‘A matter of integrity’
Dear Editor:
Re: Developer greed, Sept. 23.
As the owner and operator of The Elora Mill, I read with consternation this letter to the editor in last week’s Wellington Advertiser.
As many readers and residents may recall, in 2010 when I purchased the mill, it was in a state of great disrepair and was unsafe for visitors. It had gone through multiple-owners, the stonework had never been maintained and there was parts of the mill that were completely closed off. The mill, the former anchor and bedrock of Elora, was in peril of near deterioration. In 2010, Elora as a whole, looked far different than it does today. Prime downtown waterfront property sat vacant and abandoned and historical assets like the Potter Foundry, Walser and the Little Folks Building were literally collapsing.
Our purchase, investment and restoration of the mill was a matter of integrity: to the history, the community and our family. I grew up in a mill town, Ancaster, and watched many small towns in Ontario de-populate, or stagnate offering little to the next generation but to leave for the city. We take immense pride in the craftmanship of the masonry work, attention to detail devoted to the restoration of the Elora Mill and do so with great homage to the unique heritage of Elora.
It is no surprise that Elora was voted one of the most beautiful small towns in Canada. At the mill, we know we are only part of the reason for such notoriety: it is Elora’s rich history, architecture and most definitely the people that make it so special. And we have always worked in partnership with the community, local leaders and organizations: we source local, hire local and are enthusiastic supporters of local events and festivities.
I understand there is hesitancy about change today. But let me say this, we have been here and part of the community for over 10 years and that has brought new opportunities. I would argue the changes over the past decade have been to everyone’s benefit and fostered our commitment to the community as partners for sustainable growth.
I am not in the business of flipping for profit; the Elora Mill should be a testament to our beliefs. We care deeply about this community, its residents, businesses and longevity. Our next project on the south side of the river is as exciting as our restoration of the mill. More than half of our units have been purchased by local residents, not investors, that are eager to experience the beauty and lifestyle Elora has to offer. The site had sat vacant for years because it required substantial investment to remediate the soil to ensure safe development.
Similar to the Elora Mill, both sites required a large capital investment before it could be developed. I can assure you that there are many exciting opportunities to come for the entire community with our next project.
Aaron Ciancone,
Owner/operator, The Elora Mill
‘Reign of terror’
Dear Editor:
RE: County to draft bylaw allowing off-road vehicles on county roads, Sept. 23.
It was interesting reading, regarding allowing ATVs and off-road vehicles on county roads. I believe that a “reign of terror” is about to be unleashed. The comments by council regarding the belief that most people “are reasonable and respectful of laws” just does not hold water.
The comparison to bicycles already being able to use the road shows the serious lack of insight that is present amongst most councillors that have been entrusted with our welfare. I already observe these bicycles going every which way through town, totally ignoring even the most basic “rules of the road” that we rely upon to keep everybody safe. They want to add noisy and often smoky ATVs to this confusion?
The statement that “the OPP is in place to deal with it,” is also stretching the truth, as they simply don’t have the manpower, unless some serious hiring is implemented.
Sometimes, it is a case of “follow the money” in these situations. Who is most likely to gain from the implementation of this “new agenda”? Certainly not the average “fed up and sick of all the noisy speedsters that seem untouchable that we have already” citizen. So we need to identify exactly who is to get an answer.
Malcolm McCulloch,
Fergus
What persecution?
Dear Editor:
We have all just lived through a preposterous election: $600 million-plus for a good dose of the same old same old. But nothing prepared me for the post-election comments of Wayne Baker, the People’s Party candidate for Perth-Wellington.
Offering a brief history lesson, Baker used a little rhetorical flim-flam: “If you go back to the first century Christian church, it grew under persecution.” Clearing the air immediately, Baker declined to be identified with first-century Christians – except, he added, “I am claiming to be part of a movement that has grown under persecution.”
The persecution the earliest Christians suffered was indeed severe, including everything from mockery to whipping to being fed to lions to being crucified, so in that context the word “persecution” has a legitimate meaning.
But today I challenge Baker (or any responsible member of the PPC authorized to speak) to name one –just one – act of persecution that he or his party has suffered in Canada. I disagree with PPC’s politics 100%, but if I can be convinced that the party or its individual members are suffering actual persecution in 2021 in Canada, I will rise to their defense and spare no effort to right a wrong.
