A lesson in humility

This past Sunday, along with many Calgarians, I attend the city's largest street festival, Lilac Fest! I was thrilled to be able to attend, however this was more on a work level then a personal outing. And what a day it was!

CPAA was to be in charge of the recycling along 4th street, which meant we would need to set out 40 bins and empty as needed. (Our newest go green initiative) We rounded up our staff and volunteers, and pumped ourselves up for what we thought would be a gold mine of a day. Well...the challenges we faced!

Not only was it a challenge to find parking for a 1-tonne truck, but we realized the designated parking areas were underground and our truck would not fit. Thankfully, after running (literally) block to block, we were fortunate to have Shoppers Drug Mart let us take up their parking lot to set up operations.

Two bins at a time, we lined the many blocks with our bins and began to feel the excitement of the day. And then the fun began!!! It wasn't even noon and the streets were jammed packed with festival goers. Seeing as we only had one spot to bring the bottles to, we found ourselves lugging bags across 10, 12, 15 blocks, liquids leaking down our legs, being mistaken for homeless folk, sun beating down on us as we tried to manoeuvre through the crowds. But that wasn't even the best part... we had some competition...from the real homeless people of Calgary. Often, we would make our way to our bins, only to find the bag removed and it beginning to be refilled with a mixture of bottles and garbage. This is where I drew the line. Nowhere in my job description did it say that I would have to go through garbage to help the organization. Then, I looked over, and who's up to their elbows in garbage? Our very own Executive Director, Janice. Well...if that wasn't a statement I am not sure what is. Never, have I seen a person in a position of authority, go through garbage and recycling with such enthusiasm as our big boss. This was a lesson in humility!

So I rolled up my sleeves, picked up the pace, and decided that I didn't care what people around me thought, if I had to fish through garbage for a ten cent bottle...I was going to make a difference. At the end of the day, as I scrubbed the stickiness off my body in the longest shower I think I ever took, I not only realized how lucky I am for not being one of the homeless who has to pick through garbage for survival, but how very fortunate I am to be surrounded by such dedicated people. No act is too small to make a difference, and the people I work with proved that. Two of our dedicated Edmonton staff even woke up at 4am to make sure the truck was there to make it happen.