Volunteers and volunteering are a vital element in making Canada one of the best places in the world to live, work, and to raise a family.
From the hardy souls who played a key role in carving a nation out of vast expanse of wilderness to the individuals who endeavour to make today’s communities the best they can be, volunteers have been—and continue to be—a critical community cornerstone.
In the earliest days of Canadian history, working together towards a common goal more often was a matter of necessity and survival than it was an expression of social responsibility and humanity.
In an unfamiliar land with a climate with harsh extremes, pitching in to help the other guy was a fact of daily life borne, at least in part, out of the knowledge that your own survival depended on the combined efforts of others as well.
This is, of course, what we so often refer to as the “pioneer spirit.” A straight-forward solution to a variety of challenges—work together, survive, and grow.
As Canada has grown and prospered, communities have sprung up, grown, and developed, too.
From community-focused efforts such as school or church building bees to a group of neighbours joining together for an old-fashioned barn-raising, volunteers were at the forefront of growth and development.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
