May Editorial

Spring is well upon us, soccer is underway, my neighbours’ tandorri oven is now fired up on a regular basis and Daisy’s’ walks in the park are getting comfortably longer. It was a long winter, but we are all beginning to come out of hibernation and enjoying the best of the season.

While the market has shown signs of recovery, many of us in the community have not been so lucky, suffering roll backs, cut hours and layoffs. Like many other places across the country, things in the Hills are tight and everyone is trying to stretch a dollar. Now is the time when communities really need to come together to show their mettle.

In prosperous times it is easy to lose touch with our neighbours as we get caught up enjoying the fruits of our labour and have little need for the help of others. Now times have changed. We have families in the community that may not be able to make rent next month, families who may struggle to put food on the table let alone think about how they are going to keep the kids occupied this summer. Unfortunately there are no easy solutions that will turn things around in time for many of these families, but I am sure that if we pull together and extend a hand to one another, we can make things a little easier.

Being there for a neighbour isn’t hard as it may sound; it may be as simple as helping with a ride to the airport or offering to look after a neighbour’s child while the parent goes to an interview. This is the easy part, knowing how to offer that hand can be much more difficult. I know if someone from across the street offered to come over and wash my car or cut my grass I may be a bit taken aback, (I know the Ford Focus is a bit dishevelled, but it is my work truck!). How does one offer help with out offending? How do we ask for help without seeming needy? It is too simple to say we need to swallow our pride and ask for help, but I am stumped. This month I am looking for some ideas from you the readers on how we can strengthen our community and get through this difficult time together.

Some quick ideas for summer activities in the community include:

Cardel has some great day camps and up special family events

City Programs
Children
· Park N' Play
· Stay N' Play
· Roving Park N' Play and Stay N' Play
· Afternoon Adventures
Youth:
· Toast N' Jam
· Extreme Sports Challenge
· Skateboard programs
Family events:
· Summer Adventure Kick Off - Kite Day*
· Lawnchair Theatre
· Family Pool Parties
Both Cardel and the City offer very helpful fee assistance programs that make programs and passes affordable for those who qualify. And don’t forget, the NHCA with our many community partners will again be hosting SummerFest on June 13th. Last year we had thousands of residents come out and enjoy a great day in the sun with friends and family.


On a similar note, I wanted to extend this note you to our community members:

Thank you to all the members of the Northern Hills Community who made our Food Bank Skate at Cardel Place such a success during the months of January, February and March at Cardel Place. With your support, we were able to raise over $1000.00 in food and cash donations to the Calgary Interfaith Food Bank.

Thank you for your support of this initiative.

Dr. Robert Kinniburgh and the staff of North Calgary Orthodontics

Once again, showing that it can be so easy to make a difference… until next month, enjoy the Spring.