The Humboldt of today is not the Humboldt of yesterday. That's clear pretty much everywhere you look, and was made more evident last week during Moonlight Madness.
A decade ago, things were busy in town on Moonlight Madness night. But this year, from all reports, it was madness all day at local businesses that offered sales. Busy stores and long lineups at the till have been common anecdotes related by those who braved the shopping scene that night. And it wasn't just city residents who were coming out to buy; more than one person from out of town made the trip in to hit the shops that night.
This seems like evidence that Humboldt is more like a city now than a town.
But can that be said overall?
A strong point that has been made in favour of Humboldt in the past is that it is a city, with all the advantages that go along with that, but it still has that small-town feel.
For example, while our business community is strong, and getting stronger every day, bringing in people from the surrounding area to shop, we are not Saskatoon - and I mean that in a good way. Like in a small town, when you shop in Humboldt, you are likely to run into someone you know - either working the till, or waiting beside you in line. But even if you don't know a soul, there's still a friendly atmosphere there, and an attitude that people want to get to know you.
There has been a lot of talk lately about Humboldt acting more like a big city.
But isn't that something of a "fake it 'til you make it" kind of idea?
And is that something that we really want to do?
I'm seriously asking this question.
Do we want to be more like a big city?
Or do we want to continue on as "a city with a small-town feel"?
Is Humboldt a big town, or a small city, or a small city with a big attitude?
Is this change in attitude even something that can be directed? Or does it have to happen organically?
Are there real advantages to either?
Where do we want to go in the future, as a community?
These are the questions that will continue to be asked as Humboldt grows.
Small town or big city? That is the question.
It's up to the community to answer it.
