‘Masked angel’
Dear Editor:
I think we can all agree that 2020 is a year that we will be happy to place in our rear-view mirror.
But don’t worry, this letter is not going to rehash all that we have experienced in this past year. Instead, this letter is being sent as a celebration and a thank you for the surprising kindness and generosity of a stranger.
On Dec. 16, I was checking out with my load of groceries at the Freshco in Fergus and about to pay my tab when a masked angel stepped in and tapped the machine with her debit card.
I was flustered and confused thinking she had made a mistake. “Oh no,” I said, “you just paid for my groceries by mistake”. She shook her head and said, “Merry Christmas”.
My confusion grew. The cashier asked if we knew each other and we both said no. This masked angel then quietly slipped away. I am a big fan of the random acts of kindness movement, but have never been on the receiving end of such an act. It is a bit overwhelming. I find myself asking “why me in a busy grocery store?” But I guess that is the point of it being random.
All this is to say, thank you, masked angel. You made my year and the ripples from your kindness will keep expanding as each person I tell this tale to says they are going to go out and perform an act of kindness.
And so, 2020 is ending on a high note thanks to the random kindness and generosity of a masked angel. Pass it forward.
Lisa Knudstrup,
Elora
Kudos for kindness
Dear Editor:
Just thought I would mention a situation that occurred on Dec. 8 at a local park in Fergus.
I was visiting my daughter and grandchild and playing at this park when a woman and her two young boys approached us. They came up to us, looked inside the rocking ship and then went back to their vehicle. I thought this was strange, however it was nothing to be concerned about.
Next thing I know, these two young boys and their mother approached us again and asked permission to give my granddaughter a Christmas gift.
I was bewildered and sort of looked at their mother. This is when she explained to me that her two sons had decided that this year they would like to give gifts out to children rather then receive them.
Wow. To me this seemed so out of the norm and what a pleasant surprise. Kudos to you boys and to you as well, mom. You made my day and my granddaughter’s as well.
To your whole family: have a very Merry Christmas.
David Atkinson,
Cambridge
‘Excellent’ staff
Dear Editor:
RE: County hospitals working with neighbouring hospitals on overall COVID-19 response, Dec. 17.
I was recently interviewed by the Wellington Advertiser and quoted as saying “…it’s staff bringing it (COVID-19) to hospitals that causes outbreaks, it is not spread from infected patients.”
I need to clarify it was not my intention with this interview to imply that any of our staff have brought COVID-19 into our Wellington Health Care Alliance (WHCA) hospitals, nor are we impacted by a COVID-19 outbreak.
My intention was to applaud our staff for complying with PPE protocols and avoiding any outbreaks at our WHCA hospital sites. Many of our partner area hospitals and long-term care homes are in COVID-19 outbreaks and have been linked to staff sharing food, or during a lapse in wearing PPE and distancing during breaks.
I am proud of the fact that this is not the case at WHCA. Please know, WHCA hospitals are not in a COVID-19 outbreak.
We should all be applauding and thanking the excellent work of all our staff and physicians.
Stephen Street,
President and CEO,
Groves Memorial Community Hospital and North Wellington Health Care
Merry COVID Christmas
Dear Editor:
It will be a different Christmas,
Unlike any other.
We’ll all be in our bubbles–
Children, dad, and mother.
The stockings will be stuffed
With different things this year.
Masks, gloves, and sanitizer
Will add to our Christmas cheer?
But the most important gift
We can all be giving
Is love to one another,
Because it makes our lives worth living.
So Merry Covid Christmas
To you masked and unmasked folk.
And good luck with your breathing.
That’s no bleeping joke!
Alexandra Onyskieu,
Fergus
China connections
Dear Editor:
I would really like to know what the heck our government was up to inviting and then training Chinese troops in “winter manoeuvres” by our military, in our country ?
It was bad enough that you sent some members of our military to China, for what only God knows.
You sell valuable assets (ie: gold mines and gold reserves) to China. You allow money laundering by Chinese gangs via real estate to flourish here so no average Canadian can ever expect to purchase a home again.
This not only boggles the mind but is totally unacceptable, not to mention unconscionable. I feel like I am in a bad espionage novel.
The transparency of the Liberal government is blinding.
