From the Mayor's Desk:
Holiday Season Message to Community
Doug Lawrance - Mayor, Sioux Lookout
As we approach Christmas let’s take time to say thank you to each other. Thank you for being a caring community. Thank you for masking, social distancing, and sacrificing normal routines and expectations. Thank you for thinking about fellow citizens who have lower resistance and more vulnerability to virus and infection. Thank you for being innovative at both the individual and group level.
Thank you to all the front line workers in health care, grocery and retail, police officers and taxi drivers, teachers and bus drivers, postal and delivery service workers, ambulance and social service workers, daycare and public health staff, cleaners and cooks, and apologies and thanks to the many more missed in this list. And from this desk a special thank you to all the municipal sector workers who keep the municipal services operating: in recreation, daycare, garbage and landfill, water and sewage plants, public works, airport, economic development, planning and building services, facility maintenance, emergency services and by-law. Thank you to those in finance, human resources, corporate services, and administration. Thank you to Sioux Hydro workers for keeping our power on. And let’s all express our deep appreciation for our fire fighters who are there to protect us regardless of time or conditions.
While we have much and many to be grateful for in our community let’s also remember that our good fortunes are not all shared equally. Let’s each take time to think about those who may be less fortunate than us. Have empathy for those who may be suffering from a family loss, a chronic condition, loss of employment or income, tragedy or disaster. The restrictions of the pandemic are felt by all of us but will isolate some more than others. Let’s be thoughtful and reach out as best we can in these times to add some kindness and cheer to each other’s lives in what can be both the happiest and loneliest of seasons.
As we prepare for the gift giving season let’s also remember to support our local businesses. As well as shopping in store with appropriate COVID precautions, local retailers are offering a variety of methods to ease local shopping. Some services that businesses are offering include: shop on-line, via Facebook/Instagram/email, have an individualized in-store evening appointment; pay over phone with credit card, pay by electronic money transfer; pick-up pre-ordered items at curb side, have your order delivered; restaurants have on-line menus, pick-up and take-out; and if you can’t decide what to buy many businesses offer gift cards. By shopping locally we are supporting businesses who employ local people and contribute to our community. There may never be a better time than now to shop local.
While we are thankful for all that we have, we can also be kind and gracious and share with others, especially those with less. There are many local opportunities to spread the joy of Christmas. The First Step Women’s Shelter has programs to ‘adopt’ families and children and this year there is more need than ever before. The Nishnawbe-Gamik Friendship Centre food hamper program is a huge source of help to many. The Out of the Cold Shelter continues to be grateful for support. Local churches and faith groups and the Salvation Army are always doing good work and appreciate help. Contact local service groups and clubs who are so important in supporting local people and causes to see how you can support their work with a Christmas donation, including: Rotary, Lions, Knights of Columbus, Shriners. The Meno Ya Win Foundation supports our local hospital and welcomes donations. And let’s not forget the good work done for our furry friends by Sioux Looks Out for Paws who will also appreciate a Christmas donation. If we look we can find other groups and many ways to help and share.
On behalf of Municipal Council please accept our wishes to each and everyone of you for a safe, peaceful, and joyous Christmas.
