WE ARE NOT ONLY LIVING HISTORY
WE ARE CREATING HISTORY EVERY SINGLE DAY
MAKE SURE YOU ARE RECORDING THE RIGHT THINGS

Let Us All Do Our Part 
To Return To The Basics Of Life:
People, Tolerance and Love


 
Robert Kirwan 

As the years go by we are all reminded of the harsh reality that our life is unfolding and that we can never change our past. This reality becomes clearer as you get older. 

I have spent a great deal of time thinking about life in general as we celebrated 100 years of existence as a community during the year 2004. I know many of you will be reading this editorial after the final candle is blown out on the birthday cake, but nevertheless, now that we are in our 2nd Century, the points still apply.

How should we approach this living history of our community? What is it that we want to remember? Moreover, what is it that we want Valley East to stand for?

And then, the answer seemed to jump out at me as I was reading a little passage recently.

It was a selection from "The Hymnbook", written by Arthur Bowler. Every parent will understand why I was greatly moved by the story and I’m sure every parent could also recount a similar experience. It was then that I realized that each and every resident of Valley East is a parent of our future. Our values today will shape the future for our children. That is what this web site is all about. Recording details of our past which will shape our future. 

Suddenly, everything became clear to me as I read the following passage. I now know how to approach this web site. We will record our history, and we will focus on the things that really mean the world to us: people, tolerance and love.

Fastest Growing Segment in the entire City of Greater Sudbury
Since 1971, the total population of the Sudbury Region has declined by about 10%. During that period of time, however, the population of Valley East has increased by 25%. By comparison, the population of the old City of Sudbury has dropped by 15%.

Also, since 1971, the number of households in the entire Sudbury Region increased by 48%. Valley East, however, experienced an increase of 106% in the number of households - more than double that of the region. The old City of Sudbury grew by only 37%.

Today Valley East has the largest average household size in the entire region with 2.9 people per household. This is directly related to the fact that a large number of young families have chosen Valley East as the ideal community in which to raise their children.

For a complete editorial on why Valley East is growing so rapidly while other segments are not, CLICK HERE

 

  

The author wrote:

I watched intently as my little brother was caught in the act. He sat in the corner of the living room, a pen in one hand and my father’s hymnbook in the other. As father walked into the room, my brother cowered slightly. He sensed that he had done something wrong. From a distance, I saw that he had opened Dad/s brand-new book and scribbled across the length and breadth of the entire first page with a pen. Now, staring at my father fearfully, he and I both waited for his punishment.

My father picked up his prized hymnal, looked at it carefully, and then sat down without saying a word. Books were precious to him. He was a pastor and the holder of several degrees. For him, books were knowledge, and yet, he loved his children. What he did in the next few minutes was remarkable.

Instead of punishing my brother; instead of scolding or yelling or reprimanding, he sat down, took the pen from my brother’s hand and then wrote in the book himself, alongside the scribbles John had made.

"John’s words in 1959, age two. How many times have I looked into your beautiful face and into your warm, alert eyes looking up at me and thanked God for the one who has now scribbled in my new hymnal? You have made the book sacred, as have your brothers and sister too so much of my life"

Wow, I thought. This is punishment?

From time to time I take a book down—not just a cheezy paperback, but a real book that I know I will have for many years to come—and I give it to one of my children to ‘write’ their names in. As I look at their artwork, I think of my father, and how he taught me about what really matters in life: people, not objects; tolerance, not judgement; and love, which is at the heart of a family.

I think about these things, smile, and I whisper, "Thank you, Dad."

People, tolerance and love—the things that really matter in life.

As I meet people in the years to come I will be asking for them to share the things that really matter in life. Provide the stories for us so that we can post them on this internet history book for others to read and become inspired as they in turn create history.

Perhaps all we need to be truly happy in this world is a return to the basics of life: people, tolerance and love. 

My long range plans for this web site are going to reflect the really important things. 

If I do that, I am sure all the rest will fall into place.

   

VALLEY EAST... A Symbol of Community Pride

When the official flag of the Town of Valley East was created by the Public Affairs office of the Regional Municipality of Sudbury, it was designed to demonstrate the natural beauties of the community. It was proudly flown at all public buildings and during special events.

The white off-set 'V' separates the Town's official colours: blue on top depicting sky and water, and green below depicting the lush vegetation of the region. The 'V' obviously stands for Valley East and the white represents the Northern Snow. It is a simple design, which makes it all the more majestic.

   

A Diverse Heritage Where People Make The Difference

The official crest of the Town of Valley East was included on the flag. It  consists of a shield between two banners with the name of the town on the top banner and our motto - Peace, Plenty, Progress on the bottom banner. All wording is in both English and French, reflecting the bilingual nature of the community.

The shield of the crest is divided into five sections. In the top left segment is a black plow on a green background representing the town's agricultural sector. The top right section contains three fleur-de-lis on a

blue background indicative of the town's French Canadian origins. In the lower left corner, white, crossed surveyor's flags on a blue background recall the early development days and a black stylized ore car on a green background depicts the town's mining industry. At the bottom of the shield are three green maple leaves on a white background representing the Town's early forest industry.

     
The following are special articles that will help provide a better overview of the Spirit of Valley East...
Creating a Community Identity: Valley East – A Place To Grow 

The Valley East Today Community Web Site Provides A Much-Needed Communication Porthole

Celebrating Our Community and Our Heritage
Creating Our Living History - One Day At A Time
You took away our name...But we want our spirit back! The City of Valley East is all about who we are and what we do!
Celebrating Our Community
Celebration 2004 - More Than Just A Birthday Party
Local residents and business owners conclude that effective communication is the key to the future of Valley East
Opening of Hart Department Store Is A Perfect Example of The Tipping Point Philosophy
Let's make sure the choices we make today will be the choices we can live with tomorrow.
There Are Two Primary Choices In Life: To Accept Conditions As They Exist, or Accept Responsibility For Changing Them
We're all in This Together: Let's Use The Community Circle of Support
You Must Open Your Blinds To See Out The Window
We Need Not Be Afraid of Adversity: It Will Make Us Stronger!
It is time for Valley East to take a lesson from geese and move to the front of the flock
  

VALLEY EAST 1850 - 2002
100 Years : Then & Now

A History of the first 100 years of development in Valley East is now available as a lasting souvenir book. Only 3000 copies were printed of this collector's edition.

 Valley East 1850-2002 chronicles over 100 years of history in the Valley, with over 900 photographs and accounts of the people who carved their homes out of the raw land of the Nickel Basin. This book traces the events that shaped their lives, and the golden ages of lumbering, agriculture, railroading and mining. Many descendents of these early pioneers live in the Valley.

 

If you want to get your copy, drop in to 
Vision Printing at the top of the hill in Hanmer
 
 

Copyright © 2010 All Rights Reserved
Valley East Today is published by
Infocom Canada Business Consultants Inc.