What makes our city such a great place to live?
You do! It’s the people who live right here in the City of Kamloops.
You don’t have to look very far to see local people volunteering to make their city the best it can be.
How we look – beautiful flowers, attractive landscaping at local businesses is helped by Communities in Bloom volunteers led by Glen and Gaye Pooler.
Community gardens provide vivid green growth in many areas of the city, with a public produce garden downtown to enjoy as well. The City of Kamloops, through Kamloops social planning council, provides funds for managing community gardens to Interior Community Services, and to the Kamloops Food Policy Council to promote local food production.
How we enjoy summer! There are free City-funded events such as Music in the Park every night, and volunteer led events such as the overwhelmingly successful Rib Fest, put on by Daybreak Rotary Club, led by Darin and Sandra, and many Rotary volunteers for the free kids play area, beer garden and Rib Fest concessions.
They raise money for local children’s’ charities and organizations. Volunteers make it all happen. I think that we must have the highest number of volunteers per capita in B.C.
The Farmers Market, with brimming booths of local vegetables, fruits, flowers, breads, cookies and cakes, fish, meats and eggs provides a wonderful social experience as well as access to locally grown healthy foods. You will see volunteers there as well, with information on community issues, and local organizations to share.
Our parks – from Riverside Park to the Bike Ranch in Juniper, to Kenna Cartright Park and Peterson Creek, Tournament Centre Ranch, and the B.C Wildlife park, along with many small city parks have many unsung volunteers.
I have seen many civic-minded people with garbage bags picking up trash and dog litter as they enjoy their walks. One lady told me it was her daily gift to the world she inhabits. What an admirable spirit and inspiration she provides to others.
Community groups all have volunteer-led boards of directors, and through them we enjoy many social services we couldn’t provide. Look at the Kamloops Food Bank/Action Centre where volunteers are working hard to raise food after the fire hit their storage warehouse. Everyone is pitching in, including a nine-year-old boy whose compassion and leadership is an outstanding example of great community values.
Many other charitable organizations depend on volunteers to help offer services for seniors, the homeless, children and families at risk, and people with disabilities.
No shortage of caring people in Kamloops volunteering to provide a wide variety of services. Volunteers work at all the Seniors Centres, the Kamloops Art Gallery, WCT, arts council, and their volunteer board of directors run virtually every single sports activity and club in our city.
I am proud to live in Kamloops, a city with a big heart and where giving back is our way of life.
Marg Spina is a Kamloops City councillor. She can be contacted at mspina@kamloops.ca">mspina@kamloops.ca.
