FROM THE EDITOR

Margaret Sadler | Editor-in-Chief , news & views , ARTA

Recently I heard former BlackBerry CEO Jim Balsillie identify some of his moral code : “ Carry what you can carry ,” “ Plant trees you may never sit under ,” and “ Leave a campsite better than you found it .”

We are responsible for carrying our weight in the world . Not just our share of what ’ s needed , but all that we ’ re capable of . Rather than doing the minimum , we bear responsibility to step out with all we can , with all we have .

Balsillie also spoke of enjoying trees he hadn ’ t planted and holding a moral imperative to plant trees he might never sit under . I ’ m reminded of the story of Martin Luther who said something similar in the sixteenth century when asked what he would do if he were told the world would end tomorrow — he answered , “ I would plant an apple tree .” As President Deb writes , ARTA members are planting such trees — locally in Alberta , but also for Ukraine and in Central America and Africa .

Leaving a campsite better than we find it emphasizes that sense of responsibility to others . Picking up garbage we walk past , holding open or shutting a door , parking further from the store entry are some of the little actions we do each day to recognize that we are part of a community . Balsillie has the wealth and influence for big actions , but so do we . Each of our actions is a sign of respect for the larger community . Our responsibility to others is never-ending . In 1957 , Dr . Martin Luther King Jr . told a Montgomery , Alabama , audience , “ Life ’ s most persistent and urgent question is , ‘ What are you doing for others ?’”

May we be ever mindful of the needs of others .

WINTER 2024 | 7