Volunteering, it's all for the kids

As high school teachers continue to forgo extra-curricular activities in their protest of provincially-legislated contracts, men and women throughout our community continue to leave a day at work – whether it’s in the office, at the plant, on the road or at a work site – and, if they’re lucky, they might grab a quick bite to eat as they rush out to their community commitment.

Every day, these countless men and women spend hours voluntarily coaching youth hockey, running basketball clinics, coaching soccer, coaching baseball, teaching curling, operating sailing clubs, hosting skipping meets, tutoring chess or music prodigies, leading 4-H clubs, instructing Air Cadets, conducting youth bands, teaching dance, arranging theatrical auditions, monitoring student dances and movie nights, teaching student sewing clubs, taking young Special Olympians to a competition, raising money for kids in need.

The only difference between these men and women and teachers, are that they do this extra-curricular work in a different building than the one in which they are employed. They sacrifice leisure time and time with family because they enjoy their commitment to the community’s younger generation.

It’s not a condition of employment, it’s just how they make a difference. It’s because they hope they just might offer that experience or lesson that will lead a student to discover his or her own passion and path to success. No matter how fleeting, each smile, each aha moment, each spark of inspiration makes it worth every effort, and every sacrifice. No matter how long the workday has been, these volunteers show up, because, after all, it’s not about the sacrifices. It’s all about the community. It’s all for the kids.

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