But if PPC members are feeling sorry for themselves because they overestimated voter anger or their own popularity, then I ask that all of them cease using such strong biblical language to salve their (self-inflicted) wounds.
I anxiously await a response in these pages. I will take silence to mean that this letter has been interpreted as another act of persecution.
Richard Giles,
Alma
Fiscal responsibility
Dear Editor:
It’s refreshing to see that the majority of Canadians don’t care about being fiscally responsible anymore.
The Liberals just wasted $610 million on an election that achieved absolutely nothing. If that alone doesn’t concern you, then I’m sorry to say, this country is doomed.
If Canadians made their choice based solely on this COVID-19 crisis, they need to give their heads a shake. Trudeau only used the crisis as a ploy to try to get a majority. He even pledged a billion dollars (of what money?) to the provinces to help implement the vaccine passport. A lot of people are going to lose their jobs because of his stance on vaccines. How is that treating everyone equally?
The PPC seemed like the only logical choice for me. They were the only ones pledging to balance the budget, eliminate the idea of a vaccine passport and treat everyone in this country equally. There are way more items on their platform to gush over, which I’m sure some folks may not agree with (isn’t democracy great), but it’s clear that equality and fiscal responsibility are at the top of their agenda.
Please don’t label them as extremists simply for their stance on this pandemic. The only reason they appear to be extremely right-wing is that all the other parties are extremely left-wing. They are a just a common-sense party that doesn’t look to the polls to find out what they need to say next.
I urge all Canadians to wake up! Don’t you see? We are constantly in this back-and-forth battle of being fiscally irresponsible, to being somewhat fiscally responsible. At the next election, please pick the party with the best track record in that respect, or support another party willing to do what it takes.
Doug Vanderveen,
Belwood
Changes needed
Dear Editor:
RE: The $600 million election to decide nothing.
I have no problem with our tax dollars being spent to advance our country or the people in it, whether it be for health care, support for minorities, children, Aboriginal rights, etc. Mr. Trudeau, you need to show all Canadians that a mistake was definitely made here; someone has to be held responsible.
I believe that the Liberal party must at the very least fire all of the Liberal strategists who supported/put forth the idea of having an election at this time.
The Conservative Party needs to address their leadership; if you couldn’t gain (in fact lost support) during this fiasco of a decision by the Liberals (minority) then changes need to be made right at the top .
Michael Sproul,
Conn
‘Wonderful memories’
Dear Editor:
RE: Gala anyone? Fergus Tennis Club celebrates belated 100-year milestone, Sept. 16.
Very interesting to read about the gala celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the Fergus Tennis Club. I am impressed.
Laurence (Larry) Raymond was not only one of a number of founders of the club, but was literally one of the builders, who dug and moved dirt to level the surface for clay courts that were once consisted equal to the very best in the district.
The members of the day, were also active socially with sandwiches and punch, etc. served on many occasions using our house across the road as a base.
Clarke Raymond, son of Larry (perhaps in the 1950s,) raised money to convert the courts to asphalt when finding a person able to maintain the clay courts in satisfactory condition became a problem.
It is heartwarming to hear how very active the club is today.
I fondly remember in the late 1930s and 1940s playing early in the morning with Clarke, immediately after the courts were scraped, watered, rolled and lined with a roller filled with white lime.
Thank you for bringing back the wonderful memories.
John (Jack) Raymond,
Toronto
‘Canadians first’
Dear Editor:
Justin Trudeau and the Liberal Party of Canada will form a minority government … again.
So many will be and are angry and there are many valid reasons for this. With so many divisive topics brought up throughout this election our country feels more split than ever. There is also the large problem of those who have strong political opinions with very little understanding of the political structure of a Canadian government.
The years since I have lived in western Canada and moved back to Ontario I have seen a side of Canada that I am definitely not proud of. Now I travel across Canada and see people from all different demographics with many different opinions. Unfortunately some of these opinions have become so aggressive people have lost contact with friends and family and this election has only made that much more prominent for so many of us.
The biggest failure of this election in my opinion was that of Elections Canada. The absurd length of lines at polls was completely unacceptable. The ridiculous decrease in polling stations was also unacceptable.
