Over my time here in Bonnyville I have covered a lot of events, from MD Council meetings, to the CNRL bitumen seepages, to Jr. A hockey games. I have seen and heard a lot in my eight months here.
The one thing that has surprised me time and time again is the generosity of this community. It doesn't matter what the event is or who or what is in need of donations. This community will step up to the plate and donate to a great cause.
Just this past week, I attended a dinner fundraiser at St. Louis Parish Hall to raise money for the Philippines disaster relief fund. The dinner sold out, and had a whole table of donated raffle items to help raise even more money.
Then on the weekend, just days later, there was the annual festival of trees event. Where businesses throughout the community came together to decorate and donate trees, with funds going to the Bonnyville Health Centre. While this was going on, local RCMP and emergency services held their annual charity check stop along Main Street in Bonnyville, collecting money to give to families and services in need.
There are also the annual Christmas charity programs running throughout the month, with the Santa's Elves program organized by the staff and students at Bonnyville Centralized High School and the Food Hamper program run by the Knights of Columbus.
Every year the community gets together and donates items of food, toys and clothes to make sure the less fortunate families in the region still have a merry Christmas. Last year the Santa's Elves program wrapped over 1,500 gifts, while to Knights of Columbus gave out about 175 hampers of food.
I first noticed the charitableness of this community on Oct. 6, when the Dancing Under the Stars Gala and an Autism Awareness fundraiser where held on the same night. Both events sold out and raised large sums of money. Most communities would be stretched thin with two large fundraisers on one night, but not Bonnyville. The Stars Gala brought in upwards of $100,000 and the Autism event grabbed over $60,000.
Coming from Ontario, all I really knew about Alberta was that it was oil country, where a ton of people raked in the big bucks working out in the oil field. The one thing I was not aware of, is that those same people are often more than willing to donate their money to the less fortunate, time and time again.
Kudos to all who have donated to one of the many charities in Bonnyville. This Ontarian has noticed, and has been blown away by your generosity.
