“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”
So begins Charles Dickens’ classic novel A Tale of Two Cities, set before and after the French Revolution in the late 18th century, a tale of liberation and brutality that changed the course of modern history and paved the way for democracy.
It’s a sentence, too, that perhaps describes life in the City of Greenwood, both historically, as well as during the few short months since I joined the newspaper.
The history can be found in the museum and within the archives of the Boundary Creek Times, but I can speak to more recent events from a very personal perspective.
My new job began in early May with an unexpected “bang,” as my reports on the removal of the city’s chief administrative officer ruffled feathers, and made me realize how my choice of words would have to be more careful going forward. An angrily disrupted council meeting and then the emergence of “the petition,” which has proven extremely polarizing amongst citizens and is yet to be put to rest, followed soon after.
It was seemingly blow after blow for a city beloved by its population, yet, cruelly, divided by perception and politics.
Ironically, especially if you read Times contributor Al Donnelly’s superb compilations of this newspaper’s reports from its preeminent days, you are well aware that the city’s history is rife with contention but, along the way, was also paved with gold and copper and driven by forward thinking.
It is one of few B.C. mining towns that has survived, and remains a city to be reckoned with, as an historical community as well as a choice tourist destination.
And then came July 11 and Greenwood’s Founder’s Day celebration, with a parade that rivalled those held in much larger communities. It was on that humid morning that I realized I hadn’t dug deep enough beneath the surface of the turmoil that had erupted soon after I’d joined the Times; instead, allowing myself to be swept up in the furor of local politics and thinking that this reporting thing was pretty exciting stuff!
It was at Founder’s Day where I saw a community united and celebratory, enjoying, along with the parade, a wonderfully eclectic array of vendor tables, great food and terrific entertainment. Surely this is how it should always be in Canada’s smallest city! Congratulations, Greenwood on a job well done, and I look forward to many more positive things ahead!
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Kudos also to the volunteer fire departments of Midway and Greenwood, that responded in a very timely fashion to the grass fire at the Kerr Creek Ranch last Tuesday.
Without their speedy attendance, the fire would undoubtedly have grown quickly and would likely still be burning.
It is truly outstanding that volunteers are willing ready and able to jump into action at a moment’s notice, and we are fortunate to have you.
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The Greenwood Pool has finally opened, and I’m planning a feature article on its roster of lifeguards as they begin their summers of ensuring safety in the water. Should be a fun photo session!
Enjoy the summer, everybody!