Late last Saturday afternoon (May 26), the Pemberton Grads of 2012, dressed in all their prom-going glory, mingled outdoors at the red barn in Pemberton Meadows to take full, photographic advantage of the beautiful day, gorgeous scenery and large herd of cows in the neighbouring field to capture moments of a pivotal time in all of their lives. The setting was a perfect backdrop to this annual rite of passage as our grads prepare to head into their futures.
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Although Saturday proved to be such a perfect day weather-wise, the sight of trees vandalized and tape around the Pemberton Skatepark landscaping ripped down as I headed out for a morning run was heartbreaking, disappointing and downright infuriating. Later, a report that railings leading up to a local footbridge had also been vandalized came my way from a local mom who was just as incensed as I was at this current spate of local destruction.
So what to do? A running friend thought that perhaps an explanation that the thousands of dollars that vandals cost our community each year could be much better spent on local programs and amenities — things that would benefit all of us who live here — would perhaps be a deterrent; that maybe an explanation that when malicious damage occurs, it causes a needless expense to many since the expense of repairing the damage comes out of the taxes we pay. One can only hope.
When people choose to wreck things in our community, the effects are more far-reaching than they can probably imagine. Pemberton is a small town with a limited budget, as well as many people who volunteer their time and efforts to bring well-used and well-appreciated resources to our town. In a perfect world, “vandalism” would not be so much a part of our local vocabulary.
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The Pemberton Youth Soccer Association (PYSA) is looking for volunteers. This year, some key board members are stepping down, so new volunteers are needed to join the association to continue with the great work of providing community soccer in Pemberton.
More than 200 children and youth are enrolled. Positions available are president, vice president, treasurer, secretary and a minimum of two directors.
To become involved, you can attend the PYSA annual general meeting on June 14 at 7 p.m. at the Pemberton Community Centre. All are welcome to attend. The meeting is an opportunity to find out more about the soccer league, get an overview of the past season, and vote for the new board of directors.
Anyone interested in joining the board is asked to contact the administrator at falloonfamily@gmail.com before the meeting.
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Free, unstructured play is exactly what your child needs to be ready for kindergarten. Barb Mathieson, an instructor in the early childhood education department at Capilano University and an early primary teacher for the North Vancouver School District, will be in Pemberton on June 14 to present on this topic.
In her presentation, entitled “What’s the Rush,” Mathieson will discuss the pressure parents feel to get their preschool-aged child “ready” for kindergarten, and the pressure parents may feel to remove free, unstructured play and replace it with early academics.
Mathieson will speak at the Pemberton Community Centre from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Childminding will be provided. This free event is sponsored by the Sea to Sky Putting Children First, Early Childhood Development initiative.
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Tickets for the Pemberton Father Daughter Dance are now on sale.
The Signal Hill Parent Advisory Committee has announced that the dance will take place at Big Sky Golf and Country Club on June 24 from 5 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 for fathers, $10 for daughters and will be available to purchase online as of Friday (June 1) at 9 a.m. Daughters attending this event must be elementary school-aged, or entering Kindergarten in September, and cannot be older than Grade 7.
A limited number of tickets will be available to purchase by cheque or cash. For these tickets, email heatherprohaska@hotmail.com. No tickets will be sold at the door. Capacity is limited and organizers say that this event will sell out.
The Father Daughter Dance is a fundraising event for the Signal Hill intermediate playground project.
Volunteers are also needed. To volunteer, or if you can provide donations for raffle draws, please contact signalhillpac@gmail.com.
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Send comments and event listing ideas to itsmegrace@hotmail.com. The next Pemberton column will appear June 14.
