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EDITORIAL: 2021 showcased community spirit

In a year of disasters people showed who they really were
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Volunteer Kim Davies fills a sandbag at Townsend Park Nov. 30, 2021. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

Looking back on 2021, it would be easy to get lost in all of the many tragedies and disasters that struck our province.

The continued ravaging of our vulnerable by the opioid epidemic, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the heat dome, wildfires and flooding all have severely affected people across the province this year. It has been a difficult and challenging year for us all.

At the same time, these disasters have also brought a silver lining at a time when society seems increasingly tense.

Large or small, what we repeatedly saw over the past year were communities and individuals coming together to help those in need in whatever way they could.

Municipalities opened their doors to take in refugees from floods and fires and shared their own resources with those in need, whether it was firefighters, paramedics or anything else they could offer.

Organizations and businesses championed fundraisers for those who had lost homes and donated their own goods and services to support the people who needed them most.

Then there were the individuals, from the children baking cookies and donating the sales, to the men and women who put their energy and time to helping recover and rebuild after the disasters.

In short, people around the province demonstrated how much they care.

While we may not always agree with each other, the response to these disasters has shown that people want to help one another, no matter who they are and what they may believe. The spirit of community showed itself in 2021, and the level of support has inspired many.

At a time when our country and the world is feeling increasingly divided, these acts of generosity and outpourings of compassion gave us hope.

There is light out there. It is just a shame that sometimes one can only see it when it’s dark.

– Black Press Media


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@PeeJayAitch
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