With conversations surrounding racial inequality and COVID-19, Niverville’s Mayor is calling for community and compassion.

“Fear that gets promoted can have damaging effects on people,” says Mayor Myron Dyck. “Some people struggle with the information that is presented and that is a concern to me.”

Dyck broached the topic at the most recent Council meeting.  He says the address was inspired by both a letter from a resident and his own desire for continued kindness in his town.

“When you build community, it’s about neighbour helping neighbour,” offers Dyck. “I’ve used the story of when we had our gas pipeline explosion and people didn’t have heat in their homes. People came to one another’s assistance and that’s the advantage of living in a community like Niverville and the greater area.”

Dyck goes on to ask for civility in all situations regardless of individual opinions. “We’ve heard about certain businesses or groups of people, and it’s horrible, the things that people have said to them, done to them, refused service to them. Even so far as death threats. I mean, have we learned nothing as a society?”

Dyck says he believes in the diversity of opinions and peoples, and simply asks that those defending a position not condemn the other side.

“It’s about respect,” says Dyck. “I’m seeing too many people defend their position by thinking they need to put someone else down to defend theirs and that is never acceptable. In fact, I would go so far as to say that, if in defense of your position you have to defame another person, you don’t have a position, you’re just a bully.”