I have to sympathize with Corry Anderson-Fennell. As the deadline approached for my column, I didn't have a topic yet.
Should I write about the Tour de Delta? I enjoyed volunteering, but tough to get 500 words on it. Southlands? I've shared enough.
Marina Gardens? My article was due before a decision was made Monday, so I might be way off. I was stumped.
Then I got last Friday's paper. On the front page, the headline screams of a dispute between the mayor and our MLA over the South Fraser Perimeter Road press conference. Our MLA was not informed, the response being there wasn't time. I think our MLA should at least be made aware of these things, regardless of where the information originates - provincial or municipal. Regardless if she speaks, she should be able to hear about her constituency first hand. We are, after all, giving up a lot of our community for the good of the country.
Flip a couple of pages, and Steve Graham's Community Comment calls for "cleaning house" at the next municipal election. I guess I read "cleaning house" as a complete replacement. I agree, a few new faces would be a good thing, but there's some good experience and wise counsel sitting at the table, so I don't think a wholesale change would be best. I'm guessing it's probably a little frustration coming through; our frustrations are a bit more public since we get to share them in the paper.
I always read the letters to the editor. The big debate is who gets to have an opinion on local development. Should Ladner people be allowed to contribute to the Southlands debate? Should Tsawwassen citizens hold their thoughts on Marina Gardens?
Should all of us zip our lips about the MK Delta Lands proposal? With all of these articles, I felt like our community was in a little bit of turmoil. Friday's paper seemed to hold a bit of simmering angst. But then, I got hit with a reality check.
I flipped the page and saw the article about Colton Boreen. I've know Colton for most of his life, and clearly remember him going by in his wagon, too tired to walk, not a hair on his head. I remember the big question was if his hair would grow back in time for kindergarten (it did).
His sister has severe challenges and is confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak. His parents have been through more than I can imagine in a dozen lifetimes. But Colton never felt sorry for himself, he's always had a positive attitude and has grown into an impressive young man. He's a real inspiration for those who meet him.
Sure, we have important issues that need to be dealt with, but nothing we can't work through, and nothing like some people face every day. We can disagree and debate, but if we make sure we are doing a good job of listening to each other, we can get back to living in the best place in B.C.
Funny, listening to the community is what a social planner does, as the Canadian Federation of University Women South Delta have suggested. But that's for someone else to write about.
