The New Year invites tales of tradition, charity, inspiration and celebration and conversations about how far we have come and intentions for the coming year. It’s a time of renewal and moving away from resignation and a time to begin conversations about new possibilities. Thank you to PelhamToday for this generous opportunity to write to you, again.
The difficult decisions made by Town Council over the last few years have considerably improved Pelham’s financial position. We can confidently say that the financial risks are largely in containment, which creates more, but limited, options to meet the continuing and approaching challenges of affordability, infrastructure renewal and climate change.
Financial accountability, responsibility and transparency will continue to dominate the Town’s agenda. Pelham has become very good at managing debt. Apparently, deficiency can teach lessons in constraint that abundance cannot.
There are many people who bring new possibilities into reality. I want to acknowledge and appreciate what it took to accomplish so much in Pelham. These are the people who are always thinking of the opportunities to create a better future: our schools, our faith communities, our service clubs, our charities, our sports teams, our frontline workers, our seniors' homes and businesses.
There is always a risk in creating a list because some deserving somebody always seems to be left off. If you empower people to tackle problems and challenges, then you should have been on my list. You are certainly in my mind. Thank you for creating possibilities which are the source of greater freedom and power for everyone that you serve!
"Apparently, deficiency can teach lessons in constraint that abundance cannot"
Aging teaches the true value of experiences and a sense of humour; I can commend volunteering as the source of both. Whether the choice of issue is aging, or food security, or animal rescue or something completely different, whatever you choose, you will add value to our community. I’m sure that you will experience the fun of volunteering with friends.
We are moving quickly into a super-aged demographic, where nearly one-quarter of Canadians will have reached the age of 65 over the next seven years or so. Many of us are already part of a massive demographic grouping of older adults who will want to age in the community with help that barely exists today.
Uncomfortable loneliness caused by isolation is becoming a serious symptom of our times. It’s largely an invisible problem because it has neither the flourish nor the chilling effect of a looming financial disaster or a deadly pandemic or a series of public health crises that have threatened us all.
Loneliness actually influences our biology because we have evolved to need other people. We are understanding more about the value of a social network, social engagement and community friendship. As a community, we need to start now to ensure not just a longer lifespan but a healthier, longer lifestyle for everyone.
We all have a stake in this, regardless of age or lifestyle. It’s about aging for our parents, ourselves and for generations to come. In fact, it's really for today’s children that we have to get it right. The new reality is that young children today have a 50 percent chance to live to be over 100 years of age!
As part of my work on council, I will be working with Mayor Junkin and my fellow councillors, our Town staff and the many people in our town who are already working on or facing these issues, to find ways to address them more fully in 2024. As for our staff, it’s a delight to work with the dedicated younger people, at various stages in their careers and to see the extraordinary actions they take on behalf of our citizens.
Being a councillor has been the experience of a lifetime. I’m grateful for all those who have generously shared their learnings and experiences with me. I’ve learned a great deal from all of them. And finally, I wish you and your family and friends, the joy of the season and I’m looking forward to sharing good fortune, health and new possibilities in 2024.
