A revival of community spirit and co-operation was very much in evidence in Estevan this past year, which was very heartening to witness on many fronts.
One area that certainly caught the eye of the local media was the renewed effort being put forward by local service clubs and other community based organizations.
For many years we have recorded the fact that these groups were suffering from aging and dwindling memberships, but now we see a real resurgence in numbers and interest whether it be the Elks, Kinsmen and Kinettes, Lions, Rotary, Wildlife Federation, Knights of Columbus, museum and gallery patrons and so on.
The local branch of the Royal Canadian Legion has its own unique dilemma of course, since by its very nature, it is losing front rank members in the form of Second World War veterans, the youngest of which would now be in their 80s.
Past efforts to loosen Legion membership qualifications enjoyed some limited success a couple of decades ago, but this proud body that was founded on military activities is needing a fresh outlook and mandate and we don't doubt they can do it without compromising a valiant history. We would hate to see this proud community service group go by the wayside.
We've seen renewal at the tourism, trade and commerce table as businesses and our service sectors grow and thrive. We need more participation from the big box retailers at the local conference tables in that regard, but we're sure they are being invited to the party. It will be up to them as to whether or not they want to be included in local development issues. We certainly hope they have a sense of community inclusion in their corporate agendas that extends beyond an occasional donation to a local cause.
The Energy City requires all the vigorous volunteer input it can find these days thanks to near unprecedented population and business growth. So far our service, sports and cultural groups have been answering the bell, and thankfully they have been doing it with a renewed and refreshed membership that isn't afraid to step up and lead the way.
These are the teams that are the heart and soul of any progressive community and we're proud to say we can see and feel them at work heading into what promises to be another year of momentum.
