Call to Action - Answered

I have become a passionate supporter of the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre.  I can't wait for the ground to be turned on Bruce's birthday in August of this year.  The reasons for the passion are many.  Mostly, because it is the right thing to do.  That is the simple short answer.  Of course, there are multiple long answers.  Yesterday, our Police Chief was talking about the challenges facing the police and chief among them are meth.  Methamphetamines are relatively new as societal problems, addiction is not.  The problem is never going away, however, there are some people who come to the point where they not only need help, they want help.  That is sadly a limited window of opportunity.  Simply, I think when people are begging for help, there should be resources to help them.  The Bruce Oake Recovery Centre will not solve all societal problems, but it will help people who want help.  It will also be like standing up on higher ground and dropping a pebble in the middle of a wide river.  The ripple effects will go on forever.  So, will the effects of sobriety.  Helping even one person will cause ripples that will affect all of us.  You can choose not to believe me, but, just wait and see. 

I really thought it was over when City Council passed the Motion to approve the proposed site for the conditional use permit.  I thought it would be time for the community to come together in support of this great project.  I was wrong.  An appeal was launched. 

The Friends of Bruce Oake Recovery Centre alerted the group members as soon as they could.  I read the documents in support of the Appeal on-line.  607 pages.  I felt pretty dejected.  There was nothing that people in support of the Centre could do but mail or email their support for the Centre and there wasn't a lot of time to do it.  The Appeal Hearing happened.  It was a very long day but in the end, the appeal was denied.  It was a triumphant moment.  Again, it wasn't about winning or losing, it was about the potential to help someone who wanted help.

This past week, I got the official minutes of the Appeal Committee in the mail.  That was when the real triumph occurred. The list of the people in support of the Centre outnumbered those opposed by about 4-1.  Amazing.  This is what it feels like when humanity and compassion win.  It is nice to know that doing the right thing is still in fashion.  I shed a few tears.  "We are the Champions" was playing in my mind.  Grateful.  Thankful.  Blessed.  And hopeful.  It is so wonderful, in this era of apathy, to see a call to action answered.  There is hope. 

Thanks to the wonderful people in support of the Bruce Oake Recovery Centre for restoring my hope. I can't wait to see the ripple effects. 

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