Hello Symons Valley Neighbours,
I hope this note finds you and your loved ones healthy and safe from the pandemic that currently impacts all our lives. This year, 2020, has been a year like no other in recent memory, and it's safe to say we all shared similar concerns about job security, being socially isolated from family and friends, challenges with educating our children, all while trying to do our part to reduce the potential spread of Covid-19.
When our volunteer board met in January to conduct our annual goal-setting exercise, we set an aggressive target to get Symons Valley Park partially funded and shovel-ready for the 2021-2022 construction season.
Then March came and most of our plans went by the wayside.
We spent the next couple months focusing on our families, adjusting to the current way of life, and staying safe. After a short time, our board was able to move to virtual online meetings so that we could continue to meet and develop our plans.
Through all the issues that 2020 brought, we successfully maintained a functioning Board of Directors and formed three new committees (project planning, communications, and finances). Within these committees we have been developing our project execution plan, and community engagement strategies to keep us on track and keep all of you informed of our progress.
We ended our year with an online Open House Event and Silent Auction. Our Open House gave our Symons Valley residents an opportunity to learn more about the Symons Valley Leisure & Amenities Society and the Symons Valley Park project. Thanks for generous donations from area businesses and community donors, our silent auction raised almost $4,400 towards the Park. We want to again thank all the local businesses, bidders who donated through the auction, and event volunteers. We truly appreciate the support.
As we close out the year, I want to thank all the past and present volunteers, communities, and businesses who have been supporting us, and in turn supporting the construction of a great outdoor amenity for the communities of Kincora, Nolan Hill, Sage Hill and Sherwood. If you are looking for an opportunity to volunteer, we will be looking to add people to both our board and committees in early 2021.
Additionally, if you have the means to make a donation before the end of the year, please visit www.symonsvalleypark.ca and click the donate button at the top of the page. Donations are collected by Parks Foundation Calgary, which issues the tax receipts. All funds go directly towards Symons Valley Park.
Have a happy, prosperous, and safe 2021.
Best Regards, Kris McPherson, CRSP, C.E.T. President, Symons Valley Leisure and Amenities Society (SVLAS) Director of SVLAS, Kincora Community Association PO Box 47107 Creekside | Calgary, AB | T3P 0A0 www.symonsvalleypark.ca