Letter - Rural Alberta
Hold your head high and be proud
Coun. Joe Blakeman
Alberta Beach
Wednesday April 12, 2006
Mayerthorpe Freelancer — In 2005, the province, lead by MLA Doug Griffiths and Luke Ouellette, released a report on rural Alberta. My experiences as a citizen of rural Alberta, and a county councillor, have given me a perspective that I would like to share.
Everyday we deal with a multitude of issues, from the BSE crisis, low grain prices (with high input costs), drought and grasshoppers, to gravel mining, oil and gas development, and increased rural development. We have to deal with school closures and school openings, as well as pressures from recreational users. We are dealing with the black gold rush taking our sons and daughters from our farms and our workforce. But in each case we deal with things directly, straight up. We solve problems, we do not create them; we know we do not live in a fictitious world – a spade is a shovel, we are thinkers - we are Rural Alberta.
We make time; we do not find it (its hard to find, just go looking for it some day). In many cases, with both parents out of the house working, whether it is on the farm or ranch or outside the house, we make time to spend with our children. We teach them the family values, manners, respect, learning and loving. We make time after our chores to drive 15 miles or more to belong to an agricultural society, a community league or such to make sure our recreation facilities are open for 4-H, hockey, ball or a family wedding. We make time to coach, to teach, to lead and to guide, so our children have a better quality and understanding of life - this is our Rural Alberta.
We have lived our own Shakespearean tragedy in our municipality. Four fallen soldiers, so young, were protecting our citizens because of a pledge of allegiance. The loss of a mentor, a leader, a nobleman who fought for a better education for our children was difficult. The loss of a young knight who gave much love and joy to everyone he touched, who fought a brave and courageous battle for his life. And the loss of a little princess, too young to have found a prince, perished. But in each and every tragedy people from every community immediately banded together to support, to mourn with, to respect and encourage those family and friends that were shaken. Not necessarily personally knowing these people, we are impelled to care, to be a community of strength and understanding, a community of one - this is truly Rural Alberta.
Next time you hear someone say rural Alberta, hold your head high and be proud… we have a heritage, we have been taught to think, to defend with one hand and hold the other out to those who need help. We are the backbone of our community, our municipality, our province - we are Rural Alberta!
back
Note: Alberta Beach is located within the boundaries of Lac Ste Anne County and is a Summer Village.
Hold your head high and be proud
Coun. Joe Blakeman
Alberta Beach
Wednesday April 12, 2006
Mayerthorpe Freelancer — In 2005, the province, lead by MLA Doug Griffiths and Luke Ouellette, released a report on rural Alberta. My experiences as a citizen of rural Alberta, and a county councillor, have given me a perspective that I would like to share.
Everyday we deal with a multitude of issues, from the BSE crisis, low grain prices (with high input costs), drought and grasshoppers, to gravel mining, oil and gas development, and increased rural development. We have to deal with school closures and school openings, as well as pressures from recreational users. We are dealing with the black gold rush taking our sons and daughters from our farms and our workforce. But in each case we deal with things directly, straight up. We solve problems, we do not create them; we know we do not live in a fictitious world – a spade is a shovel, we are thinkers - we are Rural Alberta.
We make time; we do not find it (its hard to find, just go looking for it some day). In many cases, with both parents out of the house working, whether it is on the farm or ranch or outside the house, we make time to spend with our children. We teach them the family values, manners, respect, learning and loving. We make time after our chores to drive 15 miles or more to belong to an agricultural society, a community league or such to make sure our recreation facilities are open for 4-H, hockey, ball or a family wedding. We make time to coach, to teach, to lead and to guide, so our children have a better quality and understanding of life - this is our Rural Alberta.
We have lived our own Shakespearean tragedy in our municipality. Four fallen soldiers, so young, were protecting our citizens because of a pledge of allegiance. The loss of a mentor, a leader, a nobleman who fought for a better education for our children was difficult. The loss of a young knight who gave much love and joy to everyone he touched, who fought a brave and courageous battle for his life. And the loss of a little princess, too young to have found a prince, perished. But in each and every tragedy people from every community immediately banded together to support, to mourn with, to respect and encourage those family and friends that were shaken. Not necessarily personally knowing these people, we are impelled to care, to be a community of strength and understanding, a community of one - this is truly Rural Alberta.
Next time you hear someone say rural Alberta, hold your head high and be proud… we have a heritage, we have been taught to think, to defend with one hand and hold the other out to those who need help. We are the backbone of our community, our municipality, our province - we are Rural Alberta!
back
Note: Alberta Beach is located within the boundaries of Lac Ste Anne County and is a Summer Village.