Dear Brentwoodians,
October is the month when Canadians give thanks for the fortune and privilege we enjoy by living in this beautiful and prosperous country. As I write this, we are in the midst of both federal and municipal elections, and despite some efforts of a tiny number of disruptive protestors, both campaigns have been characterized by a civil exchange of ideas and proposals. This is not to say that our elections are free from mudslinging, evasiveness, and dishonesty by candidates, and it is important for journalists and citizens alike to call out this behaviour when it arises. But compared to the scenes we have recently witnessed in Kabul and Afghanistan, even the ugliest campaign rhetoric pales in comparison, and we should be reminded how fortunate we are to live in a place where leaders are selected by ballots and not groups of armed thugs.
Time will tell how many Afghanis flown out of Kabul in the last days will make their new homes in Calgary, but I know that the people of our community and our city will make them feel welcome and give them the foundation to build a successful life here, as so many generations of immigrants and refugees have done before. A good place to start is with our Brentwood Cares group (see notice in this issue), which provides assistance to people in our immediate neighbourhood. Both the Centre for Newcomers, www.centrefornewcomers.ca, and Immigrant Services Calgary, www.immigrantservicescalgary.ca, provide important assistance to new members of our community, and would be excellent and grateful recipients of any help that thankful Brentwoodians can share. This support is an investment in our community with a proven high rate of return.
Photo Contest
The Bugle is looking for Brentwood’s best amateur photographers to provide cover images each month. If you have a great snap of our neighbourhood saved on your phone or posted on your social media feed, send it in for a chance to be featured on the cover of an upcoming issue! Photos must be 300 DPI or higher (i.e. from a newer model phone or good digital camera), 2400 x 1600 pixels minimum size, and portrait orientation. If submitting pictures of minors, please make sure that you have direct, express permission to submit the picture from a parent or guardian. Send your photos, or any questions, to [email protected].
Yours sincerely,
Jonathan Jucker, editor
Brentwood Bugle
