Taking pride on our community

As fall approaches and our children head back to school (with varying degrees of enthusiasm) we can reflect on an amazing summer for our community. I have long felt that the Dartmouth-Cole Harbour area is one of the most fortunate places on the planet.
We live in a beautiful area and our economy has not been battered like other communities in the current recession. However, many individuals and families are in need of assistance and part of my job and that of other elected representatives is to understand and respond to their challenges.
What makes our area particularly fortunate, in my view, is the people who make up our communities, and the pride we have when we celebrate success. This year was a perfect example. We were thrilled to see Sidney Crosby bring the Stanley Cup home to Nova Scotia. We hosted the world on Lake Banook and held the National Senior Baseball Championships at Beazley Field.
Every week, there were festivals, regattas, competitions and special events to celebrate. We can boast of the achievements of our many individual and team accomplishments, as we should. We must also acknowledge the tremendous volunteerism that makes it all possible. Crosby spoke of that spirit and the importance of coaches, teachers and supporters, who provide opportunities for young people in the community.
As a parent, I am always amazed at how many people give so much time to teach, coach, mentor and organize our children. That same spirit of community commitment allows food banks to operate in churches, provides support for seniors and enhances heritage and artistic expression. It is a delight to see some of our own achieve greatness on the ice, on the field, in the water or in academic achievement. It is even more important to see everyone have the chance to participate and achieve their own level of success. That is not possible without a community of volunteers, who give back more than they receive and make this an even better place to live.
Parliament resumes in September. This will be my sixth fall session in the House of Commons and it promises to be contentious once again. It is always a privilege to represent the people of Dartmouth-Cole Harbour and it is an honour that I never take for granted.
Best wishes and have a fabulous Nova Scotian fall.