Re: Bakery volunteer pitch sparks controversy (Yukon News, Aug. 9)
I was infuriated when I read the controversy about the Alpine Bakery welcoming volunteers. If there is one person in Whitehorse who creates community by giving his time and products generously and with humility, it is Suat Tuzlak, the bakery’s owner.
Knowing the conscientious nature of the Alpine Bakery, the volunteering experience should rather be called the “free bread-making apprenticeship course.” I am sure that the people who were volunteering their time at Alpine Bakery chose to do so leisurely out of pleasure, and without the constraints of a demanding or regular commitment.
What does Jeff Sloychuck and the Yukon Federation of Labour have to do with all this? Good question. Can’t people choose where they spend their time and energy nowadays?
I think Mr. Sloychuck and Michael Noseworthy, representing the Yukon government, need to revisit both their understanding of volunteering and work and enlarge their vision of how individuals can accomplish themselves, grow and evolve outside of the usual paid labour parameters. Particularly, as in this case, we have a community-minded businessman working to help citizens and not just reinforce regulations for the sake of going by the book.
Juliette Anglehart Zedda
Whitehorse