I spent a great deal of time thinking about life in general as we celebrated 100 years of existence as a community during the year 2004, ten years ago. I know many of you will be reading this editorial after the final candle is blown out on the birthday cake, but nevertheless, now that we are in our 2nd Century, the points still apply.

How should we approach this living history of our community? What is it that we want to remember? Moreover, what is it that we want Valley East to stand for?

And then, the answer seemed to jump out at me as I was reading a little passage recently.

It was a selection from "The Hymnbook", written by Arthur Bowler. Every parent will understand why I was greatly moved by the story and I’m sure every parent could also recount a similar experience. It was then that I realized that each and every resident of Valley East is a parent of our future. Our values today will shape the future for our children. That is what this web site is all about. Recording details of our past which will shape our future. 

Suddenly, everything became clear to me as I read the following passage. I now know how to approach this web site. We will record our history, and we will focus on the things that really mean the world to us: people, tolerance and love.

Enjoy "The Hymnbook"
   

I watched intently as my little brother was caught in the act. He sat in the corner of the living room, a pen in one hand and my father’s hymnbook in the other. As father walked into the room, my brother cowered slightly. He sensed that he had done something wrong. From a distance, I saw that he had opened Dad/s brand-new book and scribbled across the length and breadth of the entire first page with a pen. Now, staring at my father fearfully, he and I both waited for his punishment.

My father picked up his prized hymnal, looked at it carefully, and then sat down without saying a word. Books were precious to him. He was a pastor and the holder of several degrees. For him, books were knowledge, and yet, he loved his children. What he did in the next few minutes was remarkable.

Instead of punishing my brother; instead of scolding or yelling or reprimanding, he sat down, took the pen from my brother’s hand and then wrote in the book himself, alongside the scribbles John had made.

"John’s words in 1959, age two. How many times have I looked into your beautiful face and into your warm, alert eyes looking up at me and thanked God for the one who has now scribbled in my new hymnal? You have made the book sacred, as have your brothers and sister too so much of my life"

Wow, I thought. This is punishment?

From time to time I take a book down—not just a cheezy paperback, but a real book that I know I will have for many years to come—and I give it to one of my children to ‘write’ their names in. As I look at their artwork, I think of my father, and how he taught me about what really matters in life: people, not objects; tolerance, not judgement; and love, which is at the heart of a family.

I think about these things, smile, and I whisper, "Thank you, Dad."

People, tolerance and love—the things that really matter in life.

As I meet people in the years to come I will be asking for them to share the things that really matter in life. Provide the stories for us so that we can post them on this internet history book for others to read and become inspired as they in turn create history.

Perhaps all we need to be truly happy in this world is a return to the basics of life: people, tolerance and love. 

My long range plans for this web site are going to reflect the really important things. 

There once was a slave named Androcles who escaped from his master and fled into the forest. 

As he was wandering about he came upon a lion lying down moaning and groaning. 

At first he turned to run away, but when he noticed that the lion did not chase him, he turned back and went up to the mighty beast. As Androcles came near, the lion put out his paw, which was all swollen and bleeding. When he looked at the paw he saw a huge thorn which was stuck in it causing all the pain. Androcles pulled out the thorn and bound up the paw of the lion who was soon able to rise and lick the hand of Androcles like a dog. The lion then took Androcles to his cave and every day brought him meat on which to survive. 

Shortly afterwards, both Androcles and the lion were captured and the slave was sentenced to be thrown to the lion which had been kept without food for several days. The Emperor and his people came to see the spectacle. Androcles was led out into the middle of the arena. Soon the lion was released from his den and rushed bounding and roaring towards his victim. But as soon as the lion came near to Androcles, he recognized his friend and fawned upon him, licking his hands like a friendly dog. When the Emperor was told the whole story, Androcles was set free and the lion let loose to return to his native forest.

This story has a great deal of significance for us today. Even though there appears to be much prosperity and wealth in the world today, when we look closely at the situation, we see a completely different picture. There are hundreds of people living in Valley East who are living in poverty, and like the lion in the story, are reaching out for help of any kind to pull them out of this desolation. There are also many businesses in Valley East which are struggling to survive in these uncertain economic times. With a recession on the horizon and decreasing sales figures, a lot of local businesses have been forced to reduce staff and cut back drastically in all areas in order to keep their doors open in hope of a better future just around the corner. It is not certain how long they can hang on and they too are reaching out for help to pull them out of despair. Finally, the rest of us find ourselves in the enviable position of having good jobs and steady income, but yet, we too are finding that skyrocketing costs are eating up much of our money, forcing us to cut back on spending and search for cost-saving alternatives. We too are reaching out for help.

