Bonnyville is not just a designated stop to eat and sleep in while working next to it. People need to live and have fun during their time here, whether it's a month or 20 years. However, living not only includes the essentials such as eating, drinking and sleeping, but also enjoying one's self through various activities made available by businesses and the community.
This week, we received two letters to the editor concerning the loss of available activities in town; one regarding the cutting of aqua-fit classes at the pool and the other criticizing the likely closure of the town's only bowling centre.
While both those activities might not rank up there in popularity with sports like hockey or hobbies like hunting, they are invaluable to the many people who participate in them.
Not only that, but providing options for activities, like bowling and swimming, can help improve the health of individuals and the community as a whole – as people are encouraged to be physically active and leave their homes to meet their neighbours.
Bonnyville is lucky to have a pool and a bowling centre to begin with, but to lose them now, with so many people coming to town and so many new young families in the region, would be unfortunate.
Perhaps it is unsustainable, in a business sense, to keep the bowling centre open, or run the number of classes the pool does, but that doesn't mean residents of the town should resign to decisions made by owners and administration.
There are solutions out there that don't include cuts and a complete shut down. But, it won't be easy. It will take time and effort on the part of those willing to fight for positive solutions to the town's problems.
