EDITORIAL – What if you broke a leg but the hospital was closed for Christmas?

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

EYEBROWS WERE RAISED when City Hall announced the abbreviated holiday garbage pickup schedule but Kamloopsians will manage.

What if everybody took Christmas and Boxing Day off, though? What if you had a medical emergency and there were no ambulance drivers or paramedics? Or you got to the hospital and there was a ‘Closed for the holidays’ sign on the door? (OK, it might happen at some of the clinics.)

Or somebody broke into your house or car and all you got from police was a phone message saying, “Please call back after the holidays”?

There are so many who work on Christmas to make sure we stay warm, fed and safe. It’s traditional to thank them this time of year, and they deserve it.

If someone’s house catches fire, firefighters are ready.

Power outage? No problem. Hydro crews will be there no matter the weather or the hour.

While this might not be the whitest Christmas, City crews will be out keeping streets passable if it does snow. And they’ll be there if any of the many other services municipal government provides happens to break down.

How about those who work in nursing homes? Or cab drivers, lab technicians, tow-truck drivers, or those who conduct church services? Or 911 dispatchers, or security guards. And ranchers.

And somebody has to feed the animals in the zoo. And get travellers onto their flights. And staff the weather offices. Trains don’t suddenly screech to a halt on Christmas Day, either.

Staying in a hotel or resort this Christmas? A lot of people will have to give up their family time so you can enjoy your special time. Thinking of taking in a movie? — there will be staff at the snack bar, ticket takers and projectionists to make it happen.

It’s really quite amazing how many people give up their own precious holidays to take care of us. Merry Christmas to them, and you.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor, and I’ll be off on Christmas.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.