In this week's and next week's editions of the 100 Mile House Free Press, we will be looking back at some of the top stories we reported on in 2011.
Obviously, we won't be able to cover all the stories that made an impact in our readership areas and some were more significant to specific groups than others.
There were some groups that made huge strides in improvement, growth and recognition.
Eliza Archie Memorial School and the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre received accreditations this year, and it is a feather in their caps for their professional, innovative and caring way they provide service to their communities.
It is a huge amount of work to go through the accreditation programs, but in the end, it points out the things that are going well and the things that need improvement.
Personal accreditations would be good for all of us to go through, as it would give us a good idea about what we accomplished and what we need to put on our bucket lists for 2012.
As a "community," we believe 100 Mile and the surrounding areas did a wonderful job providing help for friends and neighbours.
It was a phenomenal year for reaching out to help others regardless of what the cause was and we continue to lead with our hearts.
The generosity shown during the lead-up to Christmas was beyond everybody's expectations, and it clearly showed we care about each other.
It also shows we are aware we will only grow as a community if we work together for the common good of every individual.
It's not a new concept because this is exactly how each generation before us carved out a living in the wilderness we now call home.
They helped each other, knowing that one day they would need some help too. It was a form of paying it forward.
Most of us know that truism and strive to follow it and pass it down to our children.
What we're lacking, however, is the volunteer spirit of our forefathers, and that is something that has to change quickly.
Events are falling by the wayside because there aren't any new young volunteers coming forward to fill in for the longtime volunteers who are tired after doing their part for the past decade or so.
Hopefully, becoming a volunteer is something everyone will put on his or her priority lists of resolutions.
Hopefully, it will be a resolution that won't be broken.
