WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — The Cobden Rec Association is operating again, but this time it’s about more than sports.
Julie Keon said the misconception is that the association was only about sports, but it’s also about creating events.
Last year, the association shut down operations when the members decided to disband, since the township wanted to go in a different direction with the arenas.
Talk began that without an association, there may not be events planned for the community, so it was revitalized, explained Ms. Keon.
She, along with husband Tim, are two people from the community who joined the association, because she feels children in Cobden, as well as adults, are missing out on so much. The couple are in a place now where their daughter Meredith can be cared for without them being there all the time. Meredith is their medically-fragile daughter.
“For me growing up here, when I think of my childhood, so much of the memories are about the community events,” Ms. Keon said. “We had teen dances, and the carnival, and the street dance. Canada Day used to happen behind the town office, there was a big stage.”
However, she did admit, there were key adults who did all the work of creating the events, she said. As a young person, you just “think this magically occurs for you to have happy memories.
“As an adult, I realize, the adults in this community who want anything to happen, if we want our kids to have memories and things to do, we have to be volunteering and creating the memories for the kids.”
Many people belong to church, where there is a sense of community, she said. However, many people don’t belong to a church, or even if they do, don’t always go, she added.
When a large community event is held, it brings the whole community together, she said.
“I think that’s important,” she said. “It’s important to have that sense of community. And that will only happen…if it’s run by volunteers.”
At the recent informational meeting regarding the Cobden Rec Association, Ms. Keon noted 17 people attended. People were encouraged to sign up if they want to volunteer, if they want to attend meetings, etc.
The first event with planning underway is Canada Day, which, like in the past, will be held on Saturday, June 30. There are eight people on the planning committee, she said.
There will be food, kids games and entertainment in Cobden Veterans Park, Ms. Keon said. There is also a boat poker run scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
It’s expected there will be four major events each year, such as spring, winter, summer and fall.
“We are looking for fun events,” Ms. Keon said, laughing as she added, “We used to have bed races. I remember my dad and a bunch of them, putting on diapers and running down the street with their beds.”
However, she does question if that could happen again, due to the liability that could be incurred.
There are other events that could be planned.
“We can really bring more life to the community, and for me, that’s what it’s about, making memories for people,” Ms. Keon said.
People who have young children, should be involved in the community, she said.
If she and Mr. Graham had “healthy, neuro-typical children, we would be involved in the community.” However, she noted, due to Meredith’s fragility, their life was restricted to how much they could do.
But, they now know they can attend a monthly meeting and they both want to begin contributing more to the community.
Ms. Keon said those with children can sign up for various things to do, such as attending meetings, or being called upon to help at an event, whether it be for an hour or the whole day.
“Everybody has talents and things they can contribute,” she said. “If you have the same five people running it, they get burned out. Everybody wants things to happen, but we all have to contribute and use our energy to contribute.
“If more people are involved, then there’s less work for everyone,” she said.
There would also be more ideas and creativity when more people are involved, she added.
She recalls her father Stan Keon being on the former rec association for 31 years, along with Ted Barron.
“There were always the same people who were doing the work,” she said.
“Now it’s our turn. I’m probably older than when my dad started.
“It’s our responsibility in a community to be contributing and volunteering and making your community lively and getting people connected and know who your neighbours are,” Ms. Keon said.
It’s a small enough community that everyone should know each other, she said.
Cobden was a fun town to grow up in and she wants to help make it that way again.
While she realizes there are grudges from growing up in any small town, Ms. Keon said that makes for a toxic community.
“Let that stuff go,” she encouraged. “If you’re young and energetic and you’ve got kids that want to be involved, because they can volunteer.”
There are a variety of things young people can do, such as face painting, or running an activity table. Families can even volunteer as a group, she said.
“There are lots of opportunities for families to come out and volunteer as families,” Ms. Keon said.
She said there are people who have ideas for events or things to do, she hopes they come forward.
“There was lots of good energy at the last meeting we had,” she said. “Everybody was really positive and everybody is doing their part.”
If anyone is interested in participating in the rec association, or has ideas for events, call Julie Hennessy, 613-646-2111.
Events on the township calendar
Ms. Keon encourages anyone who has an event to submit it to the township and it will be placed on the township’s events web page.
Any person who is checking out the township will most likely check the web site, and if they see it’s an active community, there’s a better chance they may want to move here. For those who live here already, it’s an excellent opportunity to find out what’s going on.
“If it’s happening here in Whitewater Region get it onto the township’s events page,” Ms. Keon encouraged.
