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Prince Rupert's Best Man saves the day

The Northern View held a carrier appreciation meeting and I was struck with one thought — how damn proud I am of the people of this city.

Proud. Damn proud.

On Thursday, The Northern View held a carrier appreciation meeting and as the last hot dog and hamburger was put away, I was struck with one thought — how damn proud I am of this newspaper and, for the most part, the people of this city.

Granted I'm still a newbie to the City of Rainbows and there are still a couple of months left before I celebrate one full season in Prince Rupert, but nevertheless, I'm still proud. It's that same pride I felt when I lived just down the road in Smithers. There is something unique and wonderful about Northwest B.C., something that drew me back from the snowbanks of Manitoba.

Rain or shine, people are just plain nice up here.

As is generally the case, there is always a little bug in the system. No matter how successful a planned event is, there is nearly always a little glitch.

On Thursday, despite the planning, as carriers arrived for the meeting, the gas barbecue decided lukewarm was the best it was going to do.

Although it was a carrier meeting, it was all-hands on deck. Without complaint, every staff member stayed late and pitched in to show their appreciation for the carriers.

Ed and Bonnie were carrying chairs and preparing the condiments. Martina and Lisa were manning the hot dog and hamburger station and Adeline was welcoming and answering questions that carriers had.

I was proud of them.

But then, Shaun let me know of the barbecue's newfound attitude. Raw hamburgers for hungry carriers wasn't on the agenda.

My barbecue had taken a direct hit in a recent windstorm and for one reason or another, nobody else on staff had one.

Enter B.M. or as I'll call him from now on, so as not to get him into trouble, the Best Man.

At literally the last minute, the Best Man at a Prince Rupert retailer gave us a barbecue to use. It wasn't his barbecue to allow to leave the premises but he understood the pickle we were in and took a risk for the sake of the dozens of hungry carriers.

He saved the day.

He could have easily not stuck his neck out and just said, "no," and we would have understood. But like so many others in Prince Rupert, he altruistically looked at the bigger picture and pitched in to help.

For that we thank you.

It may be a small thing — a barbecue — but it is the spirit of that assistance that I have found extremely prevalent in this city.

It's something for which Prince Rupert should be proud.

I am.