A local married mother of three who has appreciated the programs offered by Greenwood Neighbourhood Place (GNP) plans to pay it forward after becoming the society's new youth and family program coordinator.
Cherie Johnson, who started her new position on Monday, Feb. 8, told the Round Up her family has in the past participated in numerous events facilitated by GNP for the community.
"It's a wonderful group of people," she said about the society.
"We took advantage of a lot of the activities they put on."
Having had many opportunities to enjoy as a family the services offered by the society gave her a chance to become familiar with GNP, and she is now looking forward to being able to help steer future family programs from within the organization.
"It's important to bring families together," she said.
People and their families tend to get busy and it's not uncommon for them to drift as they go their own ways without always having enough time to organize an activity together. So her focus is to further develop family programming at GNP to help provide some options for families to spend some time together.
Having just completed her first month, Johnson said everything has been going well so far.
"I'm just getting to introduce myself to all the community."
As when anyone takes on a new position, there has also been a lot of information to digest.
"It's been a lot of learning. I feel like I'm just getting into it. So far, the people are really great and my co-workers are so helpful," she said.
Greenwood Neighbourhood Place is a major hub of the community in Sundre, and she enjoys the prospect of creating programs that will contribute to that legacy. Being able to develop ideas into programs for the community also leaves her with plenty of room to think creatively.
"It's just never the same ó every day is something new. That's what I like."
She brings with her a variety of experience, including working in the Olds community for about 12 years with people coping with disabilities, developing programs there for a company. Johnson and her family have also been very active in Mountain View Taekwondo. The family of five hopes to eventually all obtain their black belts, she said.
For the past few years, she was a dedicated stay-at-home mom, but now that her children ó aged 4, 7 and 10 ó are growing up, she felt it was time to pursue new endeavours.
"I just decided it was time to get back into the community and do what I enjoy doing."
A resident of Sundre for the past 15 years, Johnson was born and raised in Fort Macleod and relocated when she married her husband Wade.
"I love it, it's just been wonderful for us."
She and her husband both have some relatives in Fort Macleod, but they are glad to have settled with their children on the doorsteps of the West Country.
"We do lots of camping and quadding, fishing and ice fishing, canoeing," she said.
"We're really outdoorsy people. The West Country is definitely what keeps us here."
And that's not about to change any time soon.
"We've made a life up here. This is where home is."
Anyone who wants to get in touch with Johnson can drop by GNP's office during its regular hours or call 403-638-1011.
