In casting an eye about on Marten Street in Banff on Tuesday, one could easily see how the Banff Canmore Community Foundation’s SHINE Awards project had caught people’s imagination.
People were chatting about the installation on the side of the IGA building, taking photos of each other in front of their own or a family member’s image, and generally sharing a feel good moment.
To see the 52 images of individuals who had been awarded SHINE (share, help, inspire, nurture, enrich) distinction, and know there were three community groups also honoured, was to view the heart and soul of the community.
While Canada overall is celebrating the nation’s 150th across the country, the SHINE Awards project was uniquely Banff’s – a way to honour those who go above and beyond in their community.
Those honoured over the five years of the SHINE project were as diverse and varied as the Banff community itself; ranging from pastors to business people, to volunteers with seniors to students to athletics organizers and volunteers. They ranged from young to experienced, from different economic strata, men and women, and spanned languages and cultures.
It wouldn’t be an understatement to suggest that the SHINE project could be viewed as a microcosm within the big Canadian scene. In a world that sometimes seems crazy, harsh, out of control and passing many people by, the SHINE project shone a light on the little things – volunteering, caring for one another, making each other feel at home in the community and simply welcoming others.
Tuesday (June 12) could also hardly have been a better stage for BCCF executive director Lorraine Widmer-Carson to take her final bow with the organization. Anyone who knows Lorraine knows she is tireless in her efforts, casts a sunny light over all those she has touched, and as someone who cares deeply about her community.
Yes, Lorraine was executive director of BCCF and as such much of her efforts were work-related. But you must also know that a great deal of Lorraine herself could be found within the SHINE Awards – indeed, the project should likely be extended to a 53rd individual award for Lorraine herself as one with her hand on the tiller of the project.
Along with Lorraine, kudos must go out to the BCCF board; to all the Banffites who took the time to ponder the value of those around them and make SHINE recommendations; to those who sat in on weighing the merits of each year’s crop of nominees and to all those honoured for stellar work in the community they call home.
As well, those who donate to BCCF must be thanked, as well as all the organizations who took part in the SHINE Awards.
Banff did itself proud in recognizing those who make a difference in their community and, for those who notice such things, in putting together a project and that is uniquely Canadian and perfectly aligned with a community recognized around the world as being something special.
Canada 150 events and celebrations will continue through the year, but Banff has already celebrated what’s important in the community.
A successful project like SHINE certainly deserves a 2.0 version and we’re certain after year’s hiatus that BCCF and the Bow Valley communities will cobble together another great project to celebrate community.
