SMALL TOWNS

#ilovemyhometown

Small towns may not be for everyone, but they have some exceptionally unique qualities that simply can not be found anywhere else.  If you love the outdoors, the Lac La Biche region is the place for you!  The open spaces, beautiful lakes and rivers, surrounding forests and peacefulness is why I love where I live.

For a little background; my timeline:

• Born in Lac La Biche
• Raised in Breynat/Wandering River
• Went to Wandering River School & Plamondon High School & Portage College x 2
• Resident of Lac La Biche for over 20 years now. (I did move away and lived in a couple of cities for a few years, so I know that small town life is for me.)

What is great about our small towns? 

Well, I put some thought into this.  When thinking, I usually turn to music.

“Music is the soundtrack of your life.”  – Dick Clark

There are so many meaningful songs about small towns! 

• Round Here Buzz – Eric Church
• Small Town Saturday Night – Hal Ketchum
• May We All – Florida Georgia Line
• Castle on the Hill – Ed Sheeran
• My Hometown – Bruce Springsteen
• My Town – Glass Tiger

Small Town by John Mellancamp really says it all: 
Well, I was born in a small town
And i live in a small town
Probably die in a small town
Oh, those small town communities

This is what I find is so great about small towns:

• Friendly people
• Not much for traffic (2 stop light town)
• Always available parking
• No need for GSP; except for the odd garage sale
• Relaxed and quiet shopping
• Small schools
• Fresh air
• Open spaces
• Beautiful skies to see the stars and northern lights
• Slower pace
• Cost of living is slightly lower
• Small businesses support our community
• Non-profit groups are more active

What I found that I couldn’t put on my list right now was: sense of community. It’s definitely been a tough past few years.   But, even before COVID, with social media being such a big part of our lives, it is hard to meet people.

If you were raised here and grew up here; you knew everyone and everyone knew you.  I don’t know how many times I’ve heard “You know them.”  (Not a question by the way.)  Well, I might have heard of them, but never  actually met them to say I knew them.  Everyone knows everyone is not the case anymore.

Volunteering for me was a way to help out, but also to get together with other people who shared your interest.   Volunteer groups keep getting smaller and smaller.  What lots of people do not realize is in order for our community to have lots of events (that are not put on by our County, which is doing a pretty good job) we need our local groups.  If they do not have volunteers, they can not put on activities.

With Your Local Buzz; a place for people to go and see what our wonderful communities have to offer; I am hopeful things pick back up again.  Events, fundraisers, sports, opportunities to get out, visit and meet people and support one another; because what is really great about small towns is the sense of community.

Bring the wind to carry me over
Lead me home to my town
Tell me when that breeze is blowin’ 
Takin’ me home to my town.
        My Town - Glass Tiger