Dear Editor:
Community was celebrated at the Columbia Theatre last night where 200 folks gathered to crown Hyack's 2014 Ambassador, Claire Dresselhuis.
Community is denoted as "a usually small, social unit of any size that shares common values."
Therefore, the celebratory occasion, which has roots dating back more than 40 years, was really a gathering of several communities that share common values.
The first common value is dedication of service to community. The Kiwanis and Royal City Rotary Clubs, themselves longstanding community-based service organizations, came together to sponsor individual candidates.
Communities of first responders, charged with safety of community and represented by the Police Officers Association and New Westminster Firefighters Society also sponsored candidates, along with One Source Productions and Save-on-Foods.
The ambassador candidates come from diverse backgrounds and are talented young ladies who are also part of other communities - musicians, dancers, singers, sports teams, martial arts and school clubs.
But there were other communities present as well under the umbrella of the Hyack Festival Association, who sponsor, organize and finance the ambassador program.
Each of the contestants come from a community of learning. Their schools and shared value of education is recognized by Hyack's presentation of bursaries to each of the ambassador candidates to a post-secondary institution of their choice.
It is here that Hyack looks forward to help ambassadors fulfil their dreams so they can give back to the community beyond their year of representing the Hyack community within New Westminster and beyond.
Under the tutelage of Hyack board members, etiquette, deportment and elocution lessons are set up. The late Bernie Legge, for whom an award is given to the most improved candidate, was an early mentor to enhance these community values.
The word community is an amalgam of the Latin words "com," meaning with or together, and "munus," meaning gift.
Thus, two pages of businesses, organizations and individuals, including this publication, have come together at the Hyack Ambassador pageant to give their gifts of community to the program in general and the young ladies in particular.
A fine example of the spirit of exemplary service to community was recognized at the pageant when the Hyack float driver, Korey Simard, was given the Volunteer of the Year Award. When funding was cut, Korey stepped up and offered his services for free so the float could continue to represent our community in parades committed to in the Pacific Northwest.
In reciprocity, these communities will bring their floats to the Hyack International Parade in May.
It may not be my city any more, but it is still my community.
E.C. "Ted" Eddy, Hyack director, Coquitlam