Like it or not the Liberals won a minority. It’s time to be Canadian, not western not eastern not Ontarian, not northern. We are Canadians first! We are not Liberals, not Conservative, not NDP. We are Canadian and from what I have seen many of us have forgotten that.
Travis McDougall,
Kitchener
‘Small-town sensibility’
Dear Editor:
It seems difficult these days to stay optimistic about our state of affairs, but a recent experience we had certainly gives us hope. On our way to Southampton to house sit for friends, we stopped very early in the morning at Tim Hortons in Harriston.
As we were about to order at the drive-thru window, our camper van suddenly stopped. With several cars behind us and an apparent dead battery, we were in a quandary. Immediately, a man directly behind us named Steve, came to our assistance and helped us push our vehicle ahead and temporarily out of the way. We then called our friend Mike in Harriston, who within five minutes, came to help us with his car. Meanwhile, Steve had unexpectedly returned, having gone back home to retrieve his portable battery charger.
Unfortunately, our van wouldn’t start, so we had to resort to holding up the drive-thru line and with the help of two other strangers, we pushed our heavy van into the Tim Hortons parking. Our friend Mike had texted his friend Glenn at Minto Auto Centre who suddenly appeared with his tow truck. He quickly assessed the situation, returned to his shop with our friend and came back with a loaner van which he graciously gave us for the weekend. Everyone there then helped us unload our van and re-pack the loaner van. Glenn insisted we get on our way while he and our friend Mike would get our van towed to his shop.
We were back on the road to Southampton within 30 minutes of having stalled and were able to fully enjoy our house-sitting weekend with our family. This type of experience we’re sure happens everywhere, but it seems that this type of immediate, unselfish help is part of what we might call “small-town sensibility”.
Regardless, we were immensely grateful to our friends and the strangers who helped restore in us some well-needed optimism in the good nature of people.
Grant and Debi Browning,
Salem
Honesty lacking
Dear Editor:
My husband grows garlic. Normally he grows enough for us and our family and friends. This year he decided to grow some extra and sell it at the end of our driveway. He took the time to plant it, grow it, pick it, dry it and clean it.
This past weekend he proudly put out a table of his harvest. He put out three baskets selling large full bulbs for $2 each, and subsequent bulbs for $1 each. It was satisfying to sell enough on Friday for some “fun money”.
It was equally disappointing that someone stopped on Saturday outside our home and took all of his garlic, baskets and all, leaving behind only the price signs shoved into the jar meant for money.
There are people with much more skin in the game than us, who rely on the proceeds from their labour for their livelihood rather than fun money. People who sell you fresh produce work hard to make it available to you. Please show your appreciation with honesty.
Sherri Moyer,
Fergus
PPC not racist
Dear Editor:
RE: A disaster, Sept. 23.
Barbara Cooper admits that she doesn’t know much about the People’s Party, yet she feels qualified to condemn the PPC for its position on COVID-19, and to imply that it is anti-abortion, anti-immigrant, racist and bigoted.
If she had taken the time to read the PPC platform posted on its website, she might have discovered that most of its policies are reasonable and would likely appeal to conservative thinkers as well as others.
With respect to COVID-19, it is not opposed to vaccines, but “promote(s) a rational and scientifically based approach” that “oppose(s) vaccine mandates, vaccine passports, and other authoritarian measures.” This position no doubt won the support of anti-vaxxers, some of whom may have been overzealous.
The PPC does not take a stand on “reproductive rights,” but it does highly value freedom of expression, so that it allows pro-lifers to run as candidates and to express their views. Its great respect for “freedom” even extended to allowing cannabis entrepreneur Marc Emery to run as a PPC candidate.
I could also find no basis in the party’s immigration or other policies for Cooper to imply that the Party is anti-immigrant, racist and bigoted.
I have been a Conservative Party member and supporter for many years. However, due to O’Toole’s abandonment of conservative principles on carbon taxes, climate change, balanced budgets and other issues, and because he and my local candidate apparently have little use for social conservatives (other than our votes), I had no problem voting for the local PPC candidate this time.
Henry Brunsveld,
Puslinch
*Editor’s note: Among its immigration plans, the PPC platform specifically states the party wants to cut immigration levels by 57 to 71%, it wants to accept fewer resettled refugees and it blames “mass immigration” for inflating housing prices.