Steel twisted into gruesome shapes, scorched earth and shattered windows everywhere. That was the scene as I toured close to the blast area in Toronto hours after propane tanks had unleashed their compressed fury on a sleeping neighbourhood. What a contrast to the tranquil lake view atmosphere of an Okanagan morning, sharing breakfast with relatives only moments before being alerted to the situation thousands of kilometers away.

One thing was immediately obvious. As bad as this was, it could have been so much worse. At times like these you realize just how skilled and prepared our first responders really are. Most jurisdictions across the country have emergency plans which are constantly being reviewed and renewed by people at all levels of government. Municipal first responders are constantly upgrading their training, whether in first aid practices, or in the high risk methods of handling chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents. Federal funding has led to the direct training of thousands of responders at the local level to better prepare them for the very events they hope will never unfold.

The other reality, often unspoken, is the fact that no matter how well prepared or equipped these workers are, the risks they face are always there. When disaster strikes, most people quite rightly flee from the scene of danger. At the same moment our emergency and police personnel are moving directly towards it, knowing the risks that go with their chosen occupations. Unfortunately, every now and then, one or more of them pay the ultimate price in the performance of their duties tending to an emergency to protect us.

That reason alone is enough for us to accord them our respect and our gratitude. It was respect and gratitude that I felt as I surveyed the blast scene and realized the extent of metal-melting heat and potential explosive fury which met the responders that morning. Hats off to them for a job well done. Our hearts go out to the family of the veteran fire fighter who died at the scene of the explosions. We will remember him.

Here at home I had the opportunity to witness another type of rescue work going on in the searing heat. If you haven't seen the vibrant, larger than life murals that are increasingly adorning the buildings of Merritt you really should take time to check them out and when you ask who's behind the awesome artwork you'll be in for a surprise. A number of them have been beautifully painted by young people whom many had seen as 'undesirable' or 'problem' youth. But well known artist Michelle Loughery has never seen them that way.

Just as she often looks at the rough and blemished walls of unattractive buildings and sees potential for beauty, she looks at people that others shy away from and sees the potential for something good and lasting. She and others have put together an innovative program aimed at aboriginal youth at risk who appear headed down a road of little hope. She uses her artist skills and her words of encouragement and gives these kids a chance to discover that they truly have the potential for good things and meaningful lives.

They said it was 42 degrees the day I was there last week to meet some of her youthful artisans and check out their work. Not only was I impressed that they were literally working up a sweat and enduring the heat, I was touched by their unchecked optimism and sense of accomplishment. One of the young men, with an irrepressible grin and a confident tone had come from a history of drug abuse and violence. Many had looked at his record and already written him off. Others working with paint brushes in the heat of that day had similar stories.

Now they were literally redrawing the portraits of their lives, with the clear tones of hope for the future. They've upgraded from their days of smearing graffiti in public places to improving their world with colourful spaces.