A walk around Barriere on sunny day during the week can bring such inspiring and unexpected visits with people you know in a smaller community or encountering someone new that has a story to share that will leave you feeling uplifted as you move along. That’s what happened to me the other day on my little tour around town as your new editor for the Barriere ronaldomanosa.
My goal was to take photos and who knows, possibly find a few folks with their own unique stories, so off I went to explore in and around the park in the centre of town near the ball diamonds, splash park, skate park and school.
I spotted the just finished new dugouts, grabbing a few shots from different angles and visualizing the sights and sounds of games to come. The sky so vividly blue with puffy white clouds over head and the grass showing lush and green after some much needed rain.
I couldn’t help but stop by the newly planted rock garden to greet the volunteers from the North Thompson Garden Club as they were finishing up their planting. The mound of topsoil has been prepped and the black planter’s fabric secured. Plants of many varieties have been pushed through the cloth and into the warm, moist soil to begin their growing season.
Cheryl, Marilyn, and Anne - all garden club members, were busy at work when I walked up and eager to tell me about their gardening ideas. I get it, believe me as the niece of well-known North Thompson gardeners, Bob and Hettie Miller, former owners of Miller’s Nursery in Clearwater, I was all ears as I listened to their enthusiastic plans for the rock garden in the community park on Airfield Road near Barriere’s Fadear Park, which was buzzing with activity that day.
Cheryl Baerg, a former landscape professional prior to moving to Barriere, initiated the design of the rock garden, hand drawing a plan that clearly showed plant placements. It’s immediately apparent to me that these ‘down-to-earth’ volunteers, Cheryl, Anne and Marilyn, are friends and enjoy each other’s company while they work and visit.
The garden has taken shape since the previous week. Baerg explains the plants chosen.
“This garden is drought tolerant, heat tolerant, deer resistant, will attract pollinators and after four years these won’t need watering.”
Nearby gardening buddies, Marilyn Morin and Anne Cameron praise Baerg’s planning saying how lucky they are to have her expertise in the garden club. Baerg continues with more plant information telling me they are also multi-seasonal plants and that she plans features like this for spring, summer and fall enjoyment.
The club is also hoping to be of service elsewhere by offering to help in the community garden or volunteering to assist those less able to care for their gardens in the area – even if it’s just by stopping by with a few flowering plants to brighten the outside of their homes. The ladies feel that since the rock garden is a kind of a focal point it will enhance this busy park centre where so many activities take place during the warmer weather months. They are also hoping to access some donations or local funding that could possibly provide shade for the dog park users next door.
As we wave goodbye, with a promise to connect again and meet the rest of the garden club members one day, I spot two very busy District of Barriere guys at the Splash Park across the street, so I head over to check out what they are working on.
I introduce myself briefly, asking if they’d mind if I take a few photos and jokingly say, “It’s so hot I might just have to test the water in the Splash Park - it looks so cool!” The park is fairly new, with many water features that kids and families will love during these hot summer days.
Guy Hazelton is the District of Barriere Parks and Road Foreman along with former RCMP and fellow worker, Mark Pederson. They are busy flushing and testing the water fountain features in anticipation for the hot weather. Things around the park are getting spruced up from the looks of things and I may just have to go back to stick my feet in that nice cool water occasionally this summer when I need a break from sitting and writing.
Next stop, as I head back across the street to sign in at Barriere Elementary School, is to take in a some of the fun at the school track meet going on. I venture out and greet Mrs. Peterson’s First Graders sitting cross legged on the ground watching the older kids compete in the long jump. Lots of clapping, cheering and really long jumps are happening while the younger kids cheer them on. Teachers, parents, and high school students all there to help out and happily offer support.
Due to the heat, the class heads inside to watch the high jump in the gym. I ask if I can come along too, and one not so shy student says, “Yes, you can but no bumping ahead is allowed,” and he gestures me to the back of their line. I laugh, kinda thankful I don’t have to keep up with their fast pace, and take my assigned spot at the back of the line. The others speed ahead while one, thoughtful young boy hangs back to escort me and another nice girl holds the door open for us. I think to myself as I watch them pair off following their teacher how fortunate we are to live in Canada where kids can really thrive in a small, close-knit community like Barriere or Clearwater. Their good manners and thoughtfulness reflect how they are being raised.
As I stand to the back of the gym, I’m so impressed, hearing the older students cheering each other on with encouragement. A nice young man greets me, his name is Cohen Hunt and he’s a grade 11 student at Barriere Secondary. He’s very attentive as he watches the younger students making their rounds up and over the high jump bar. He tells me that he’s planning on pursuing a career in Sports Therapy, Massage and Physio after he graduates, before turning to answer a younger student’s question.
A little while later I quietly leave the gym and head back to the ronaldomanosa office to download my treasured photos. You know, it sort of feels like when you collect some pretty flowers or memory rocks as you walk along in the bush. I feel like this afternoon was a gift that I won’t soon forget. I connected with many age groups, all so active and positively inspiring that I’m coming back to my desk refreshed with hope in my heart for this world we live in. That’s why I love community news!
Come to think of it, remembering my lovely walk about on Tuesday, I think I’ll just take a break right now. You never know what you might find around a charming little town in B.C. and I’m thinking maybe some ice cream from next door for lunch might hit the spot. (Please don’t tell anyone that I’ve fallen off the salad wagon!)
Be sure to say hello if you see me wandering around with a big grin on my face because I might be looking for your story or something you have to share in your community in Barriere, Clearwater or somewhere in between.
Walk on the Sunny Side!
