As we hit lucky issue number seven of The Barnacle, I would like to share a story about the value of community teamwork.
One month ago, I hit the streets of Lunenburg with a stack of posters – featuring an illustration by Barnacle contributor Will Maclachlan and layout by Design Editor Carmen Cumming – advertising The Barnacle’s Mayoral Candidates’ Debate.
When I got to Stan’s Dad and Lad haberdashery on Lincoln Street, Mayoral candidate Jamie Myra was working the floor. He lent me the key to the Board of Trade-operated bulletin board at the corner of Lincoln and King, behind a locked glass panel.
On a windy July day, opening the bulletin board’s panel resulted in two posters that were not totally pinned into the board immediately flying out into the street.
I chased the posters for the Atlantic Canada Language Academy’s English Summer Camp and Lunenburg Theatre Collective’s Dead and Breakfast down to the doorway of the Laughing Whale Cafe and recouped them, only slightly worse for wear.
Back at the bulletin board, I now had three posters to pin – and trying to pin back Dead and Breakfast resulted in the Old Confidence Lodge’s Musical Theatre Summer Camp poster falling down, also taking Dead and Breakfast back into the street.
I thought about Barnacle contributor Chris Jackman, who operates the Old Confidence Lodge and directed Dead and Breakfast. For all Chris has given the Barnacle and contributes to our local arts community, I knew I had to make things right.
Fortunately, a passerby witnessing my struggle chased the posters down and returned them. I thanked the man and asked if he would help with my task, to which he agreed with a smile. As a young woman observing the scene seemed curious, I asked her if she would also help. Suddenly, we had a full team.
The man held the bulletin board door firmly open while the woman held out the pins I needed to pin up all four posters, as the three of us formed a wind-resistant triangle around the board. This enabled me to focus on pinning up all four posters successfully before locking the board again.
(Success. Photo: Jesse Ward)
I told the strangers I was very grateful for their help – because one of the Mayoral candidates in the debate my community newspaper was hosting was next door, he had lent me the key to manage the bulletin board, and I had been gone about 15 minutes on this task so far – he might start getting concerned.
Jamie was understanding of the billboard situation and I continued on my adventure, grateful for the strangers’ assistance.
On the night of the candidates’ debate on July 31, Barnacle Puzzle Editor Carley Mullally and Editor-at-large Issie Patterson welcomed more than 150 members of our community through the Lunenburg fire hall doors.
(Barnacle editors at work on debate night. Photo: Jonathan Carroll)
Livestreaming services provided by SpekWork Studio meant more than 900 people were able to watch a high-quality stream and recording of the debate, hosted by Editor-at-large Sal Falk, which took place in the venue we rented at no cost thanks to the Town of Lunenburg.
Candidates Gale Fullerton and Jamie Myra answered questions sourced from local residents with attention to detail, clearly informed by close connections to the community.
In her closing statement, Gale said she keeps hearing “people want Lunenburgers to start talking to each other again, and start listening to each other again.”
In his closing statement, Jamie said he keeps hearing “people just feel they have not been heard.”
Both candidates spoke on their desire to be a leader who will listen to and engage with the people and help the community feel connected again.
Their words reminded me of the challenge I had with the bulletin board.
While I was frustrated as the posters blew away, with a lot of ideas on how the bulletin board could be improved long-term to prevent the challenge I was experiencing – probably just needs thicker cork – the actual challenge I was imminently presented with was only resolved through the caring and engagement of others.
Before we can improve the bulletin board, we have to work together to use the one we already have.
And if we don’t form a wind-resistant triangle to listen to each other with goodwill and speak our minds, it doesn’t matter if we’ve got the most optimized bulletin board possible – our posters all blow away into the harbour before they can even get pinned.
– Jesse Ward, Editor-in-chief
Vol 1., No. 7 Highlights
A gay ol’ time! – Puzzle Editor Carley Mullally reflects on the significance of the inaugural Bridgewater Pride Parade.
Cricket A Growing Sport in Lunenburg County – Contributor Tiffany Pope reports on the the thriving local cricket scene.
Local farmers pushing through despite weather, uncertain future – Editor-at-large Sal Falk speaks with the operators of Lapland’s Spring Tide Farm to learn how they are adapting to climate challenges of droughts and floods.
Old Bridgewater Arena to Become Home to South Shore Players – Just in time for Christmas Future, the South Shore Players have found a dedicated space in Bridgewater ahead of their upcoming production of A Christmas Carol. Editor-at-large Issie Patterson is on the scene.
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