E-KNOW Editorial

Last week’s sneak peak of the East Kootenay Child Development Centre was a genuinely wonderful community event.

To see the colourful centre with a host of offices, work areas and space, space, space to centralize such vital services as those provided by the EKCDC was to see the power of community at work.

Amazingly, the EKCDC expansion, led by Community Connections Society of Southeast B.C., has managed to raise $1 million of the $1.1 million they originally targeted for the project.

It is not easy raising $1 million in good economic times. Raising that kind of coin in these uncertain times is nothing short of amazing, especially when you factor in how many important and deserving organizations are out there raising funds for a litany of vital causes.

The East Kootenay has long been a place where communities dig deep to help out, and extend hands to their neighbours.  The efforts made by the EKCDC volunteers and by the community-at-large, providing ways for them to raise money and providing the funds, are worthy of great respect and thanks.

The Columbia Basin Trust once again stepped up and provided invaluable financial assistance, showing all once again how necessary and fabulous it is to have such an agency in our region. The provincial government shared some wealth, thanks to Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett’s persistence and local governments from around region found ways to help out.

A great many children and families from throughout the region are going to benefit in so many positive ways from the EKCDC, and its mere presence gives our region another selling tool when it comes to attracting people and families.

The work done by the Community Connections Society of Southeast B.C. isn’t just awesome; it’s Donna Grainger awesome.

Kudos and sincere thanks to all involved.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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