OK. I admit it. I am a little bit disappointed.
Earlier this summer, I was told one of my pictures would be featured in the Grizzly Trail Association’s annual calendar, however, because of the fundraising calendar for the aquatic centre, the association decided to put their calendar on hiatus.
The Grizzly Trail Association is a non-profit association run by Barrhead firefighters, whose mandate is to support the Barrhead Fire Department by buying equipment or subsidizing training courses the municipality and county could not normally afford.
In my career as a community reporter I have gotten to do a number of cool things.
My stories and pictures have been published in major daily newspapers, such as the Edmonton Sun. I have met and interviewed a number of people from politicians to sports and entertainment personalities, including B.J. Thomas (remember the song Rain Drops are Falling on my Head?).
However, the one thing I haven’t had the pleasure of is having one of my pictures in a calendar. Oh well, easy come, easy go.
Now please, don’t get me wrong, I am not blaming Making Waves – Yes for Progress or Pool Moving Forward for sabotaging my chance of getting into a calendar.
Nor am I against, the pool. I, like most people, would like a pool, it’s just I have had my reservations on the scope of the project, but I digress.
What I am saying is that while the pool project is an important issue for our community, it’s important not to lose sight of all the other things that are happening in our community that are equally important.
For example, I’m not sure how many people are aware of it, but a federal election has been called.
Now obviously I am being facetious, but it wasn’t until recently that I realized how little attention I have paid to the federal election campaign.
I know I am the person who has written, numerous times, that it is a person’s civic duty to vote and that Canada should introduce a mandatory voting law, isn’t really paying attention to the federal election.
The question is why not? Is it that after all these years I have become apathetic to the political process? After thinking about it, I have decided the answer is no. It isn’t because I don’t care about the election, but that I am being distracted from it because of the pool issue.
Another important issue facing the people in the community is how hard it can be to make ends meat. Three weeks ago Leader readers learned about a single father who was struggled to get his young daughter to school because he couldn’t afford the school bus fee. In this issue you will read about how Sandy McCarthy is worried about the future of FCSS’s school lunch program.
Yes, the pool is an important issue. Please learn all you can about it and make sure you cast your ballot in either the town or county plebiscite, but don’t do it at the expense of everything else.