In the story, Androcles had just escaped and was wandering the forest without any food, knowing that his freedom could disappear at any time, meaning certain disaster. The lion was hurt and needed someone to help him take away his pain so that he could once again walk the forest with confidence. It was Androcles who made the first move to save the lion. Once the lion recovered, it was the lion’s turn to help out Androcles. And in the stadium, the bond between the lion and Androcles stood the ultimate test, resulting in both earning their freedom.

Valley East has a lot in common with the story about the lion and Androcles. Our community is all about businesses and consumers living in harmony in a circle of support. The businesses of Valley East are not looking for customers from Sudbury or the surrounding towns. They are here to provide goods and services to the residents who live in Valley East. 

Consumers who shop locally help keep the businesses viable and healthy by increasing their sales.  As businesses increase their sales, it enables them to expand and put more people to work. 

When it comes to being informed about community events and the accomplishments and achievements of local residents, Valley East surely must count its blessings. The Vision Paper was delivered to each home in Valley East and Capreol for over 10 years. Each week it contained a wealth of information about things that are most important to people living in this part of the City of Greater Sudbury. Each week it provided a venue through which businesses and individuals could communicate to more than 25,000 people. Pierre Charette, owner of The Vision Paper, along with Jean Guy Charette and the entire staff of the company are to be commended for their years of hard work while they operated this publication.

Unfortunately, The Vision Paper ceased publications at the end of 2009. Now we must take the next step and use technology in the form of www.valleyeasttoday.ca , our own community electronic publication and our Face Book Group which can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/valleyeasttoday/ These have become our Window to the Community through which informatiion can be "seen and acknowledged".

Perhaps the best way to introduce the main message of this editorial is to use one of my favourite stories. I simply call it "The Little Red Hen".

One day a little red hen was scratching around in the barnyard when she discovered some grains of wheat. She had a great idea and called all of her barnyard neigbours together.

"If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?"

"Not I," said the cow. "Not I," said the duck. "Not I," said the pig.

"Not I," said the goose. "Then I will," said the little red hen. And she did.

The wheat grew tall and ripened into golden grain. "Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen. "Not I," said the duck. "Out of my classification," said the pig. "I’d lose my seniority," said the cow. "I’d lose my unemployment compensation," said the goose.

"Then I will," said the little red hen, and she did.

At last it came time to bake the bread. "Who will help me bake the bread?" asked the little red hen. "That would be overtime for me," said the cow. "I’d lose my welfare benefits," said the duck. "I’m a dropout and never learned how," said the pig. "If I’m the only helper, that’s discrimination," said the goose.

"Then I will," said the little red hen.

She baked five loaves and held them up for her neighbours to see. They all wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No, I can eat the five loaves myself."

"Excess profits," said the cow. "Capitalist leech," screamed the duck.

"I demand equal rights," yelled the goose. And the pig just grunted. And they painted "unfair" picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.

When the government agent came, he said to the little red hen, "You mustn’t be greedy."

"But I earned the bread," said the little red hen.

"Exactly," said the agent. "That’s the wonderful free enterprise system. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide their product with the idle."

And they lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and chuckled. "I am grateful. I am grateful"

But her neighbours wondered why she never again baked any more bread.

Valley East Today is the window to the community. But it takes the support and cooperation of individuals, organizations and businesses to keep the window clean. Businesses must use the publication to advertise and promote their goods and services so that the Vision has enough funds to provide space to report on all of the activities.

We encourage people in the community to send us information that can be posted on the web site at . Unless people take advantage of this opportunity, the window will be useless.

