Addicted children?
Dear Editor:
RE: Delegates hope Centre Wellington will allow cannabis retail stores in township, Feb. 23.
There is presently a push by a person on county council regarding allowing a cannabis retail store to locate in Centre Wellington.
This is all merely profit orientated and totally disregards the amount of harm it would do to our local community. Some people are very good at rationalizing situations with statements like, “Well, children can get it already anyway,” but what is the point of making it any easier?
This councillor will not likely be available to help “pick up the pieces,” when things go terribly wrong and children become addicted and some even homeless and involved in criminal activity.
There is also an environmental factor involved here, concerning the fumes associated with cannabis. It would not take very long for the whole building block where the store was located to start smelling of the substance, which is quite obnoxious to most non-users.
Then, there are likely going to be break-ins and other “undesirable events” occurring and this is proving to be a fact, these days.
Persons that really do think that they need cannabis are surely able to navigate the existing supply system without involving Centre Wellington in this matter.
Malcolm McCulloch,
Fergus
Church supports shows
Dear Editor:
The Affirm Committee of Dublin Street United Church, Guelph, enthusiastically supports the Elora Distillery’s drag shows as joyful celebrations of the diversity of creation.
Our queer friends have been denied basic human rights and safety for so long that they deserve support for venues where they can be loud, proud and sparkling while they entertain us all.
Following months of study and discussion, guided by the love and inclusion that are the core of Christ’s teachings, the Dublin Street United Church congregation eagerly embraced its Affirm designation.
Affirm is the United Church of Canada’s formal recognition of full welcome and inclusion of all gender identities and sexual orientations – both gifts of God.
We find that the more we embrace diversity and relieve ourselves of the burden of judgementalism, the greater our enrichment by the variety of perspectives and talents – including artists at drag shows.
Rosemary Kennedy, Chair,
Dirk Steinke, Elizabeth Snell,
Sarah Martin, Susie Van Acker,
Sya VanGeest, Colleen Lowrie (Youth Coordinator),
Guelph
Opinions not right/wrong
Dear Editor:
RE: ‘Ignorant letter,’ Feb. 9.
I have an opinion. It is based on what I interpret and believe to be facts. The “facts” may or may not be correct. The opinion is my belief and therefore neither right nor wrong. The person reading or listening to it may agree or disagree. There are, of course, times when an opinion should be kept to one’s self. An opinion should be expressed not imposed.
The opinion may be misinterpreted or tell us more about the speaker than what is being expressed. Words such as “ignorant” and ignoramuses” tell us more about the writers than their point of view.
Chris Woode,
Fergus
‘Unacceptable’
Dear Editor:
One positive of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the increase in the number of people going outside for a walk, jog or some outside activity. This, of course, should demand more attention to outside conditions.
However, following the ice storm on Feb. 16, the attention to sidewalk and road conditions, especially in the smaller neighbourhoods, was minor to nonexistent.
While out for a walk on Feb. 18 the conditions were simply dangerous for anyone using the sidewalks. Closer inspection revealed no evidence of ice melters or pieces here and there that more closely resembled an Easter egg hunt. These pieces were more likely leftover from Friday or Thursday. Public safety of our sidewalks is not a Monday to Friday job.
Interestingly, this past winter, we have witnessed sidewalk equipment ploughing 1cm of snow (or lawn) or dropping copious amounts of melter on mostly bare sidewalks.
If it is budget related, I am confident that, considering all township expenditures, our citizens would be most accepting of an over spending on public safety. With regards to these unacceptable conditions, it would be interesting to know how many fractures and severe sprains arrived at Groves this past weekend. I’m concerned for our safety.
Randy Graham,
Elora
‘Be more accountable’
Dear Editor:
I have to wonder who is actually in charge of our beloved Centre Wellington and the county? Is it the taxpayers, town council or the township staff? Think it’s become more and more evident that it’s in fact the CAO.
