An African proverb suggests one goes faster alone, but further together.
A group of about 50 progressive Orillia residents understand this proverb well.
Striving to work together to make the city a better place to live, they gathered at St. James' Anglican Church Saturday afternoon as part of the Sunshine Initiative’s citizens’ forum.
“It’s really gratifying to see some familiar faces and some new faces here today,” Pete Bowen, of the Sunshine Initiative, told those gathered in the church’s activity room.
“Our main purpose is to create a forum for different ideas. Some have broad ideas and some are just here to hear ideas. The theme for today is to start something.”
From there, attendees brought forward their ideas before separating into smaller groups to work towards how that initial idea could be developed into something tangible.
Ideas presented Saturday ran the full gamut from creating an art hive (a community art space that’s accessible to everyone) and creating healthier streets by ensuring people respect speed limits to creating a waterfront adventure hub along with several cycling initiatives.
Kathy Manners is a proponent of a couple of cycling projects.
One involves buying a couple of rickshaws that would allow those who can no longer bike a chance to ride along the city’s expansive trail system with a volunteer cyclist.
“They tell you about their lives and you get some exercise,” said Manners, who also championed a project that would involve mentoring young people through one’s love of cycling and encouraging them to get out riding.
Ennis Coleman would like to see a tract of land set aside that could be developed into a bicycle terrain park featuring small hills and trails and geared towards families.
“It would be great for family time,” said Coleman, adding her son and his three sons aged eight, six and three have a wonderful time together at a similar offering that resembles a skateboard park, but with dirt and grass bumps and hills, in Victoria.
Other projects proposed included a ‘Sunday dinner with a friend’ program that would ensure those who are lonely get some companionship.
With an aim to stimulate actions that make Orillia happier and healthier, the citizen-led project was launched three years ago by Mayor Steve Clarke with a goal of making the city “an even better place to live, work and play.”
Added Bowen: “Steve as well as the initiator has been a great proponent and a great support.”
Clarke, who attended Saturday’s get together, said it’s important that the movement remains at the grassroots level.
Gord Ball, one of the organizers of Saturday's event, said it’s always amazing what happens when even two people get together and take charge of an idea.
“During all of our lives, our parents have told us ‘don’t start something,’ but now we’re going to start something,” Ball said, adding that those attending Saturday deserve a lot of credit for their efforts in trying to make the city they call home a more vibrant community.
“We have the power here today to do something for Orillia. We have hundreds of years of experience of living in Orillia and lots of skills and expertise in this room.”
Saturday's forum is the forerunner to the Orillia Choice Awards held in the spring. During that Dragons’ Den-style event, smaller groups take an idea initially hatched during the fall forum and develop it over the winter before presenting it to a panel in the hopes of not only winning approval for their project, but also some seed money to take it to the next level.
Past winners include the ‘Cup of Sugar’ campaign that matched people’s needs with those who could lend a hand, a renewable energy campaign that has seen solar panels featured as part of the new recreation centre and a move to promote bilingualism in the city with an eye to creating bilingual childcare.
Added Ball: “Pete Seeger said you can change the world with two people. You might have an idea in your head, but it’s amazing what you can do when you discuss that idea with others.”
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