Let’s not be like the barnyard animals who were quick to run away when the little red hen needed help and were equally quick to criticize the success of the little red hen. We will all benefit from www.valleyeasttoday.ca and from our Face Book Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/valleyeasttoday/

It takes a lot of hard work to bring you publications like www.valleyeasttoday.ca  and https://www.facebook.com/groups/valleyeasttoday/ This hard work must be supported by local businesses and local organizations. Individuals must contribute stories and let us know about events that are going on so that they can be covered. Take pride in your community and make a sincere effort to "look through the windows"

Many years ago I took part in a celebration which recognized close to one hundred young entrepreneurs who have set up business in the City of Greater Sudbury during the past ten years or so. Some of those businesses set up in Valley East. It was a very touching ceremony, especially in light of my background in marketing and advertising. I know that small businesses are struggling. I also know that many people who depended on those small businesses for part-time employment have lost their jobs and they too are struggling to make ends meet while attempting to remain in the Sudbury area.

A gentleman by the name of Neil Eskelin once said that the way to understand adversity is to take two identical acorns from the same oak tree and plant them in two different locations. Plant the first one in the middle of a dense forest, and the other one on a hill by itself. The oak standing on a hillside is exposed to every storm and gale. As a result, its roots plunge deep into the earth and spread in every direction, even wrapping themselves around giant boulders. At times it may seem the tree isn’t growing fast enough, but the growth is happening under ground. It’s as if the roots know they must protect the tree from the threatening elements. On the other hand, the acorn planted in the forest becomes a weak, frail sapling - having to compete with giant oaks for nutrients and space. And since it is protected by its neighbours, the little oak doesn’t sense the need to spread its roots for support.

A young person, or even an older person for that matter, who decides to set up business in Valley East is well aware of adversity and challenges. The business will face many “storms”, especially in the early going. The business owners will have to be very much aware of opportunities and be willing to change direction often in an effort to establish strong roots in the form of relationships and associations. The young entrepreneur will have to pay a great deal of attention to quality of work and be responsible for providing only the best of service to clients. At times, it may seem as if the business is doomed to failure, and the long, hard hours of dedication and work will be difficult to take. Growth will also be very slow as the business spreads its roots throughout the community in order to survive.

An immigrant who came to Sudbury from Europe many years ago, and lived his life as a successful businessman, compared life in this city to a cafeteria. When he first arrived in town, he sat down in a cafeteria-style restaurant and waited for someone to take his order. Of course, nobody did. Finally a woman with a tray of food sat down opposite him and informed how a cafeteria worked. She told him to start at one end and then go along the line picking out what he wanted. At the end of the line a person would tell him how much he had to pay. The immigrant explained, “I soon learned that’s how everything works in Sudbury. Life’s a cafeteria here. You can get anything you want as long as you are willing to pay the price. You can even get success, but you’ll never get it if you wait for someone to bring it to you. You have to get up and get it yourself.”

These are two very important lessons, not only for young entrepreneurs, but for anyone who has enough confidence in this region to remain in Sudbury, and in particular, Valley East, and build a life here. First of all, don’t be afraid of disappointments, frustration and adversity. It will make you stronger and help you develop a strong root system, which will enable you to survive all storms you will face over the years. Secondly, don’t wait for someone to bring you success. You have to get up and get it yourself.

Geese work together so that the entire flock achieves a higher degree of success. You would think that people would be able to discover this strategy as well. It is a known fact that the City of Greater Sudbury is in trouble. Unemployment is up! Businesses are closing! The hospital construction has stopped! We are losing our youth to the south! Many small businesses which are still operating are barely surviving! The jobs that we are losing are high paying jobs in big industry, but the jobs that we replace them with are low-paying entry-level jobs. There is no need to go on.

Yet, in spite of this, we all share a common direction. Everyone living in the City of Greater Sudbury really wants  to do something to improve the situation. We want to help stimulate the economy and create new jobs so that our children can establish a future in their home town. It is precisely this sense of community and common direction which we must harness and use if we have any chance of rising out of our current state and creating a brighter future for everyone in the area.

In order to see how we can do this, we must once again take a lesson from the geese. The situation in Sudbury is bleak, and we must take action soon in order to correct the situation. Since we are all moving in the same direction, we can travel on the thrust of one another and thrive on the encouragement and support. 

What the Greater Sudbury Area needs now is leadership. Valley East is more than capable of providing that leadership. Together, we can use Valley East Today to create the leverage we need to make our own community stronger and then move out to the front of the pack to help bring the rest of the flock - the other municipalities in the City of Greater Sudbury - in the right direction.

We ask that every resident of Valley East make a sincere effort to do their part to help make this community stronger. Valley East once held enviable position of being the fastest growing municipality in the region. We still are and we can still hold our heads up high. 

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Valley East Today is published by
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