OPINION: F-u-n doesn't spell destruction
By Contributor
By: Grace McGregor, Regional Director Area C
Christina Lake is fortunate to have some very nice, community-minded citizens and volunteers. We have many that truly understand what our community has to offer and what our lifestyle would cost in other parts of Canada.
We also, unfortunately, have some who leave this belief at home when it’s time to make decisions and, therefore, make some very poor ones. Maybe it’s the processing that gets in the way, or maybe it’s the influence of happy inducing liquid or other substances, or maybe it’s just that it’s all in the name of having fun.
Now fun is something we all like to have occasionally and at times I am sure that we have all made some poor decisions. All that being said, I know that I always had to pay the piper one way or another if I got into mischief. Usually because someone always managed to tell on me.
Okay, you say, stop ranting Grace and get to the point so here it comes.
The park attendants arrived mother’s day weekend to get the south end provincial park ready for the triathlon and all those summer residents who come to enjoy the lake, experience our community and bring their wallet thus adding to our economy.
When the attendants went down to paint the tables clean the change rooms and cut the grass they discovered the beach a disgusting mess. Someone had pushed a couple barriers aside, roared their vehicles up and down the beach, had a huge campfire with glass and bottles strewn everywhere.
Somewhere out there is someone who knows something about this. It is difficult for our small community to be the centre of attention July and August and for all of us to try to keep people safe, especially understanding that fun happens and is part of the experience.
We often blame the summer people for the wild unrest that sometimes assails our little village. Has the summer started early or are we faced with some locals who didn’t process decision making very well?
We need help from all age groups to keep this community and others safe. The citizens on patrol try to do that along with our summer RCMP officer and numerous others who care.
How much fun is it if parents bring their children to the beach only to have them injured by buried glass in the sand? Or think of the young people having a volley ball game at the park and what might happen then.
I appeal to everyone out there – if you see this behavior stand up for your community and report it.
Further to this incident my husband and I were camping off of Highway 33 at Trapping Creek last weekend because we needed to go in and out of Kelowna for medical issues and for mother’s day. While sitting outside enjoying the river and beautiful weather some youngsters in a red and white pickup went across the bridge at high speed and roared up the gravel road. It wasn’t long before they returned stopped on the bridge, looked down at us sitting outside then put the pedal to the floor and waved. We waved back coughing as the dust surrounded us. FUN, eh?
The same day we rescued a very friendly hurt blonde dog who had been attacked. We drove him all the way back to Grand Forks to the vet. I also cleaned off the Trapping Creek sign that someone thought was fun to throw mud or whatever at, and we helped a young man find his friends.
We all need to do our share to support a sense of community within our communities and it shouldn’t matter if we live there or are visiting. In comparison to the Vancouver riot these incidents may seem small, it is, however, indicative of the type of behavior that leads to larger and even more serious trouble.
