It's been a blast!

Wow, it’s hard to believe that 16 weeks have flown by. It seemed as though I had a lot of time to get things done throughout the summer, but now that it is all said and done I am starting to realize that 16 weeks is not enough time for the internship.  I feel like I just started yesterday and am a little sad to be leaving Forestburg.  My experience in this community has been great, from all the people at the village office I have seen on a regular basis to the people who lead the volunteer organizations.  All of these people have shown me what it means to work hard, to have pride in your community, and they have shown me how great living in a rural area/village can be.

While I am excited to leave rural Alberta to attend school in a large urban centre in Saskatchewan, I know I will miss the people I have worked with this summer and I will miss living rurally. I will trade in the quiet sounds of nature for the sounds of vehicles traveling on the highway outside of my city apartment, I will miss the friendly faces that know who you are (or that you are Paul’s girlfriend), and I will miss the relaxing lifestyle.  This internship has allowed me to grow personally and professionally and has taught me a lot about some of the challenges faced by rural municipalities and the organizations that work within them.

I would like to thank Forestburg for having me this summer, for the ACSRC and LaB Office both working through the U of A, and the other interns for the support and information they provided throughout this experience.

Washer Toss is Harder Than it Sounds!

Even though this summer is winding down and I am finishing up some paperwork, I am still learning something new everyday. A major learning opportunity for me this week was provided by the wonderful staff at the local retirement home, Big Knife Villa.

I spent half of the day on Wednesday seeing what goes on at the home, looking at activities or events they would like to offer the residents, and possible grants that could help cover the cost of some of the activities.

The seniors residence has activities throughout the day and I was able to join in on a game of Washer Toss. While this game may sound simple it was definitely a challenge. There was a mat on the floor with areas marked and if your washer landed in the area with a 2 you got two points, if there was a 3 you got three points, etc, etc.  Who would have thought a game such as this could be so much fun yet involve so much skill? After a few very disappointing rounds I was able to figure out the proper technique to throw the washer and ended up coming in 3rd.  I was only 1 point away from 2nd place and about 13 points away from first. It was great interacting with some of the residents but I don't think I would want to play any more games with them because I am sure they would beat me by a larger margin next time.

This was a great experience and a change from being in the Office.  The Villa is always looking for volunteers, especially drivers to take residents to different appointments.  The Villa is involved in the community as well.  The third Wednesday of every month they have a luncheon that anyone can attend. The cost is $10 and there is a variety of salads to enjoy and there may even be homemade buns!

Bigger isn't always better

A canola field just north of Forestburg.

Lately I have been contemplating what I have been doing.  I haven’t been reworking policies, I haven’t made any major changes to the village, and I haven’t been a superhero saving the village of Forestburg.  I have, however, been interacting with people in the village, searching and applying for grants, and helping with whatever needs to be done.  This internship is not about the big changes, it’s about the small things that go on. I have noticed that sometimes things in a rural area move at a slower pace than in a larger urban centre and it’s this slower pace that has shown me that the small things matter. Whether it’s a friendly hello, an update on a sick neighbour or friend, or even a wave while you’re driving, I find that the small things that happen make living and working in a rural area so enjoyable.