Recently, when covered population numbers were released by the Ministry of Health, we learned that the number of people living in the city of Humboldt went up by about 800 last year. As of last June, we are now a city of over 6,500 - and at the time, that was just the number of people covered by Saskatchewan Health. There were some living here at the time who were recent enough new residents not to fit that criteria then, but who have now done so.
So we have about, let's say, 1,000 more people living in Humboldt this year than we did last year.
That's kind of crazy.
For years, all we heard about was how people were leaving Saskatchewan. Humboldt actually stood out in 2001, because it gained residents, unlike many other rural centres in the province. Now, the entire province is growing pretty rapidly.
If the mine at Jansen goes ahead, our community is going to change even more. At least, that's what we're all expecting.
The changes, I believe, will be both good and bad.
I think at this point, while we're still experiencing relatively slow growth, it's a good time to get ourselves used to the idea, in order to ensure the core nature of this community - the city with the small-town feel - remains the same, no matter how many newcomers join us.
This means getting into our stubborn heads, and putting things into action, that some have told us to do for years.
For instance, we can all start locking our doors - to everything. With a rise in population, there's usually a corresponding rise in crime. To keep your things and families safe, and to ensure that our RCMP are able to respond to the major things, and are not wasting time on minor, preventable crimes, lock your car doors, your house doors, your garage doors. Do what you can to protect your things, so that no one has to go out looking for them once they've been stolen.
Also, we can be friendlier. Yes, Humboldt has a reputation as a pretty friendly place. At least, a lot of us smile and say hello to whoever we see when we're walking around - no matter if we know the person or not. However, often newcomers are the focus of stares as well, and sometimes suspicion. Many who have lived here their entire lives are actually unaware of the number of newcomers around, as they only associate with those they have always know.
That should change, for the benefit of both sides.
New people are infinitely interesting to talk to, especially if they come from some other country. Getting to know them, and their experiences, can widen the horizons of someone who has lived in Canada, or even this city, for their entire life.
On the other side of it, longtime citizens are full of useful information for newcomers - the history of the community, why some things are the way they are, who can be relied on for what service, and who is related to whom. Information like that is something that many people who live here take for granted - they don't even realize how much they know, or how valuable what they know is. And sharing it with someone not only allows a newcomer to feel like he or she has an "in" in this new place, it can also allow the sharer to take a look at this place they know so well with new eyes.
It's a win-win situation that people should take every opportunity to get involved in.
Humboldt is a pretty wonderful place to live. We've got all sorts of services and shopping, nice places to eat, and a good variety of them. Yet, it's still a small town. When the snow hit on the weekend, all sorts of people lent their skills, their shovels and their snowblowers to help their neighbours and friends dig out. That's something you just can't duplicate in a large city centre, where there is more distance between friends, and you don't always know your neighbours.
That small-town feel is something we should try to keep, even as we get bigger.
