Helen Lalond and Susie Petruk, although different in so many ways, speak a language unto themselves; they provoke and humour each other as only sisters can.
Helen jumped out of an airplane to honour her 50th birthday. She doles out hugs like candy and sees the loveliness in even the weariest soul. Susie, focused in accomplishing a task, is always on the go with clarity of purpose.
They will tell you that they are just "regular gals" doing their part. But to me they are inspiration. As the driving force behind the homeless drop in Centre in Squamish, committing thousands of volunteer hours to serving people less fortunate than themselves, Helen and Susie envision a compassionate community that does not judge, but realizes that regardless of circumstance or infliction, everyone deserves food, shelter and a connection to others.
Ana Santos is another revelation. Two years ago she began emailing me to express concerns about transit system and bike lane deficiencies, and suggested improvements to our infrastructure. Her comments are always constructive and ultimately helpful. I don't know Ana very well but I've always been impressed with her willingness to take ideas into action.
In February and March, Ana has organized a film series Monday nights at the Squamish Adventure Centre to engage the community in learning and conversation about Global Warming, and to inspire action.
About a year ago, Ana sent me a video about the initiatives Bogotá Columbia undertook to deal with the dilemma of pollution, poverty and traffic congestion, and that city's successful implementation of multi-nodal transportation solutions integrating bicycles, pedestrians and public transit in dense urban environments.
This transformation, a virtual renaissance for a city often mired in conflict, is frequently attributed to the vision and leadership of two mayors. Antanas Mockus promoted a culture of citizenship and instilled an appreciation of the public realm, urban ecology and social progress. Enrique Penalosa built on Mockus' vision and invested heavily in infrastructure to improve public mobility.
Yet the real secret to Bogotá's accomplishment lay in the willingness of its residents to realize the need for renewal and in their ability to contribute significantly to the public dialogue. Leaders recognized that change had to be underpinned by more than smart planning principles and innovative design; the genius of Bogotá was in engaging the whole city in conversation.
It is often said that our lack of morally courageous leadership has shaped the apparent sorry state of the world today. Yet I'm optimistic. There is a vast untapped resource far more powerful than the energy captured in a fossil fuel or an atomic reaction. We just have to unleash the potential innovator, the latent leader in us all. For the capacity to create, adapt and change is universal.
Leaders like Helen, Susie and Ana [and countless community leaders I unfortunately do not have the space to honour in this column] as well as mayors Mockus and Penalosa, have perhaps one critical quality in common; they see a need, recognize an opportunity, realize an injustice and ACT.
