Snow Removal

This is one hot topic in the great metropolis of Grande Prairie every winter.  It has improved over the last few years, I will give the City that.  The main routes are done in a  more timely manner.  Residential roads, not so much, and I guess that's where the complaints begin.

In a recent article in the newspaper, the head of the snow removal department felt it necessary to remind all of us we live in Northern Alberta.  Where we get snow.  Every winter.  Hmmm.  Quite certain we never realized that little tid-bit of information before!

Then I read a similar article, from one of the editors.  Again, with the reminder we live where there is snow.  Still hadn't realized that.  Thanks for reminding us.  Again.  Apparently, those of us who live in the North have brains the size of peanuts or baby toes because we must be constantly reminded of our demographics.

There were a lot of years I often wondered why people complained.  I guess I had gotten used to the roads and invested in a vehicle with four-wheel drive. 

Also, I noticed many of the people in Grande Prairie complaining the loudest about our winter streets were often from back east (meaning Ontario and further east).  Why did they complain so bitterly?  I could never figure this out.  Until we lived in the little province of Newfoundland.  Now I understand completely!

In Newfoundland, they get SNOW.  Not light fluffy powder that takes twenty-four hours to accumulate six to eight inches.  Wet, heavy stuff that gives you eight inches in three to four hours.  Snow so thick and heavy you have to shovel/snow blow many times during a snow day.  Why?  If you don't, you'll never be unburied from it for the rest of the winter. 

This concept doesn't just apply to people's driveways in Newfoundland.  It also applies to their roads.  They don't wait till the snow quits.  They can't.  I tell you what, though.  Their roads are BARE within twenty-four to forty-eight hours following a snow storm.  All of them:  the mains, the secondary routes AND residential streets.  How do they do this?  How do they budget for this?  I don't know.  What I do know, is theirs is a poorer province than ours.  One that manages to budget wisely every year for amazing snow removal practices.

My question is this:  If a small, poor province can budget wisely AND carry out such exemplary snow removal, why does a wealthy city, in a wealthy province, have such a hard time delivering a similar service to its citizens?

Here's my take on all of this:  We don't need a 17 million dollar sports field.  We didn't need a 20 million dollar multi-plex in order to keep up to Dawson Creek.  City Hall doesn't need a $500,000 dollar renovation to make the main floor more "accessible" or "appealing". 

What we do need is the safety clean streets provide to each and every one of us driving the roads every day.  We should not have to own a four-wheel/all-wheel drive just so we don't get stuck backing out of our driveways.  We should not have to worry about sliding through intersections because they are too slippery to stop -- even if you were going at a crawl.  Most of the fender-benders around town during the winter would be prevented IF our roads were cleaned in a timely manner.

I believe the City of Grande Prairie can do better with snow removal.  After all, we ARE a Northern Alberta city that gets snow EVERY winter.  If they don't know how to budget and run a well-oiled snow removal program, perhaps they should visit Newfoundland to see how they budget and implement such an amazing snow removal program.

And, please, quit insulting our intelligence by reminding us winter comes every year where we live.

Love Christmas?

Ever wonder why some people love Christmas sooo much it makes you sick?  Christmas trees and decorations up the moment Halloween is done... Extravagant light displays -- up and on -- no later than mid-November...  Counting down the days from the beginning of September or earlier...  Hell, the stores don't even wait for Halloween to be over before they are bringing out the Christmas stuff...

Me?  I've lost the Christmas spirit.  It is 100% commercialized and has simply become a competition as to who can give the biggest and best gifts to family and friends, rather than a thoughtful gift that actually means something to both the giver and receiver.  It's not really about giving any more.  It's about the "give-me's".

Everyone has their hand out at Christmas -- various charities, churches, and community organizations -- with pleas about it being the season to give.  What about the rest of the year?  Don't people need help to eat, keep a roof over their heads, experience a little kindness throughout the rest of the year?  Why is it only at Christmas these needs suddenly become so demanding?

Christmas isn't even about family any more.  Not really.  Not when you hear how so many people speak about their family members the rest of the year; how hateful they are, misguided, stupid, selfish, completely messed up.  It's a prerequisite to spend time with them during the "Season" -- not because you love or enjoy being around them but because you have to...

So go ahead.  Label me a Scrooge.  Or a Humbug.  Or any other label you want to attach to my disgust of a previously enjoyed holiday.  A holiday that once had meaning, fun, kindness and love attached to it.  I plan to spend it with my husband and daughters, thankful for a few days off work and the excuse to eat a great meal...

Rights versus Responsibility

Today, people talk a lot about their rights.  We all have them, but some people are definitely more knowledgeable about their rights.  Rights are supposed to be the same, no matter our age or race, aren't they?

What are rights, anyway? 

Basically, rights are a set of rules to follow.  We all have the right to drive.  We have the right to a high school education.  We all have the right to work.  We have the right to health care.  There are too many rights to list.

What society has forgotten to teach people is how to exercise their rights responsibly.  In fact, no one is responsible or accountable for their actions anymore, but they certainly know their rights.  If you make a mistake, own it.  Don't make excuses.  Don't scream about your rights because they are the same as mine.

Now, let's talk about rights versus responsibility.

If you pass the driver's exam, you have earned the right to drive.  Does this mean once you have your licence you can throw out all of the rules of the road, simply because you have the earned right to drive?  No.  You have the responsibility to drive defensively and to follow the rules so you don't endanger others or yourself.  This doesn't just go for driving.  People also have a tendency to park in the most deplorable manners, endangering everyone, because it's their "right".

Working is also a right that needs to be earned.  If you have no work ethic and refuse to accept the responsibilities of your job, soon you will be unemployed -- unless you know how to kiss the boss's ass exceptionally well.

Healthcare?  Well, healthcare is one of those where taxpayers are the clients.  A little fact often forgotten by those working within the system.  Instead, patients are often treated as second class citizens and their issues are not properly addressed.  Rather, they are shuffled out as quickly as possible.  There is very little responsibility -- and certainly no accountability -- placed at their feet.  Now don't get me wrong, I know some amazing nurses.

The next time you feel the need to spout off about your rights, remember you have the responsibility to use those rights in an appropriate manner.  Don't endanger someone because the idea of your rights super-cedes that of responsibility.