By Sue Tiffin
Throughout this edition of your paper, you’ll see a multitude of stories that are intrinsically about people doing good things to help others.
Those who sit on the Haliburton Highlands Art Centre Foundation board and those that offer the Halls Island Artist Residency are making a space possible for people to perform, create, share and enjoy. Mass vaccination clinics were available in our community – and will be again – because of the tireless work of public health organizers and hundreds of volunteers wanting to offer people a close option for the COVID-19 vaccine. Ron Goodlin put the work in to organize friend Glenn Springer’s collection of images after his death, but also put energy into creating a book of those images so they could be appreciated.
What we see so often in our community is that one or two people can make a difference.
The Good Food Box began when Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit dietitian Rosie Kadwell and YWCA staff member Paula Pepping came up with the idea about 20 years ago – now a team of volunteers through the Rotary Club of Haliburton distributes hundreds of bags in Haliburton County a month and in Minden, volunteer Deb Fisher has driven out of her way to help those who have ordered a bag if they struggle to pick it up, making sure that no one goes without.
Green burials will now be possible in Haliburton County to honour the environmental legacy of Kyle Moore, an Algonquin Highlands resident who died in 2019. Terry and Shirley Moore wanted to make it easier for people to have a burial that aligned with environmental values and through their advocacy (alongside Environment Haliburton), they’ve done just that.
When the county cairn needed some care, the Minden Legion was there to step up and help make it right, and at Hyland Crest, Lindsay Lester ensured residents had access to virtual reality equipment which resulted in a profoundly heartwarming moment.
Whether it’s Tathan and Tecwyn McCutcheon inviting their friends to create Halloween scenes on their property that will bring some delight to others, Rachael and Allan Velkovski working for days on their haunted forest walk to bring something scarier to the area for teens and adults, or residents and business owners putting a pumpkin display out to brighten someone’s day, this community is showing that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference for many years to come.
Sometimes you can’t help but see that kindness – like when the gardens arranged and tended to by the Minden and District Horticultural Society are in full bloom alongside the riverwalk. Sometimes you don’t know how many – including the tiniest of pollinators – are being helped by that act of kindness, or how much care – like in ensuring the feeling of hope was represented by the colour of the flowers – was put into making a difference.
If you can do good things – casually or by joining one of the many groups or service clubs in need – please do.
If you want to do good things at the next level, keep in mind this week marks one year until the municipal election will be held on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. If you think you can do the best things, we look forward to seeing your name on the ballot for our community.
