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Take a step back to look at the past while projecting the future

As purveyors of hyper-local news about what’s going on in our community of 12,000 people, it would be easy to get depressed

As purveyors of hyper-local news about what’s going on in our community of 12,000 people, it would be easy to get depressed about the amount of time it takes to accomplish goals, the energy expended listening to endless discussion and opinions and in sitting through meetings.

We ponder the comment from people who say ‘live for the moment because once the moment is gone you’ll never get it back’.

Perhaps that’s a good mantra — don’t waste your time on the unimportant.

But then again, we also attend annual meetings over the course of a year where the main purpose is to report on progress and successes.

It’s important to follow this process because it allows those involved to stand back and examine where they’ve been and what they’ve done.

We believe when put into that context, the work of many volunteers, concerned residents and even politicians, is valued for the true accomplishments.

These reflections are important not just to those involved but also to publicize their organizations to a broader audience.

It used to be that the town’s elected leaders held an annual meeting to summarize the past year and hear from residents.

However that’s gone the way of the dodo bird — towards extinction — primarily because of lack of interest and attendance. People, it seems, were only interested when there was a hot button topic that affected their back yards.

It may have been that gathering input from these meetings was so orchestrated, and the give-and-take of open discussion which leads to new ideas so stifled, that residents gave up. After all, don’t we all love a good controversial debate with thoughtful discussion on both sides of the topics. Perhaps even a few voices raised in passion.

One of the solutions started several years ago was to allow unimpeded comment from residents during the open microphone session preceding each council meeting.

It’s been used successfully in the past. We applaud those who rise to speak and voice opinions. That’s part of a healthy democracy.

As to the progress and successes of our elected officials, who are many times maligned for their stands, and their backbone — the town bureaucracy — that will come this fall when those choosing to stand for re-election review their accomplishments. We’ll wait with baited breath.

At another level, it must be very difficult now, for provincial government politicians to keep their heads above the swell of controversy dogging them. But they just have to remember they’ve got several years before seeking another mandate — and there’s sure to be some positive accomplishments, perhaps even a change in the economy, to buoy their spirits.

Yes, taking a look back, while taking a look ahead, is an important part of our life.

Whether it’s in one year increments or over a longer period. It’s much like visiting a former hometown after you’ve been away for a few years.

Progress is more evident than if you’d lived through the many diversion to get to the current point.