Every once in a while I hear someone say that there's nothing to do on the Coast. And while they might see the world that way, my experience is just the opposite.
Take last weekend, for example. If I could have split myself in four pieces (and some wags would say I have sufficient material to do so) I still wouldn't have been able to take in everything.
Last spring when my friend Margaret Page and I decided to facilitate the second women's campaign school on Sept. 17, it seemed like an innocuous date. Little did I know there would be a mental health conference that day, the Eldercollege Clifford Smith lecture, a terrific comedy team at the Sechelt Legion and a community dinner at Gibsons United Church. Talk about options! And the amazing part is there were probably more events of which I wasn't aware.
I think we live in a pretty lively area. We have an engaged and engaging citizenry. For the most part, we are tolerant and intelligent. We want to learn and we want to make this community an even better place to live.
But nothing happens in a vacuum. For instance, to organize a mental health conference of the breadth that Sunshine Coast chapter of the B.C. Schizophrenia Society and Arrowhead did, is mind-boggling. To be able to assemble the experts that spoke last Saturday in one place must have taken a lot of planning. My hat is off to Rita Petrescu, the organizer of the day. And while it certainly helped that many of the speakers live on the Coast - who knew we had so many experts here? - I can only imagine the number of hours Rita spent finding a day and time that would work for everyone.
I consider myself very fortunate to have met and spent time with Theresa Jeffries, the speaker at the Clifford Smith lecture. Her charm and tiny stature belie the impact she has on the women and educational programs of the Sechelt Nation. There isn't enough paper in an issue of Coast Reporter to chronicle all this outstanding elder has done in her time on Earth. She was an advocate for equal rights for women in all of society. And like many strong females, when she saw something she didn't like, rather than sit back and bellyache, she did something about it. I only wish I could have taken in Saturday's event. I consider Candace Campo a friend, and to see her and Theresa together would have been magical.
I've never had the pleasure of watching the comic duo of Bernie and Red in action, but as I find myself in the demographic their humour targets, I'm not sure my sides could have survived the night. Who doesn't love to laugh? By the way, if you could use a chuckle and want to support our local hospital, go to Raven's Cry Theatre tomorrow, Sept. 24, for Comedy on the Coast. Last year the organizers raised well over $30,000, and they want to do the same this year.
The other event I did manage to squeeze in last weekend was the community dinner. It's a testimony to the dedication of a small group of women that these dinners can accomplish so much. On a shoestring they manage to prepare feasts for folks in the greater community who may need a good meal or just an evening out. Year after year Marie Connor and Marilyn Richmond, along with former helper Jackie Halsey, have personified Christians for many on our Coast. What a great group - long may they cook.
When it comes right down to it, there's more to do on the Coast than one person could ever take in. We are a blessed community.