In your vast dealings with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) maybe you should focus more on getting our “two Michaels” released from the Chinese prison they are languishing in (they have just passed their two-year anniversaries). I am also betting they are not faring as well as Meng Wanzhou. No, instead we help the Chinese military. Unbelievable.
I really believe Canadians deserve an honest answer, if that is at all possible from you. No, you will once again deflect by tossing out shiny baubles to capture our attention and flash your pearly whites to melt the grey hairs’ hearts.
In the future, maybe, just maybe, you should be asking Canadians first.
Remember, you are supposed to be working for the best interests of all Canadians , not the Chinese Communist Party.
Delsie Drover,
Belwood
More ‘red tape’?
Dear Editor:
For the last few months, when representing Centre Wellington residents, our councillors have been directed to channel all communications to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) instead of directly contacting appropriate staff as usual. This is concerning because residents’ questions/problems are now being filtered through a new layer of authority (red tape), denying a fast, appropriate response.
One wonders why this change in procedure is necessary. COVID-19 perhaps? Or an attempt to eliminate our elected representatives?
It would be nice to know.
Sandra Brown,
Centre Wellington
‘Ridiculous’ attack
Dear Editor:
Dec. 8, 2020 is going to go down in the history books as an extremely bleak day in the history of Ontario, with the passage of Bill 229, an omnibus bill titled Protect, Support and Recover from COVID-19 Act (budget Measures) 2020.
This bill includes Schedule 6, Conservation Authorities Act and Schedule 8, Crown Forest Sustainability Act. So the irony of that title is laughable.
There is nothing that is supported nor is there any mention of recovery from this pandemic, other than to see that the Conservatives are not fixing anything like private for-profit care of the elderly and transferring of that model to the care of wetlands and environment to benefit wealthy friends of the government in power.
I was taken by a headline in your paper last week: New nationwide survey finds Ontarians’ mental health eroding. Considering this reality and the huge issues facing Ontario and indeed the world, such as climate change, biodiversity loss in plant and animal life we have a government totally ignoring all of these issues with the passing of a huge bill that addresses none of these issues post pandemic.
The attack on conservation authorities is ridiculous. The immediate paving of a wetland will probably result in flooding, poor water quality and flooded basements. However, money will fix these issues.
Mental health issues, loss of habitat for endangered species and loss of green spaces for people to renew and connect with the natural world are not possible to repair with the almighty buck.
I will close with the words of Antoine de Saint Exupery: “It is not for us to foresee the future; It is only necessary that we make it possible.”
May the Doug Fords and cohorts who are holding the power start to listen.
Burna Wilton,
Elora
‘A disappointment to all’
Dear Editor:
There are few vocalists on the entire planet who are able to instill national pride as much as Mark Donnelly, the operatic tenor at Rogers Centre, the home of the Vancouver Canucks. His rendition of O Canada is inspirational, breathtaking and as the axiom goes, “well worth the price of admission.”
Sadly Mr. Donnelly has struck a wrong note in the hearts of this writer, and without doubt, countless other Canadians. The case in point is his participation and endorsement of the “covidiot” movement, which openly defies public recommendations and governmental pleas for the wearing of masks in dealing with COVID-19.
A person of his stature cannot be allowed to ridicule this life-threatening danger! Unfortunately he is not alone, but shares the stage with the former bombastic and misguided president of our southern neighbour, who even seemed, unsuccessfully, to make this an election issue.
The wearing of a mask is not an issue of revoking anyone’s rights and freedom, nor is it symbolic of being a weak conformist rather than a free-spirited rebel. It is simply a showing of respect for one’s self and for others to prevent the spread of this horrible disease.
That being said, I do have a problem with those who choose to wear a mask promoting other non-related issues. A simple medical style mask of blue and white is absolutely the best symbol for confronting this disease. Too many masks are hideous, ridiculous or slogan-filled and really demean and distract from the whole purpose of the wearing of masks. Masks are not fashion statements or messages to promote some sort of contemporary movement. They are simply a layer of proven protection for the wearer and others nearby in the fight against COVID-19.
Let’s too be sensible in its designed use, indoors 100% compliance must be in place; outdoors requires simple common sense.
Sure, any mask is better than none. Let’s simply honour our frontline workers by wearing a mask designed for one purpose, and one purpose only: safety for all!
Mr. Donnelly, on this stage you are wrong, and a disappointment to us all.
Ron Johnson,
Mount Forest