In troubling times, it does the heart good to focus on the positive. With our lives upended by the COVID-19 pandemic and the daily news constantly inundated with political instability south of the border—and yes, some north of it, too—it’s easy to understand why everyone has decided that 2020 was the year from hell. The social media memes reminding us of this fact will live on in infamy.
But 2020 wasn’t all bad, and we’ve got the proof. The Citizen prides itself on showcasing the exciting things happening in our local communities, and it turns out there was plenty of good news to go around last year.
Today's list is the third and final entry in this series, but you can read Part One and Part Two elsewhere on our site.
• There wasn’t a heck of a lot of sports to cheer on this past year, but one former Niverville resident, David Richert, nonetheless reached a major milestone in his racing career, placing second at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in France. His shortened season turned out to be one for the record books. Read the full story.
• A new mountain biking skills park was added to Hespeler Park this summer, immediately becoming a favourite for local riders. For months, the new park feature was bursting with kids looking for a shot of adrenaline, and additional phases are expected in the coming years. Read the full story.
• While most of the economy retracted in 2020, the housing market surged, and many local builders having their busiest years ever. With this in-depth summer series, we spoke to builders, rental agencies, and real estate agents to get a fuller picture of what was driving the high demand. Read the full story.
• A former Niverville Collegiate schoolteacher, Mark Reimer, has been forging a strong relationship between our local communities and a coastal town in Ecuador. This Christmas, Reimer flew back to Ecuador to fulfil a decade-long promise to help a young person from Ecuador realize their dream of pursuing a post-secondary degree in Canada. Read the full story.
• In September, an organization that works to assist people with intellectual disabilities launched a promotional campaign seeking to honour difference-makers in our communities, including locals Barry Piasta and Zoe Bardal. Read the full story.
• Late in the summer, while parents were wrapping their heads around sending their kids back to school during the pandemic era, we spoke to people from a different generation about their memories of a different and far simpler time, digging into what it was like to attend Manitoba’s one-room schoolhouses. Read the full story.
• In the springtime, a grassroots effort in Niverville brought together dozens of volunteers to plant trees along several of the town’s residential streets. The tree-planting initiative was such a success that it is expected to continue in 2021, with more neighbourhoods getting to participate. Read the full story.
That's it for now, but look for more good news throughout the coming year. The Citizen is committed to continue reporting as much good news as we learn about. If you have any story tips, please feel free to get in touch with us!
