping our fellow
Canadians; by participating in our civic life; by working to build prosperity
in our communities—this is how we build a smarter, more caring and resilient
society."
This message from our Governor General relates easily to
communities of any size. Whether we are
thinking of the community of Killam, the community of Flagstaff, or the
community of Canada, his words still apply.
Our volunteer community contributes much, and we are very grateful
for this.
Whether your service has been in the area of recreation & culture, assisting those who occasionally need a hand up, or working with our youth or our mature citizens, thank you for all that you do.
Whether you have served on a board, picked up a shovel or a hammer when asked, or helped with the time clock at a hockey game, thank you for all that you do.
It all makes a difference, and we thank you for all that you do.
There is, however, more to be done. As you can guess, our community groups are
always looking for fresh ideas, new faces & additional help. We need all of our community to be engaged,
no matter your age or ability. We all
have a talent to share.
I want to issue a challenge to all of you. Your challenge is to engage your neighbors,
friends, & fellow citizens to get involved.
Introduce yourself to that new neighbor – or reintroduce yourself to
that old neighbor you haven’t talked to in awhile. Find out what their passion is. Invite them out to an event, a work bee, a
meeting. It’s not hard to do – but it does
take a conscious effort. As volunteers, you are ideally suited to take up this challenge. You are, in essence, Ambassadors for our
community.
Every
one of us in our community has something to offer. Whether you are enjoying retirement or are
among our youth, there is opportunity for you to volunteer. Or if you have been
less active as a volunteer lately, there is opportunity for you to re-engage.
Just
think how much more vibrant we could be with only a few more helping hands.
Ambassadors,
thank you for taking on this challenge; I know you will be successful.
Killam & our regional communities are great because of all you do. Keep up the good work, and together we will continue to live "Life Without Compromise".
Sincerely,
Bud James