Crowsnest 2012 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner

Last night my wife and I attended, along with about 200 other people, the annual Crowsnest Pass 2012 Volunteer Appreciation Dinner at the Elk's Hall in Blairmore.

Enjoyed the evening in the company of Ernie and Ann Fantin (former owners of Fantin Funeral Homes) whose table we shared along with Donna Dalman, President of the Bellecrest Senior's Association and her husband. Interesting conversation and good laughs had by all.

At one point during the course of the evening, Ann, who I had never met before (although knowing her husband for many years), said to me that actually meeting and getting to know me was totally different from what she had 'heard' about me. I told her, "well there you go, prove that you have to be careful about what you read in the newspapers. They don't always tell the truth". :-( As it has been said, "The press serves him who owns it. It does not spread “free” opinion – it generates it".

The fact we have these dinners and that so many people turn out is testament to the character and resilience of this community. We are blessed to have so many caring and giving people here who make such a 'positive' difference in so many people's lifes, in selflessly sharing what they have in so many ways.

In closing let me say, the Mayor did an 'excellent' job throughout the evening telling jokes and making us laugh (as did Darryl Ferguson, our moderator), while at the same time instilling in us that as a community and a people, we truly are more than just the sum of our parts.

THE WORLD IS HUGGED BY THE FAITHFUL ARMS OF VOLUNTEERS.



Just as fire blows out candles, good deeds for the benefit of others destroy a selfish life.