As Christmas Day nears, and for the calendar-challenged it’s now unsettlingly close, we’d like to remind Bow Valley residents that our local charities still need help this holiday season.
Traditionally, Bow Valley residents have been known to wait until the last minute to dig in and help, but both Banff’s Santa’s Anonymous and Canmore’s Christmas Spirit Campaign need help to ensure everyone has a happy holiday. And the sooner help arrives, the better.
Of note is that the Christmas Spirit Campaign stands at $11,000 in cash funding; well short of $60,000 budgeted.
Santa’s Anonymous as well, which collects only cash to purchase Christmas hamper items, still needs donations.
Successful thus far for the Spirit Campaign is the collection of 8,900 pounds of food through the Royal LePage Food Drive, 1,100 pounds via the Brewster Stuff a Bus event at Save-On-Foods and a toy collection at a recent Canmore Eagles hockey game.
Still, with hampers going out on Dec. 22, volunteers are needed to make the deliveries and more food and cash is still needed.
The Bow Valley, to outward appearances, would generally seem to be a place of affluence – if all you do is scan the prices of homes. Yes, there are plenty of homes worth millions of dollars, often owned by non-residents, but there are also the residents who call our valley towns home and simply work, go to school and get by on a day-to-day basis.
It’s these people who sometimes need assistance in the holiday season to ensure they enjoy it like everyone else. As with any municipality, there are those who have more; there are those who have much less. Yet all, no matter their income range or home purchasing power, make up our communities and deserve a happy holiday.
So, as you make plans for your holiday feast, your holiday visits with friends and family, please keep in mind those who have less. Always, gifts are needed for older children and teens, who are sometimes forgotten as shoppers typically look for gifts for the youngest.
If everyone chips in by helping out a little, it can make a lot of difference in the long run.
If you wish to make a Spirit campaign donation or help out in Canmore, visit www.christmasspiritcampaign.com or call 403-609-3536. In Banff, Santa’s Anonymous can be contacted through Community Services at 403-762-1251 or by emailing [email protected].
Get those sidewalks done
Already this season, we’ve seen sidewalks that remain uncleared. We’ve barely had any snowfall thus far, so it’s puzzling why some sidewalks aren’t cleared to bare pavement – or nearly so.
In Canmore, homeowners have 48 hours to clear their walks – this includes weekenders who may not be on hand, but are still responsible for having walks cleared.
Seniors and others with limited mobility can be seen to be struggling to get around on foot – including in downtown Canmore, among the shops.
Winter arrives every year and, just like drivers who never seem ready for poor road conditions, there are those who seem unable to keep up with their neighbourly responsibilities in snow clearing.
Must it always come down to complaints to our bylaw departments? Must it always come down to neighbours informing on others to ensure sidewalks are cleared?
Much like we residents to chip in with seasonal charities, we need homeowners to take responsibility for safe passage in front of their homes.
