Home Care In Canton, NC

CANTON, N.C. — Amid the glow of holiday lights and decorations, the Town of Canton’s annual Christmas parade opened by shining a spotlight on some of the people that many in the community consider heroes.

N.C. Baptists on Mission, the volunteer network that has become a backbone of western North Carolina’s recovery following two weather-related disasters in recent years, was honored as the grand marshals of this year’s Canton parade, leading the procession of floats down Main Street on the evening of Thursday, Dec. 4, that helped usher in the holiday season for the town.

Representatives from Baptists on Mission and several of the organization’s volunteers rode on the grand marshal float in their familiar yellow shirts, representing hundreds of others who have worked across western North Carolina as part of the ongoing disaster relief efforts following Tropical Storm Fred in 2021 and Hurricane Helene last year.

For Baptists on Mission Executive Director Richard Brunson, the honor was both unexpected and especially meaningful.

“We’ve been honored in lots of ways but never as the grand marshals of a parade,” Brunson said. “This is a great honor for our volunteers.”

In a heartfelt Facebook post announcing Baptists on Mission’s selection as the parade’s grand marshals earlier in the week, Canton Mayor Zeb Smathers said the recognition was a way for the town to express gratitude to the organization in a way that words alone could not convey.

“This parade has always been about tradition and community, but this year it carries a deeper appreciation,” Smathers wrote. “…From Tropical Storm Fred all the way through Hurricane Helene, this group has been a constant source of strength, light, and hope for Western North Carolina.”

The mayor also praised the volunteers for their consistent presence and for partnering with other groups in providing relief following the storms.

“They have rebuilt homes, lifted spirits, and helped heal our souls,” Smathers wrote. “…We can never thank them enough, but what we can do is bestow upon them one of Canton’s highest honors. In this Christmas season, it feels especially fitting to recognize a group whose actions remind us that better days are ahead and that if we keep going, and keep the faith, we will get there.”

In 2021, Tropical Storm Fred heavily impacted Canton and surrounding communities, causing catastrophic flooding that destroyed numerous homes and claimed six lives. Three years later, Canton was hit again when Hurricane Helene ravaged western North Carolina in 2024.

In the aftermath of those storms, volunteers with Baptists on Mission have rebuilt hundreds of homes across the region, and their work in western North Carolina is ongoing.

Baptists on Mission is operating five long-term rebuild centers across western North Carolina that can feed and house volunteers looking to serve in the region. Officials anticipate continuing home rebuild efforts over the next five years.

To learn more, volunteer or support Baptists on Mission’s ongoing rebuild efforts in western North Carolina, visit baptistsonmission.org/helene.

CANTON, N.C. (WLOS) — After years of disaster and uncertainty, Canton leaders say the town is finally ready to plan its future, and they want residents at the table guiding that vision.

The town is launching a series of community workshops beginning Monday, Dec. 8, to gather public input as officials rewrite Canton’s long-term development plan and zoning ordinances. The effort will influence how the town grows over the next two decades, including potential uses for the former paper mill property now being demolished.

“This is not my town. It’s not the board’s town. It’s the citizens’ town,” said Mayor Zeb Smathers. “Only now are we starting to get our feet up under us to talk about what’s next.”

CANTON TO RECEIVE GRANTS, NEW EQUIPMENT TO ASSIST WITH POST-HELENE RECOVERY

The mill closure, once the region’s economic anchor, combined with two devastating floods, left gaps in employment, housing, and infrastructure. Smathers said the timing of these workshops matters because the town is finally stabilizing after several years of response and recovery.

“There may be some things we can’t do, but we’re working that way,” Smathers said. “Canton has an opportunity to be an economic furnace for the region, but it needs to be authentic.”

On Main Street, longtime residents say they feel the momentum and want responsible growth that uplifts families, restores business, and preserves the town’s identity.

“We’ve got to keep the cost of living down,” said resident Danny Wilson. “There’s got to be some incentive to bring people.”

Deborah Reed, who grew up in Canton, said much has changed since the mill’s shutdown and multiple storms, but she believes the town’s spirit remains.

“It has changed the atmosphere of our town,” Reed said. “But there is still hope.”

Many residents also want clarity on what will replace the shuttered mill, and whether any redevelopment can reflect what generations built here.

“Even if you think your voice may not matter,” Wilson said. “It may be the one that matters most.”

Smathers said a top goal is keeping and attracting young families, residents who contribute to the schools, ballfields, churches, and small businesses that define Canton’s identity.

“It’s a great place. You can be trout fishing, skiing, or at a Braves game all within several hours,” Smathers said. “We’re going to keep being Canton.”

Smathers said local government wants to hear from residents who don’t typically attend meetings, including young adults and newly arrived families.

“It’s your home,” Smathers said. “If you’re not involved and not speaking your opinion, somebody else is.”

The first public workshop is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 8, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall on Summer Street. Officials say additional sessions will continue into next year so residents can ask questions, share priorities, and directly influence decisions that will affect daily life, from new businesses and housing to transportation, recreation, and the character of downtown.