Presenting Castlegar's Hidden Heroes this week: Jax and Shilo Senyk
By Claire Dibble
Ed. Note: The following is the first in a series of stories depicting Castlegar’s Hidden Heroes, leading up to an exhibit this summer at the Kootenay Gallery of Art:
The Hidden Hero Project is a portrait series celebrating the everyday heroes who live and give in Castlegar. Community members were asked to nominate people as heroes back in the summer of 2018 and the exhibition celebrating a selection of the good folks of Castlegar will open at Kootenay Gallery in late June 2019.
Partway through the project it became clear that ‘hero’ is perhaps too strong a word. Some nominees flinched at the suggestion that someone would call them a hero. And indeed, hero conjures images of a firefighter, an ER nurse, a superhuman in a cape. These folks are undoubtedly worthy of our appreciation. But so are the everyday folks who do more good than harm, and hopefully that’s most of us. The idea behind this project is to celebrate the goodness that resides in most people. There are thousands of ‘hidden heroes’ in Castlegar, quietly offering kindnesses to others without ever considering their actions to be worthy of recognition. Yet we all know that a well-timed act of kindness can mean a world of difference. We know that the efforts of many people over time builds a strong community.
Some folks learn the value of pitching in from a very early age. Like the Senyk brothers. These two were the youngest heroes to be nominated. Here’s what a fellow community member had to say about them:
“Jax and his younger brother Shilo have been volunteering with the Castlegar Parks and Trails Society since they were toddlers to build hiking and biking trails for the community.”
You probably know a hidden hero or two. With this in mind, the nomination form is still available online [ link to: www.hiddenheroproject.ca ]. All nominations made before June 1 will be included as part of the exhibition.
Nominees were asked four questions, and you’re welcome to send in your reflections on any or all of the following as well [ link to: https://forms.gle/ZU9CAKp3JKmNAypC9 ].
1. What does ‘community’ mean to you?
2. What does being a contributing member of society look like to you?
3. What advice would you give to someone who is not currently engaging with their community but would like to be?
4. What are some of the personal benefits (expected or unanticipated) you receive by giving, by contributing, by helping others?
This project was conceived of by the curator at Kootenay Gallery of Art and is supported by the Province of BC Community Resilience Through Arts and Culture Grant.
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