Creativity good for community
February 25, 2010 |12:49 | Manners By : Team X
The City of Nanaimo’s parks and recreation department deserves kudos for providing an opportunity for young people to get active. Instead of plunking themselves down on the couch for a pro-D day of video games Monday, about two dozen youths took part in the inaugural Picnic in the Park snowboard rail jam contest.
Organizers hauled in truckloads of snow and ice from Nanaimo arenas and laid out a snowboard course on a hill in Bowen Park. Community businesses kicked in some prizes, the unseasonably warm weather co-operated and by all accounts, everyone had a good time sliding down the slope.
It wasn’t a big event, but organizers were happy with the turnout. It was something different for kids to do on a day off and could be the start of something special. At least one participant had never experienced snowboarding and instead of his parents bearing the expense of taking their son to the mountain, the city brought the mountain to him.
Perhaps those watching him witnessed the first snowboard attempts of Canada’s next Olympic champion. Even if he doesn’t make it to the medal podium, he had the chance to experience the sport. That’s where creative thinking on the part of the city and the generosity of the event sponsors pays off by providing kids an unusual opportunity.
There is hope the jam becomes an annual event and continues to grow in popularity. There is even talk of a summer version with skateboards. It’s one seemingly small event that makes a big difference in fostering our sense of ‘community’.
0 Comments
Leave a Comment