The future of Innisfail is bright and beautiful.
With the incredible success of the Tour of Alberta visit fresh in the minds of Innisfailians, and the upcoming Weekend of Wheels, the profile of the town is on the upswing.
Add the beginning of the new school year, and the boundless optimism of educators earnestly desiring to make a difference in the lives of their students from kindergarten to Grade 12.
Consider the plethora of community activities from aerobics to figure skating that will soon be starting up in addition to the community programs designed to teach, coach and inspire, and Innisfail has a recipe for success at its fingertips.
Within Innisfail, a spirit of community is growing. The ever-increasing awareness that this community is only as good as citizens give to each other, and the recognition that they really do need each other are equally important.
From CEO to waitress, little bits of Innisfail are thriving, and the town needs to celebrate its success.
The Tour of Alberta Stage 2 organizational community did an admirable job organizing, recruiting and setting up Innisfail's lightning strike into the world of performance athletics. It was obvious from the faces and demeanors of the nearly 100 volunteers that everyone enjoyed the experience and served for the honour of being part of something bigger than themselves.
It can not be forgotten that numerous athletic teams from Innisfail have travelled to provincial and national competitions, such as the Dolphins, the Cottonwood Kayak Club, the Midget B Phantom Lacrosse team, and Innisfail Cyclones teams, from basketball to volleyball, and excelled, making their fellow Innisfailians proud.
The Phase 3 Downtown Revitalization Project is nearing its completion and already drawing rave reviews, demonstrating that good planning will always produce good results. Craig Teal, the town's planning and operational services director and his colleagues are on track to take a big bow.
The announcement of the 500-lot subdivision in Woodlands, and the prospect of new homes, incoming citizens and businesses, is another sign of good things to come. Consider the economic impact associated with as many as 2,000 new citizens to our community that will create the impetus for major retailers to consider the area for expansion.
Throughout the community, leaders are rising to the challenge of creating a better Innisfail. The growing school campus will be complete next year, and alongside the educational facility, a new community driven and funded playground will rise. Erin Flewelling, Jackie Taylor and the entire committee working to raise more than $220,000 are demonstrating that community trumps economics every time.
It will be a glorious day when the first child slides down the improved play area beside St. Marguerite Bourgeoys School.
The addition of an expanded youth facility in Innisfail with more programs for teens is an investment in the future, just as a potential new skate park is.
While there have been burps and hiccups along the way, Innisfail is moving in the right direction. This town was built on community involvement over 100 years ago, and will thrive in the future because people care about their community and give of themselves for the betterment of all.
And for that, thanks are in order.
