While the opinions from this space are often of what could be described as a tongue-clucking nature, it’s important to remember that we’ve got a lot to be proud of in Westlock and quite often, people get it right.
There are several examples of that in this week’s Westlock News.
First and foremost, Westlock’s own Chuck Keller has been nominated as Westlock’s Small Town Hero, and is in the running for a grand prize of $10,000 and a Paul Brandt concert in the community. That money, along with the cash that could be raised at the concert, would go a long way towards the 55-Plus Summer Games fundraising efforts.
Far from being one to seek fame and recognition, Keller has allowed his name to stand for the nomination because of what it could mean for the community, and even if it makes him a bit uncomfortable, he deserves all the kudos he gets for his many efforts in this community.
Another shining example this week is the Westlock Legion, quick to jump in an offer a reward for information about who’s been vandalizing the petunia tree, located in the small park at the north end of Main Street.
That tree represents a lot of effort from volunteers with the Westlock Blooms Foundation, as well as sponsorship from some local businesses and other organizations. More importantly, it’s an integral part of what makes our downtown special and play a big role in beautifying the neighbourhood.
Of course we can all understand some jerks may try to ruin nice things like the petunia tree for the rest of us, but the Legion’s effort to put forward a reward and its ongoing support of this project is to be commended.
Finally, the community involvement in Westlock’s high-school football team, both in terms of fans coming out to games and community members with no kids supporting the team with their volunteer hours, speaks volumes about the kind of friendly, tight-knit community we all enjoy.
Having local businesses step in to support their fundraising efforts, like local businesses support the fundraising efforts of countless other non-profits in our community, is crucial to allowing these non-profits to keep up the good work they do.
These efforts, though seemingly small, come together to be a real force for positive change in our community and we’re lucky to have the volunteers to make it happen.
