Pipestone Flyer
City of Leduc, September 24 – Like the ‘Pay It Forward’ concept that has created its own legend worldwide, or the ‘Impressive Yard Award’ created by Communities In Bloom (a global organization with thriving chapters this region), an award designed to foster neighbourhood pride and friendship can only be a positive element of living in an urban setting.
The ‘touch of rural’ is when neighbours help each other in time of need; A couple who takes under its wing a neighbour whose husband passed away suddenly, an older couple befriending a young couple busy with their career goals and eventually moving out to leave renters in their place, a mature widow who has given her love and wisdom to kids and their hard-working parents, the list of, “who, why and how” is long, under the heading of, “Good Neighbours” in this city.
Donna Brock and her City of Leduc FCSS team decided last year to create a yearly Good Neighbour Award, to recognize sincere good deeds and foster the ‘feel good’ atmosphere in this city’s many neighbourhoods. With encouraging success, they repeated this endeavor this year with a corporate friend, whose mission is also to make people happy while offering a thriving, caring community. Colwell Banker Real Estate and Bob Buttar thought it would be a good fit to get involved in this uplifting project.
Over the summer, Leduc residents were asked to nominate a neighbour who, “has made a difference” in their lives, and contributed to the wellbeing of their neighbourhood. Some thirty individuals and couples were nominated, more than half of these were able to attend the function to be recognized.
On Thursday, September 18th, at the Leduc Civic Centre, a group of proud nominees and their grateful friends (aka neighbours) got together to celebrate one another and the friendships born out of ‘accidental geography’.
Councillor Glen Finstad delivered a touching speech on good neighbours, then proceeded to pull out of a ‘hat’ (in fact, a box..) the name of the 2014 Good Neighbour Of The Year Award, while sixteen or so nominees smiled on, with their certificates in hand. Photos were taken, hands were shaken, Bob Buttar also shared a few positive words on safe and happy neighbourhoods. Several members of his Coldwell Banker real estate team were among the guests, visiting with friends and clients.
Kristie O’Hara had done a great job of decorating the room for this special event, and with Donna Brock’s congenial presence as MC, the Good Neighbour Award contributed to the friendly atmosphere the City of Leduc is proud of.