Philanthropy is an inherent value for our society. It is integral to our character as Albertans and the rest of Canada alike. The compassion and empathy that we have for others, especially those in need, is astounding and we continue to see examples of this in our media. The responses from across the province and the country to the floods in southern Alberta or the fires in Fort McMurray remind us of this kindheartedness for our fellow man. Like all values, they are a learned behavior, and it is one that binds us together as a society.
In Canada’s history, service clubs, along with churches, were at the forefront of this socialization of this trait. Many of those social needs were supported by these organizations, including the building of our sense of community, taking on roles that were not the responsibility of the governments. Businessmen and the middle class alike understood their social obligations to their fellow citizens and in the early 1900’s we saw a burgeoning of service clubs across this country. Many services clubs, some imported from the United States, and some home grown ones like the Canadian Progress Club, found their origins at this time. Sons and daughters would follow their parents into these associations, and they would learn the intrinsic benefits of helping build their community. If you look around St. Albert, there are reminders everywhere of these efforts, from parks and playgrounds to city hall.
In the 1960’s, however, we saw a shift in government policies within Canada, one that sought to centralize our dependence upon governments. It may have been a legitimate political goal at the heart of these programs, but the net result was that they began to undermine the raison d’Ä™tre for many service clubs. With this shift in the mindset of Canadians that government built community, memberships began to wane as the service clubs struggled to recruit new generations to their causes, and these service clubs began to atrophy. A shift in government policies in the 1990’s, however, has removed the governments’ willingness to take on these social charges, as the costs and demands of Canadians became too much. But the needs were still there.
There is a renewed need for service clubs, and there is an inherent want within the millennial generation to give and help build their communities. The remarkable work of Bellerose students and their Bikeathon are a shining example of the continuing value of philanthropy within St. Albert, offering us all inspiration and hope. Our service clubs should now be looking to this generation for a revitalized purpose to build a stronger, more cohesive community, because their creativeness and enthusiasm will be contagious and beneficial to us all.