It’s quite an empire being built on the taxpayers backs, always hiring, whether it be consultants, more staff or just finding more ways to spend! Don’t get me wrong, our services should not be cut and necessities should always be met, but to what end?
The area’s been constantly growing so of course some increases are expected, but so have the revenues being taken in. I think it’s time for our elected officials to take a hard look at where the money is going and be more accountable to the taxpayers.
Barry Wilson,
Elora
‘Lawbreakers, selfish’
Dear Editor:
Wow, what a shock for Pierre Poilievre, Rex Murphy, Conrad Black (convicted felon – what is he still doing here?) and the National Post over Justice Paul Rouleau’s report on the use of the Emergencies Act being legal.
It seems Rouleau did not buy the story of how it was about freedom. After occupying a city for three weeks and disruptive actions like blowing truck horns, the group wonders why anyone would think they were childish. Nazi and Confederate flags were about free speech? No, it was a collection of lawbreakers, selfish people who had fun until the police moved in. Some hopefully will enjoy a prison cell and the financial consequences about to fall on them.
They disrespected the War Memorial and others’ lives. Many were “grifters,” like their hero Trump and the MAGA crowd, and saw a big payout coming – nothing to do with freedom.
Interesting Poilievre has removed any trace of him with the lawbreakers. Now, like a child, he claims Justin Trudeau started it. No, they were egged on by Poilievre and members of the Tory caucus.
I love how the gaslighting is happening now, like the Republicans and Jan. 6. The other great highlight of Rouleau’s report was his shining a light on where Premier Doug Ford was all that time and his failure to testify. Good report!
Maybe Pierre should remember that over 70% of Canadians never supported this group – and now even more.
Jim Trautman,
Simi Valley, California
‘Gratitude’
Dear Editor:
I am the owner of Hair With Care in Fergus.
On Sept. 8, 2022, I held a fundraiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and raised $2,850. On Oct. 31 I presented a cheque to Sara Felshe, senior fundraising relationship manager from Heart and Stroke Ontario Southwest Region.
I would like to say a special thank-you to the community for coming out, and local businesses in Fergus, Elora and Belwood for donating raffle prizes for the event.
Also thanks to Mary Brown’s Chicken, A&W Restaurant and Pizza Hut for their cash donations, and to Peter at Tim Hortons for donating coffee and donuts for this event. I am very thankful and appreciative of all the special people who helped make this fundraiser possible and I want to apologize for being so late to show my gratitude.
This September I am looking forward to holding my third annual event for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. I hope I can count on the community once again for their support.
Carrie Anne Kierstead,
Fergus
Wants medal awarded
Dear Editor:
An open letter to veterans of Wellington County.
Legion Magazine has learned that a well-earned Victoria Cross is not going to be awarded to Jess Larochelle. (From Legion Magazine article: “Larochelle was one of 20 soldiers awarded the country’s second-highest gallantry decoration, the Star of Military Valour, for their actions in Afghanistan. Badly wounded, surrounded by dead comrades and outnumbered by the enemy, he spearheaded the successful defence of his strong point during a 2006 Taliban attack”).
I noticed that our chief of defence staff “nixed” the idea of a Victoria Cross for Larochelle, and that’s easily explained, as he takes his orders from the prime minister, who steadfastly refuses to issue any medals such as a commemorative medal for our Queen’s 70th anniversary on the throne, the proposed Military Volunteer Service Medal, the Cold War medal, to name a few.
The five-year time limit to nominate or award a medal is complete nonsense! It took 38 years for Canada to award Canadians with their well-earned Korean War medals. The chief of defence staff doesn’t seem to mention this fact.
The fact is that there doesn’t exist a “will” to issue or award any medals. Consider the recent “rout” of senior Canadian military officers from our military. Also consider the failure to retain our serving military. And then consider the 10,000 positions in our military they can’t seem to fill. Finally, consider the one “globetrotting” person responsible for all this.
Jacques De Winter,
Rockwood