Enough is Enough. (article in response to Terry Colosimo’s column on November 15th re: Rene Bourque)
Should I or shouldn’t I?? Terry, get it right. The development of skills has nothing to do with the ‘arena’ one plays minor hockey in, but they are honed through the commitment of parents, family and coaches who volunteer their time and are often subjected to some of the harshest politics within our communities. I’ve known Rene since he was a young boy and his path to the NHL came at a great cost; a cost that the average person like Terry Colosimo is quick to overlook. Our communities will, unfortunately, always have antagonistic people that are quick to judge and criticize players that have gone on to be successful, without knowing their stories, their sacrifices or understanding the commitments they have. It’s easy to talk about their paychecks and throw out opinions about what you think players like Rene should be doing. It’s sad that this has to come from a weekly columnist within our own community who calls himself a supporter of Rene Bourque?
Terry states that the Bold Center is an opportunity for Rene ‘to shine as a home star’. I didn’t know having your face on a billboard or having a molded statue of yourself, or your name on a building was the way to leave a legacy in Lac La Biche. Perhaps that is what Terry believes is important. Anyone that knows Rene, his family, or his grandparents know that the value of humility is not taken lightly. Perhaps for Rene, continuing to support local, grass roots organizations and community events is more important than ‘shining’. Rene’s way of giving back to youth and young athletes is by talking to kids about the importance of education and staying in school. He has, and continues to, show his community support in the form of donations to numerous community fundraisers and charity appearances, not only in Lac La Biche, but in Calgary and the surrounding Aboriginal communities. Got it? He is a Métis and that will never change.
Who is this ‘we’ that Terry repeatedly refers to in his letter? His weekly column is supposed to be his opinion, yet his letter hints as though he speaks for the Lac La Biche County and the community as a whole. Is this the community’s thinking? Speaking of the County, Rene recently worked with the County in 2009 to donate 50 full sets of hockey equipment to youth in need. Rene and his family then hosted a BBQ for the kids and all of their families at McArthur place. In past years, he hosted a free hockey clinic for youth in Lac La Biche at the Centennial Area. These kinds of events have a greater impact on youth than any amount of murals, statues, and speeches for the county. Actions are greater than words.
I’m still not clear as to what Terry was asking or expecting from Rene by writing a condescending letter addressed to everyone in the community, except Rene. It is disappointing, but not surprising, to see how an individual is willing use good people in this community to move a political agenda forward. Rene is not the owner of a company who can come and go as he pleases or attend meetings on behalf of the county to raise money for the Bold Centre. Rene Bourque is not a politician, he’s hockey player. Rene owes the Lac La Biche County and Bold Centre nothing. Remember, it was not Lac La Biche who made him the hockey player he is today. He was forced to leave to play competitive hockey at the age of 14. Why? Because this community has a tendency to play politics with recreation and has managed to force or boot out every competent coach in hockey and baseball. How many young hockey players are now leaving this community to play competitive hockey? Nine or ten? What a sacrifice for the parents and family to drive to Cold Lake, Bonnyville, Grand Center, St.Albert and now Morinville. Who is going to use the Bold Center...the elite?
It’s one thing to support the bold center; it’s another thing to start publicly bashing our ‘home boy’ and leading scorer of the Flames because of one man’s opinion. That article was nothing but a disappointment for the fans, family and friends of Rene Bourque.
Duane Young
Lac La Biche