With only hours left to go before Niverville’s Olde Tyme Country Fair gets underway, The Citizen dropped by one classroom at Niverville Elementary School to get some children’s thoughts on what it means to be a volunteer and make one’s community a better place to live.

Mr. Walker’s Grade Three class was raring and ready to participate in this question period. And with midway rides being erected just beyond the schoolyard, it seemed imperative to get the most important question out of the way.

What’s the best part of the fair?

Without a doubt, the carnival rides were everyone’s biggest highlight, with the Sky Master and Haunted House getting special mention.

Of course, the fearless feats of the motorcycle jumpers ranked right up there with stage acts like Taylor Swift and Spice Girls cover bands.

“I like how pretty the fireworks are,” one boy added.

“During the night, I like when all the lights go on, like on the Ferris wheel and stuff,” chimed in a young girl.

The carnival food, the facepainting, and market all held a special place for these kids too.

Next question: but why is the fair an important thing for a town like Niverville? The stated reason was simple: to make people happy.

One young man took his answer a step further, adding that the fair brings people together. “Getting together is a symbol of caring for each other.”

The next question wasn’t as easy to answer. How many volunteers does it take to run a fair?

“Maybe about 50?” one young lady guessed.

The guessing game continued until another hit the nail on the head. Indeed, it takes 300 volunteers to make the Niverville fair run.

And who are some of our other hometown volunteers? For this question, we were asking the kids to take a broader perspective.

According to this young group, the list is extensive: firefighters, hot lunch organizers, coaches, and referees, to name a few.

Of course, parent volunteers were not overlooked.

“They help on field trips to help kids be safe,” a student added.

Everyone agreed that it takes people to make community and great people to make a great community.

Neighbourhoods, they added, are just smaller versions of communities, and each one of us plays a unique role in making our neighbourhoods better places to live.

For this young collection of thoughtful citizens, there are countless ways in which they can do that.

They all agreed that littering is a problem they hope to help fix. As well, they can be mindful of animal welfare and protecting the environment.

The simple act of sharing a smile and a hello can have a big impact on the wellbeing of their community, they concluded.

“It’s spreading the kindness around,” one boy said of this little gesture.

 “If you’re having a bad day, if somebody says hi, it might make your day go better,” added a girl.

As the group collaborated on ways to make a difference in our world, one young student leapt to her feet to open the door for a classmate in a wheelchair, without being asked.

“This whole class is good with [acts of kindness],” Mr. Walker said of his students.

If this classroom of students is any measure of the community as a whole, Niverville is a very special place to live.