It's easy to get down after reading or watching the news on TV. You've got the coronavirus, rail blockades, Democratic debacle, I mean debates, and Trump being Trumpy. Fortunately, there is lots of good stuff happening in the world and, in particular, in our little corner of the world.
Over in Carstairs, Pawsitive Haven Animal Rescue staff wore pink shirts for Pink Shirt Day. The group has rescued and adopted out more than 250 dogs and 60 cats. Two recent fundraisers, one in Didsbury and one in Carstairs raised over $16,000 to help pay the vet bills, which were quite high for some of the dogs.
They say you can judge people by how they treat animals. For the volunteers at Pawsitive Haven they definitely show great kindness to our four-legged friends, some of whom have come in mistreated and abandoned.
I'd also like to give a shout-out to our first responders who do such a great job in often trying times. Police, fire, ambulance, STARS air ambulance, hospital, physicians, nurses, other medical staff and so many more keep positive even when dealing with sick, tired and often cranky people.
It's also great to see a local group in Didsbury led by resident Kevin Bentley take charge and organize community conversations around hospital care in the region.
The Didsbury and District Wellness Project held four open forums throughout the county last week that were all well attended. Residents were asked to contribute their thoughts on issues such as revitalization of the empty hospital units (3 and 4) in Didsbury, doctor attraction and retention, healthy aging in place and more.
In Water Valley, they've got the stud auction charity fundraiser coming up. The event goes March 6 at the newly built Water Valley Community Hall with all proceeds going to the hall.
For any community of any size, a community hall is important but for small towns and villages, it's even more so. The community hall is a “focal point of community activity,” as auction coordinator Robin Smith puts it. Certainly the same could be said for museums, libraries and recreation centres.
In Water Valley, the hall hosts events like pickleball, coffee and conversations, bingo, as well as activities during the Water Valley Celtic Festival, Water Valley Days, and Christmas and other holiday celebrations.
Those are just three very different and distinct examples from throughout our little area of the world. Certainly one could fill a book if one wanted. But in pretty much all these cases, the people who perform acts of kindness aren't looking for credit or rewards. They do it because it's the right thing to do.
As the famous saying goes, an act of kindness may not change the world, but for that person or animal, it changes their world.
Craig Lindsay is a reporter with the Mountain View Albertan.
