What a gift ...

The temperature outside was minus 27C ... inside I was sitting at the table closest to the fireplace and enjoying the heat on my back as I sat reading through some material on Community and Economic Development ...

As I read about mapping and assessing the assets of a community, I paused and glanced outside ... Main Street was deserted ... You could count on one hand the number of cars that drove by in a 20 minutes period and still have a couple of fingers left over. A couple of days ago I sat at the same table and heard a couple of Minnedosa's long term residents muse about how the town was buzzing on Saturday nights NOT that long ago. One remembered his parents driving the car downtown in the afternoon to get a parking spot outside the Dominion Cafe that night. The other talked about what there was to do on a Saturday night ... BOTH agreed to "how much things have changed."

Tonight there were almost no cars in front of either bar ... and until 11, the only cafe open was Chipperfields ... but even it was almost deserted ...

This is a community with much to offer ... Chipperfields Coffee Company (the real place on Main St) is a gem within this town. The food and beverage selection is simply top notch. The staff and management offer exceptional service, and pride themselves on putting their customers front and centre. The coffee, tea, and gift item selection is eclectic, funky, and just plain fun. And lately the focus on the creations of local artisans, photographers and entrepeneurs means you can buy unique gift items while supporting your neighbours.

But what makes Chipperfield Coffee Company (the real place) a community asset is the emphasis on being a business AND a place for the community to gather. The recent string of concerts, including the most recent appearance by the MCI Jazz bands, have brought together a variety of people to enjoy a night out while staying "home." And the availabilty of the shoppe for gatherings, meetings, and just hanging out means that a broad spectrum of Minnedosa society can come and go in the historic building that has been many things to many people ... Lately though, it has been a warm and friendly place to come and sit a spell and enjoy some of the best Minnedosa has to offer ...

I'm not sure how I would "map" Chipperfields, but I know that it is a significant Asset to our community. Looking at many of the communities around us that used to be bustling places on Saturday night, but now are nothing more than a highway sign pointing to the village site where once vibrant thriving business stood, there's a pressing need to breath life back into our town and our region ... otherwise, our highway signs might as well say "we were once here ..."

Tonight in the comfort of Chipperfields I realized how much potential our town really has ... Maybe one day that potential will be realized.

And we will have the dedication of the staff and management of Chipperfield Coffee Company not only to thank, but they will be showing us the way ...