First there was the downtown fire destroying small businesses last October, and then came the fire last Friday razing an entire apartment building in the city.
Unless you have been the victim of a fire, it can be hard to imagine the devastation, both psychologically and physically, such an event can have on you.
Losing your income and having to rebuild a small business is extremely difficult in the best of times. But for many of those downtown businesses, recreating their unique enterprises was simply unthinkable in the face of such destruction.
But neighbours and residents of New Westminster stood up to lend a hand and a hug.
As Marie Jang of De Dutch restaurant said after a recent successful fundraiser: "New Westminster residents have hearts of gold." She is right.
While the amount of money raised may not replace the irreplaceables, it provides a tremendous boost in spirit. Just knowing that people care and are there for you is as precious as gold.
Then, last week, we saw another devastating fire, this time striking folks in their very homes. Memories went up in flames, as people lost possessions - but, thankfully, no lives were lost and no one suffered serious injuries.
Again, New Westminster citizens jumped to help those in trouble.
Within hours people were gathering goods and looking for ways to help. In a couple of days, agencies had more than enough goods to go around.
There's something about a smaller city that reminds people of just how close tragedy is when it strikes. The business owners and the apartment dwellers are our neighbours: the parents of our children's friends, the folks who walk their dog down our street, the customers who are always there for their 8 a.m. doughnut and double-double.
They are the same people who would likely step up to help us if we were struck by a tragedy. Because that's what neighbours are for.
