Dear Santa,
Another year, another letter asking for a few things that could benefit the citizens of our city this Christmas.
We’ve had a big addition to our city this year, with the development of the Walmart, so a portion of our Trans-Canada Highway got upgraded as well (although it remains a bit of a work in progress). This has, however, served to highlight the need for improvements to the Salmon River Bridge.
I’ve been asking in these letters for some time to see if you could use a little of your magic to get some improvements to that bridge. It’s really a dangerous spot. Assure me that you are listening, Santa, and nudge those politicians to cough up some cash for the bridge improvements.
Another thing I’d like to put on this wish list is a flood hazard and risk assessment. We all saw what Mother Nature can do from the terrible floods in Alberta this spring to the previous year’s flooding damage in our own backyards from Canoe to Sicamous.
Our community has many areas that could be vulnerable to high water damage and I’d really like to see some prevention and awareness take the place of disaster restoration. It’s also not often that we hear of business and environmental groups recommending the very same thing, but that seems to be the case when it comes to this particular effort, so if you could use your influence, Santa, I think such an assessment might be a real gift.
You should already be aware of how much the local kids enjoy the new playground equipment at Blackburn Park, and there’s hopefully more to come. The community is still working to generate funds for the development of a spray park at the site, as well as adding a walking track and stationary fitness equipment. This would provide a tangible and affordable fitness boost for the numerous adults and seniors in the area, at the same time as promoting a healthy lifestyle for our young people. So that project’s on my Christmas wish list too. (And if you can convince Rosa Guthrie to postpone her retirement and keep her Taco Stand open I’d be personally grateful. Salmon Arm life won’t be the same for me without one of her fully loaded chorizo sausage burritos.)
I’m hearing rumours of some upgrades on the local fairgrounds, which would be terrific to see. Those grounds serve a host of events that bring the people of this area together in celebration – the Fall Fair, of course, the perennially popular Roots and Blues Festival and the July 1 Canada Day Children’s Festival. This is in addition to the agricultural, equine and athletic activities scheduled there. If you could keep the volunteers that work so hard on these events on your nice list, that would be great and I’m sure any help in swinging some funds that way would be most appreciated.
This year, I’d also like to ask for a little something extra in the stockings of all those people who are in the business of helping others, especially those who respond in emergency situations. They deserve a little bonus in the holiday cheer department.
Merry Christmas.