Being born and raised in St. Albert I would like to address the letter entitled “Higher-earning families part of St. Albert’s appeal.”
My attention was first brought to this article by a friend’s posting on Facebook, followed by the comments that it had attracted. After reading the article I can say I’m truly disgusted. From growing up in St. Albert and being involved in sports and interaction with other communities, I have always tried to ignore the “spoiled rich kid” label that is bestowed upon us. To hear this coming from someone that lives within our own community and actually believes it is outrageous. Just because you can afford it doesn’t mean you deserve it.
As a community we pride ourselves on our trail systems, our green spaces, arts and recreational activities as well as our attractions such as the Rainmaker Rodeo, children’s festival, farmers’ market, etc. St. Albert is also known as the ninth safest city in Canada and the safest city in the west. I wonder if this has anything to do with the presence of the RCMP at the many events St. Albert caters to. In fact you can walk into one of the many high schools in St. Albert and the students can probably tell you a positive experience that they have had with the RCMP’s School Resource Officer, how they have posed for pictures with them at one of the many events they have attended and how these officers have brought drug dogs through the school they attend.
Grade six elementary students would also be able to inform you of the DARE program the RCMP provides — Drug and Alcohol Resistant Education. There are drugs in St. Albert as there are in any community. Just because you don’t live in a low-income neighbourhood doesn’t mean there isn’t a drug dealer living on your block. Believe it or not they can afford homes in Kingswood as well as in Akinsdale and any other area in St. Albert. Did you not notice the community policing office at Servus Credit Union Place where you are spending your $1,300 a year? It is the involvement of both the police and the residents of this community that keeps it at its “superior status.”
Maybe your concern shouldn’t be the fact of whether or not your child is fitting into school because of his material possessions or how the potential candidates for Habitat for Humanity would feel about not being able to afford the luxury of having a membership for Servus Place, but what you can do for the community to help those low income families send their children to school with proper clothing and food or be involved in sports programs. Playing sports in any community as a child or an adult is expensive. That is why you will have sports teams coming to your door or out in the community doing bottle drives, raffles and fundraising money to assist them.
You stated that you had brought your family as well as your business into St. Albert. Once your article had made media attention you then went on to state that you don’t do much local business and that you are not worried that your opinion will affect your business. Now that the media attention has grown substantially and your letter has been posted all over the Internet as well as in the Calgary Herald and many other media outlets, do you still feel that way or do you think you may be a little more compassionate to those people that need to use the services of Habitat for Humanity? The people who depend on these types of services have found themselves to be in a financially vulnerable situation; these are not criminals who plan on speeding through streets harming children or exposing them to crime and drugs. These are people who are trying to provide for themselves or their families with the amount of money they have available to them. Have you ever considered the possibility these people could have once lived in St. Albert, owned their own business and the fall in the economy, an illness, or something else you've probably never experienced has left them in need?
Being a business owner yourself maybe you should provide your services to Habitat for Humanity and these families instead of your judgment.
Nicole Simmons, St. Albert
