Each year at this time, the Outlook takes a look at the year past to share, one last time, the year that is about to end.
As a staff, we’ve taken our annual look at events which occurred throughout the Bow Valley and, as always, there is no end to the interesting, exciting, heart-tugging stories that have taken place. Our Bow Valley, in many ways, is unique. Our community features small towns and hamlets, but what occurs here often has significance on a regional, national or international scale.
From bears to a thriving business community to tourism and the great outdoors, we have it all, and from a weekly newspaper perspective, there’s rarely a slow news week.
All this helps to make life in the Valley rewarding and interesting, but those same elements also ensure life in the Valley can be challenging, difficult and trying.
As with recent efforts to ensure Christmas fund and food raisers were successful, the least we can all do is ensure the reasons we stay in the Bow Valley outweigh reasons to leave. We can maintain small-town values by volunteering, chipping in, respecting others and being friendly – true Bow Valley locals say ‘hello’ to one another on the street – and, believe it or not, we can drive slowly and patiently for the sake of both our citizens and our wildlife.
A solid sense of community is the Valley’s greatest asset. Yes, the mountains are magnificent, but mountains alone do not constitute community. They draw many people here, but it is being, and the feeling of being, an important part of this community that keeps us here.
And, now that we’ve all survived the end of days, for 2013, RMO has a wish list for the Bow Valley, which includes:
] the actual, official, long-awaited opening of Elevation Place in Canmore;
] continued good weather of the kind seen thus far this winter;
] continued ridership on the Roam regional transit system and Parks Canada’s inclusion in said system as a partner into the future;
] ongoing intermunicipal co-operation on projects such as trails, waste and recycling;
] sensible and affordable redevelopment plans for Canmore’s library and pool:
] provincial recognition that ecological integrity be the number one priority of parks in Alberta;
] continued strong representation in the arts community, be it music, theatre, writing, painting, sculpting and other endeavours.
] a raise for Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen in the not-too-distant future;
] ongoing planning, volunteer signups and anticipation of the approaching 2014 Alberta Winter Games:
] Parks Canada to focus on its mandate, which is to protect ecological integrity, in particular with respect to the mountain parks;
] for our wildlife to stay out of the way of vehicles and trains;
] for valley athletes and sports teams, a solid finish to the season and success in their playoffs or championships;
] health and great happiness for all.
The Rocky Mountain Outlook wishes the best for everyone in 2012.
