If all neighbourhoods had someone like Steven Cormons championing for improvement, the world would indeed be a better place.
Cormons and the North Battleford East Side Good Neighbour Network set up a public forum Friday evening at the Knights of Columbus Hall to discuss ways to promote neighbourhood wellness.
The goal of Cormons and the network is to identify concrete ways to make neighbourhoods safe and vibrant places.
At the very core of the solutions discussed was the concept of getting to know your neighbours. It seems simple and basic, but in today's increasingly insular society that directive isn't as easy as it seems.
Look around and you will see people who are increasingly out of touch with what is going on in their immediate environment. Seldom do neighbours chat in the lineup at the grocery store. Instead they are talking on their cell phones or texting madly.
In Cormons' neighbourhood, this disconnect is likely aggravated by a certain amount of wariness and distrust. In more upscale neighbourhoods the convenience of an automatic garage door opener insures neighbours rarely speak to, or even catch a glimpse of, one another.
During the discussion and debate Friday, a wall chart was created identifying issues affecting the safety and health of neighbourhoods. Identified were visual problems such as garbage and vandalism and societal problems such as poor living conditions, crime and youth interaction (bullying, truancy, lack of safe places to go).
Solutions identified included mentorship of children, educating people about their rights as renters and more volunteers and support for the COPS program and other organizations designed to help make neighbourhoods safer.
In addition to these steps two fundamental precepts were written on the chart: "treat others with respect" and "connect with neighbours."
Those are exceedingly basic principles for building the foundation of a modern society. They have been around for a long time, but it is obvious from the dedication of Cormons and the North Battleford East Side Good Neighbour Network they are values that need a little dusting off.
The City and other community organizations need to recognize the importance of this organization and get behind them in their efforts to promote community wellness, not only on the east side, but throughout the community.
