There are plenty of reasons New Westminster residents cite for loving this relatively small city in the midst of much larger urban areas, but one that is regularly mentioned is the opportunity to get closer to neighbours, city leaders, and people who make a difference to our lives.
In New Westminster, you can actually get to know the
cop on the beat, the firefighter, the electricity worker, the chap who writes letters to the editor, the woman who works at the local food bank. Sometimes you don't even know their name until you see an item in the newspaper about them, or you overhear a conversation about them in the grocery store. But you know that they make a difference in your community, and that makes the city feel - well, just a bit more like a hometown.
This week we bid farewell to one of those people who have made an incredible impact on the city. Const. Bruce Ballingall - or 'chicken legs' - as he is affectionately known, will be sorely missed. Our story in this print edition barely scratched the surface of his fascinating story - so we urge you to read more about him on our website. We wish him well in his retirement.
Sadly, we also lost two other remarkable community people this past week - both to illnesses that they had struggled with. Ed Harrington, was key to this city's thriving arts community. His joy for life and people and theatre was visible in everything he did. He was a generous soul with his time and energy, and laughter, and the city is poorer for losing him.
Tony Eberts was a reporter at The Province newspaper for years, and an author. When he made New Westminster his home, he also became a regular letter to the editor writer. His letters were always born from his principles, straight-shooting and often tinged with a wry sense of humour that only a reporter could have.
Yes, we know, people leave, they die, that's life. But in a small city where, as the song goes - everybody knows your name - the losses seem much more personal.
