Service – it is more than just a word – it is a way of being.
If you are like many Bow Valley residents who take time out of your busy life each week to spend time volunteering in your community, you might have an understanding of what service can do for your life.
While it may seem like being of service to others benefits them, and it certainly does, it is also an activity that truly benefits your own life and wellbeing by connecting you with new people, creating meaning and richness of spirit on a daily basis.
For those who may be unaware, we are midway through the national week recognizing volunteers. In an age when every week and every day of the week seems to have a theme, this week’s rises to the top in terms of having a the most worthwhile reason d’etre.
Volunteering your time can take many forms– from being there for our friends and loved ones, to volunteering at regular community events, to holding board and committee positions of an official organization – there is more than one way to serve.
The dedication of time through volunteering has been the bedrock the communities of the Bow Valley for generations. Our sense of place, our idea of community, the connection to friends and neighbours weaves our social fabric into a rich tapestry of joy and fulfillment.
Without volunteers there would be no Canada Day celebrations, food rescues, the Canmore Folk Music Festival or a Banff fire department. There is so much we have thanks to the generosity of volunteers in this valley.
Whether you show up for a few hours a month, or dedicate a full time job’s worth of your life toward a worthwhile endeavour, the result is the same – you build community.
As a society, we face the threat of disenfranchisement in a way we may never have before imagined possible. When people spend hours upon hours online on devices that try to connect us with others through platforms like social media, the result can make us even further apart and disconnected.
Now is the time to power down and get out and get involved – to be of service to others, to volunteer and find a fulsome connection through community together. This is how we create the future that we want to see in our towns.
As different levels of government take the time this week to recognize volunteers in our communities, they take the time to truly appreciate how much of what we enjoy in this amenity rich valley comes from the time and commitment of others. The quality of life we enjoy is paved with the time and dedication of others and there is nothing stopping everyone from being a part of that process.
Challenge yourself this week to find a way to volunteer and be a part of the connected ecosystem of human beings helping others. Both Canmore and Banff have plenty of opportunities to volunteer – you just have to look to find one that fits with your time and values. Community services at both municipalities are liasons with many local groups and initiatives that regularly need volunteers to make them a reality – just reach out and you won’t be disappointed.
During national volunteer week, don’t just appreciate those who are service to others, become one yourself.
