This ought to be a record. We haven’t entered the new year yet and I’ve already discovered I may have to recant a resolution.
Last week, I was asked to submit goals for the coming year, for our weekend Five Things column.
One goal was to produce a giant pumpkin and carve the biggest jack-o-lantern our neighbourhood has ever seen.
But with a family gathering planned for the late summer in our backyard, I’m informed there’ll be no mass of pumpkin vines covering the greenspace this year. Harrumph. That probably means I’ll have to mow the lawn, too, this August.
Such is the stuff of resolutions. So, already having discarded credibility in doing better next year on my own, here’s a list of resolutions some of us in the newsroom have made for other people:
• For Red Deer city council — We expect there’d be a lot of lessons learned, should the background deliberations for the city budget be opened up. Let’s have council members divide themselves as budget reps for all city departments, sit in on departmental budget meetings (which comprise the largest portion of the city’s operating budget) and come to approval meetings prepared to defend the numbers.
• For Red Deer North MLA Mary Anne Jablonski, also our provincial minister of seniors and community supports — Red Deer’s veteran MLA deserves respect for hard work staying informed on local issues and for responding to concerns. Here’s what we’d like: a succinct explanation and argument for privatizing long-term seniors care in Red Deer. We’d also like her to wring an explanation out of the Health and Wellness Department as to what is planned for the two public facilities that have been closed in this town — even if it’s just to confirm there are no plans.
• For Red Deer South MLA Cal Dallas and Red Deer MP Earl Dreeshen — Set aside the Cloak of Invisibility they issue to backbenchers. Let’s see them grab one issue, claim it as their own and show us some passion. Former MP Bob Mills had his hobby horse — green energy alternatives — and although not a member of cabinet, everyone knew they were getting strong advocacy on something beyond the usual local representative’s duties.
• For Red Deer College — We wish them quick progress on their Phase II expansion, the Health and Wellness Centre. The college is a great resource for Central Alberta, but we are still under-served in post-secondary education. A centre of excellence in health care support training, including wellness training and dealing with fitness and rehab for athletes, will carve out for RDC yet another educational niche.
• For Central Alberta Theatre — A smooth move into the former Uptown Theatre building. This move will have the benefit of adding yet another cultural venue to the downtown, making our city centre more active after regular business hours. To compliment all the groups that have sprung up in this town, we note how amazing the growth in theatre in Red Deer has been in the last five years. (Though some few selfish people around here were hoping one screen from the venerable Uptown might have been retained to serve Reel Movie Monday events, as well as live theatre.)
• To the volunteers and professionals taking part in the long-term transportation plan — We want a strong and cohesive final report, and enough leadership from the group to see that their work is not allowed to gather dust, while authorities continue to approve transportation projects piecemeal.
• To all of us — A continued sensitivity to the poor and disadvantaged in our community. We’re not expected to solve everyone’s problems, but we are expected to live gratefully in our own lives, to respect people’s dignity and to not allow community members to be “written off” because at certain points they can’t cope alone.
Greg Neiman is an Advocate editor.