Skip to content

Dreaming big in Boundary Country

A letter comes in support of the Ponderosa Arts & Music Festival in Rock Creek.

Labour Day long weekend saw the launch of the Ponderosa Arts & Music Festival in Rock Creek – the result of two young men dreaming big. One of these young dreamers was raised in Boundary Country and active in the local 4-H program. The other grew up in our neighboring community of Oliver. Both young men were raised with traditional values and a belief that anything is possible when you set your mind to it.

Although their dream is to make this festival an annual event, it is in danger of being cancelled before it has a chance to succeed. Events like these require the support of the local community. Maybe you didn’t know about the event but it brought in over 200 people to our community – people who spent money at our gas stations, grocery stores and local shops. And many who had never experienced this part of BC but dream about coming back.

Boundary country is a place where hard work, honesty and doing the right thing comes naturally. Look around and see the men and women who have dared to dream, even when it seemed impossible they held on to their vision that it could be done.

The 4-H club teaches our young men and women responsibility, honour, integrity and hard work. These values are taught by community leaders who themselves posses those values. Men and women of their word and who you can trust. People who volunteer their time to lead young people and help teach them life skills.

These leaders believed that, given the chance, the Boundary young people could make a difference as they themselves had done. They would succeed because someone believed in them, someone took the time to teach them and to care not only for those they know but also for the stranger passing through our area.

I encourage everyone in the Rock Creek area to show your support for the Ponderosa Arts & Music Festival. It may not be your type of music but look at the big picture and show your support to the many young people raised in our area who are now attempting to make their dreams come true.

I will be supporting the dreamers and hope you will too.

Ralph Hargrave