December 2020: Derive Joy from the Little Things
Every year, Ward 9 works with a local program or artist for our holiday cards. This year, we’ve chosen to use these funds and directly support a few community organizations in the Ward, and want to encourage you to do the same, if you can. The list of organizations is found below!
It’s been a tough year.
While the season finale zombie apocalypse or alien invasion that people have joked about has yet to materialize, our COVID-19 numbers are spiraling out of control, and hopes of Christmas with family and friends are looking increasingly out of reach. Piling-on for Calgarians is the state of our economy and the discordance of our politics. From our city and provincial governments, to the national and international headlines, fear, anger and division seem to be overtaking everything. It’s a lot to deal with and it’s okay to feel angry and scared and overwhelmed.
But I’d implore everyone to resist feeling hopeless.
I’ve talked at length over these lockdown months about the silver-linings of COVID-19. The real nugget of hope at the core is that we’re all, now, undeniably, in this together.
From the renaissance in neighbourhood life to the increase in outdoor pursuits we’re experiencing with the ones closest to us, through our City’s acknowledgment of and commitment to dismantle systemic racism, to world-shaping initiatives like a Basic Income Guarantee becoming a legitimate topic of conversation, and the recent good news emerging out of the collaborative international race to produce viable vaccines, COVID-19 is, without a doubt, transforming our city.
I’m writing this on a late November day that I’d call unseasonably warm if the molten chinook arch hanging in the sky between our city and the mountains wasn’t an ever-present reminder that periods of warmth and sunshine between cold snaps typifies what Calgary winters are all about. This weekend, my wife and I turned our living room furniture around so we can accommodate a Christmas tree in our space, against the corner windows. We’re not sure whether we’ll buy one from Merl up in Dover or collect one ourselves from crown land; that’s a consideration for next weekend.
When I’m done writing, my son and I will take Izzy, our Frenchton puppy, around the building to St. Andrew’s Square where we’ll probably run into one of her friends, Flan the toy poodle, Olive the Boston, Luxor the cavadoodle, or Harlow the Australian shepherd. And we’ll chat with our neighbours as we watch the dogs frolic.
After that I need to pick up a couple things from the Bridgeland Market to help with dinner - I’m making a bagnetto to go with roasted chicken and I need anchovies.
The point I guess I’m trying to make is that
there is much joy to be derived from little things.
And while that might seem trite, and while too many of us are experiencing too much instability to make enjoyment seem relatable, simple pleasures are what make us human and life worth living. I’m confident that the sense of community, that makes Calgarians who we are, will prevail over the selfishness too many of us are expressing in exasperation at the pandemic.
I hope you make choices to help us overcome this. I hope you take a moment to appreciate the little things and how they’re all connected to the bigger picture. I hope, if you’re in trouble, you have family and friends and neighbours you can reach out to for help. Your Team Ward 9 and I are always a simple phone call or an email away, if we can be of any service to you.
Hang in there, we’ll get through this together.
Gian-Carlo Carra
Councillor, Ward 9
City of Calgary
Every year, Ward 9 works with a local program or artist for our holiday cards.
This year, we’ve chosen to use these funds and directly support
a few community organizations in the Ward,
and if you can, want to encourage you to do the same!
The Women’s Centre of Calgary
The Hope Mission
The YW Hub - Calgary
The Alex Community Centre
Bridgeland Elves Program
Aspen / Boys and Girls Club Calgary