With a passion for making connections in the community, Jude Brunt often hears a lot of talk about what should be done.
And she isn’t shy about stepping forward to get things done.
“I’m just one of those people that sticks their hand in the air and says 'let’s get it done,'” says Jude, the owner of the Globe Cafe and Tapas and the Blarney Stone Irish Tavern at Big White.
“When you run a cafe you hear a lot of things. You hear people say ‘we should have this or we should do that.’ A passion of mine is connecting people. I love connecting the dots to make things happen in the community.”
Making things happen in the community is something of an expertise for Blunt, who has been living at Big White for nine years and has two teenaged boys.
At Big White she is involved in pretty much everything.
Every week you can find her running a trivia night fundraiser at the Blarney Stone, raising $1,500 to $2,000 each season for the Powder Hounds Adaptive Ski Club.
She has been president and vice-president of the school Parent Advisory Council for the Big White community school.
She is the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and was instrumental in revitalizing a dormant chamber with 10 members five years ago to an active business community with 67 members.
This year she stepped up to give residents a voice as well and established the Big White Mountain Community Association, setting up the society and recruiting board members.
When someone brought up gardening, her hand shot in the air and Big White now features a community garden with 11 gardening volunteers. If its happening at Big White, Jude Brunt is likely involved.
“I love the feeling of being part of the community,” she says. “I guess I just enjoy being involved because I know everybody in the community.
"We’re not a municipality but if we ever do become one then we need strong community people to make that happen. I’ve always been in the background of helping to make things happen.”