Good News Saskatoon

I remember when I became a teacher; one of the things I learned was that what we are told over and over about ourselves becomes true. The caution was, don’t label kids as slow or stupid, etc., but encourage them instead.

So why is it that our news media pick all the negative events – accidents, deaths, and so on, to give us day after day? Of course, these things happen, but do we need to search them out from around the globe and exclude the good news about people, the positive events that happen every day?

I think that if all we hear day after day is the negative, the catastrophic, the bad about people, we will find it hard to maintain our own positive outlook, which I believe is key to living a fulfilling life. As humans, we need encouragement and inspiration.

There is something called the “Good News Network” in the United States, and a similar web page in Canada. This seems to me to be moving in the right direction, but neither quite satisfies me. I want something closer to home and more specific.

So, I’ve been thinking that I would search out a few good news stories to start.

The Saskatoon Public Library System, which turns 100 this year is a case in point. It is one of the most heavily used library systems in Canada (in 2010 patrons checked out more than 2.6 million items –doesn’t that say something positive about Saskatonians).  In 2011 over 6,825 children participated in the Children`s Summer Reading Club (stats are from City of Saskatoon 2012 Preliminary Operating Budget). But of course statistics aren’t everything. I’ve used these libraries for more than 40 years and have found the staff helpful, friendly and quick. I request books and DVD’s and in short order I’m notified that they are waiting for me at the library of my choice.  If Saskatoon libraries don’t have the item, it comes from some other library in Saskatchewan, since all are now linked (or from an interlibrary loan elsewhere in Canada). For more than one hundred years, people in Saskatoon have thought books, reading and related activities as important. I salute the people who dedicated themselves to begin and continue to run the library system, and all the people who use it!

Another good news story as far as I’m concerned, is the riverbank trail system we have in Saskatoon. Once again, people many years ago thought ahead and didn’t allow the whole riverbank to be bought up for building lots. Rather, they kept a great deal of it for public parks – free and accessible to everyone. On these trails, you can see walkers, runners, and cyclists. Certainly we have unpleasant incidents now and then, but on the whole, people are friendly, say ‘hello’ to each other and share the trails peaceably.

Have you any good news stories? I’d like to hear about people who successfully stood up to bullies, helped friends in such situations, did a quiet good turn for a neighbour (I have very good neighbours) or stranger, or anything else positive that you observe or hear.