Dear Editor;
On Saturday morning, Nov. 22 my wife and I were attending to some shopping in the downtown corridor. While in the process of parking adjacent to the Great Canadian Dollar Store we observed an elderly woman come around the corner of 50th Avenue and head north on 50th Street. She was older and walked cautiously with the assistance of a walker. She came upon some plastic bags litter that was undoubtedly deposited there by the strong winds experienced the day before. With little hesitation she carefully maneuvered her walker up to the first piece of garbage, and while holding on to her walker she slowly bent over, picked it up and went over and deposited it in a waste receptacle. She then returned and carefully picked up the other piece of garbage from the sidewalk and went and put it in the garbage container. We were much impressed and went over to the lady to offer our appreciation and commendation for her excellent community mindedness. In asking her name she smiled warmly and said Mrs. Bragg and I am 91 years old and have lived in Ponoka for many of those years and I love this community.
The occasion reminded me of a Candid Camera episode that I watched years ago in which some garbage had been purposely placed around the base of a relatively empty street garbage container and a camera set so as to observe the people. Most stepped quickly around it without showing much thought or expression. Others looked at it in brevity as they either walked through it or over it as best they could with the air of I am in a hurry; or boy, the city or someone should do something about that mess. This went on for some time before the camera caught one business attired man who stopped long enough to gather the garbage up and place it into the receptacle that was right there.
The TV crew came then out from its hiding place and handed the man a small amount of cash as a token of gratitude for his exemplary action. I have never forgotten that episode and undertake to often do the same as the man did with the litter. I smile to myself as I think that perhaps my dad is looking down on me and smiling, as he was one that detested littering and taught each of his children to always place even the smallest piece of gum wrapper or other garbage in a proper waste container.
Mrs. Bragg did get a warm handshake from my wife and I and an expression of sincere appreciation for her example of how one person really can make a difference in bettering our community.
Wow, what a humbling lesson for all and what a difference it will make as we all look within ourselves to apply the example and attitude of this 91 year old lady and her positive attitude and what she did even with physical limitations.
Brad Watson
Ponoka