Published in the Bancroft Times - July 8, 2010
Summer in Bancroft is easy to enjoy. Time spent at local lakes swimming or boating, barbeques with friends while enjoying tasty local food, time spent in our gardens or walks along nearby trails – these are all enjoyable pastimes on a beautiful July day.
A perfect summer day can take your mind away from the challenges that we face in our daily lives, and so it should. We all deserve a chance to relax and take in the best that the season can offer.
Summer is also a good time for reflection and for thinking about the things that hold the most meaning for us. For example, what makes this place special? What are the things that I like about it? Where do I want to see Bancroft not just now but in the future?
A dedicated group of volunteers has been meeting on and off for the last 18 months to consider three basic questions about Bancroft: Where are we now? Where do we want to be? and How are we going to get there? The thoughts of this group, with contributions from almost 40 volunteers can be found in the plan called Sustainable Bancroft.
Sustainable Bancroft includes 16 themes in the four pillars of sustainability: cultural, social, economic and environmental. It addresses everything from solar power to recreational trails to creating green jobs. It highlights our vibrant cultural community, strong social networks and our incredible natural beauty.
Sustainable Bancroft is available online for public comment through the Town of Bancroft web site www.town.bancroft.on.ca. Information brochures are available at the Tourist Office at the Chamber of Commerce, at the Bancroft Public Library and at the Village Playhouse. In addition volunteers are distributing pamphlets and answering questions at local events such as the weekly concerts at Millennium Park.
Summer pleasures are memories that get us through the year, especially on cold nights in January when you’re shovelling snow. This year as you are breathing in summer think for a minute about the things that you love about Bancroft and make sure that they are included in Sustainable Bancroft. Thinking about the future can be a bit daunting at times but if we all take a few minutes to do it we will all be better off in the end.
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