What a weekend! Three events with Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay, including an amazing celebration Sunday night, the unveiling of the new monument Monday, and the send-off from City Hall Tuesday morning.
The End of Day Celebration Committee, the volunteers and entertainers, and city staff did an outstanding job welcoming Hansen to our community. Many thanks also to Coun. Surinderpal Rathor, who collected $68,000 for the monument from generous businesses and individuals. We are so proud and so fortunate to have a hometown hero like Hansen, who has done so much for spinal cord research and accessibility awareness, and who inspires us all to be changemakers.
In addition to being a Rick Hansen Relay medal bearer, one of our own local changemakers will be honoured again on Friday for all she has done for our communities. Shirley-Pat Gale will receive the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Lieutenant Governor Friday at Government House. She has done fantastic work with the Daybreak Rotary Club in setting up a library in Toosey, promoting literacy, and volunteering in the community.
I’m honoured to call Gale a friend, and she truly is an example of a changemaker in our community. Congratulations, Gale!
I served soup at the Salvation Army at lunchtime last week, and I’d like to invite people to volunteer as well. It’s a fulfilling and rewarding experience, and your time and friendliness make a big difference to Salvation Army clients.
Another piece of good news: Spanish Mountain Gold has signed a second protocol agreement with a local First Nation as it works towards a mine near Likely. This latest agreement is with the Soda Creek First Nation; the company signed an agreement with the Williams Lake Indian Band last year. I look forward to continued co-operation and the eventual opening of the mine!
Kerry Cook is the mayor of Williams Lake.
