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| Carrying Signs |
| Chris Hinsperger |
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Local newspapers are an important
link to community activity.
They keep us informed if upcoming events, they allow us a
little voyeurism ,
they allow us to celebrate successes, and if you read one
over a long period of time,
allow us some historical reflection. In a recent publication
of my local newspaper
was a story of people demonstrating for social change. The
“march” along a
downtown corridor involved adults and children alike as the
issue is one that
strongly affects both age groups. It created a little bit
of debate about what
you should involve children in and expose them to. It moved
me to the
point of writing the following letter…………..
I have not always earned my living in community and tourism
development and marketing. As a matter of fact most of my
adult life
has been spent in family and children’s services, initially
as a Correctional
Officer II with the Ministry of Community and Social Services
and then as a
Youth Services Officer with the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa
Carleton.
The shift work allowed my wife and I to use a minimum of daycare
when our
boys were little and allowed me as a father to play an active
role in our two
young son’s lives. I was very involved in union activities
and one day was called
to a demonstration at a local detention centre to protest
the restructuring
of staffing requirements. Our concern was that the safety
of our workers would
be put in jeopardy. As was often the case I would have my
kids accompany me on
some of these responsibilities. This one particular day a
colleague placed a sign
in our oldest son’s hands and of course he loved the
fun of carrying this sign. It read,
“MY DADDY DESERVES TO BE SAFE AT WORK”.
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| “Nic,
age 24. The young “sign carrier” driving a tractor
on an organic farm in British Columbia” |
The media of course picked up on the “cuteness”
factor and took his picture.
When I explained the situation to my mother her response was
quick and to the
point which was, and still is the case:
“Why should your son at his age be
worried about whether or not his father is safe at his job?
That boy should only
have to concern himself with playing with his Lego, or learning
to read or
wondering why butterflies come in so many shapes and colors.”
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I didn’t always agree with my mother, actually I would often set up
situations or discussions to prove myself right and her wrong.
I guess us kids do this as part of our development even if that practice
stretches
into our adult lives. That day I had to look her in the eye and tell her
I totally understood and appreciated what she
said to me. Ouch! After nearly two decades and a bit more life experience
I now
am able to interpret what she said to me that day with no judgment being
passed on to people who now have young children to raise.
“As parents and as a society we have a responsibility to provide a
safe
environment and to teach our children the skills and attitudes to make
good life decisions however let’s be careful we don’t risk their
innocence
in that pursuit. Innocence is the key ingredient in learning that will allow
a
child to develop to see the world as a place of beauty and wonder, full
of
opportunity, not a world where one has to be constantly looking over their
shoulder.”
Our oldest son attended a demonstration on Parliament Hill when he was
16 to promote world peace at a G-8 Summit. He carried a sign and held it
high.
His Grandmother was concerned for his safety and did not want him to attend.
I know she was proud at the same time.
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| “Barbara,
age 79. The sometimes opinionated, yet always loving and caring grandmother.” |
Chris Hinsperger has spent most of his adult life as a youth worker,
with Browndale in his early years and later with the Ministry of Community
and Social Services and the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa Carleton.
For the past 17 years he and his wife Val have owned the Bonnechere Caves.
He is also a member of the Delfi Group whose motto is
“Helping people and organizations to be the best they can be.”
One of Chris’s pleasures of owning a geological treasure
like the caves is to welcome school groups were he can pass on
the wonderment of the planet earth and
what lies above that earth and deep down inside it. |
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Check out the caves:
www.bonnecherecaves.com
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| deesigns |
