‘Control-minded’
Dear Editor:
RE: Automated speed enforcement pilot coming to Wellington County, June 20.
In this article, roads committee chairman Gregg Davidson told the Advertiser the cameras and system are not a cash grab but a “tool to protect the public from speeding and from harm.”
However, examples from Mississauga, Brampton and Toronto suggest fine revenue between $1 million and $34 million. This is just another “big brother” move to generate revenue dollars for a cash-starved municipality.
In the last while anyone touring southern Ontario’s secondary roads has found speed limits hacked down from generally 80km/h to 70 or in most spots 60. In towns, limits are down from 50 to 40 and 30km/h. Changing those thousands of signs had a major cost for no practical reason.
Perhaps the cameras will reclaim those costs by capturing drivers doing a reasonable 80 in a 60 zone. Officials will argue that slower speeds and automatic fining will temper the frequency of horrific accidents chalked up to speed. I doubt it. Bad drivers will continue to speed while slower limits make your personal vehicle less efficient by time over distance.
What is the inflation factor when a commercial vehicle travels 20km less each hour? In three hours an entire hour is lost to a 60km limit in an old 80 zone.
There are too many control-minded people in government whose entire lives are dedicated to putting their thumbs down on the individual. These officials never seem to consider the consequences. A government should in my view make our networks of transportation more effective. Less time on the roads means less carbon emissions, less fuel and money burned by the individual, less cost to corporations and as a result lower prices to the consumer.
I know that so far the program is for school zones and dangerous intersections. Will this program ever get expanded past the test in school zones? Of course it will. It is also a program that will not identify drivers. It will just fine vehicles.
A cash grab? Yes.
Ted Flanagan,
Erin
Protect prison site
Dear Editor:
Thank you for featuring the wonderful summer exhibition at the Art Gallery of Guelph of paintings by Richard Bedwash!
These paintings illustrate not only the importance of art at the Guelph Correctional Centre (GCC), but the early exploration of Indigenous spirituality in the prison system in Guelph and across the country.
The Native Sons organization at the GCC was immeasurably important in the lives of incarcerated Indigenous men.
The Prison Arts Foundation also presented an annual juried art show which Bedwash himself won in 1977. Along with many trades taught in Guelph, art was encouraged as therapy and recreation. The late Arend Nieuwland, art teacher there, taught art as a way to approach problem solving. Self-worth and identity were reinforced and their work was mounted and shown across the country.
Richard Wilson, also recently deceased, shared the fond memory of his wife, Betty Spry, who was the daughter of the first groundskeeper at the Ontario Reformatory (later the GCC) around 1920.
Her family lived in a tent on the site at first and later moved into the institution’s gatehouse. As a small child, Betty remembered a voice at the door asking “for the footprint of your little girl.” Betty remembered standing on two pieces of paper while her father got down on all fours with a pencil, and traced around each foot. The outlines were handed out the door to the messenger.
A week later, a beautiful pair of little moccasins was delivered to the back door “for your little girl”..The Indigenous inmates who were part of the inmate population there had created them for her in their workshop.
Urban Park Guelph wants to protect this site as a National Urban Park in Wellington County dedicated to ecological and historical knowledge and sharing.
Norah Chaloner,
Guelph
Loss ‘felt by many’
Dear Editor:
We are writing this as a thank-you note to this wonderful community for the outpouring of support we have received in response to our late mom’s cookbook, Sweet Patti’s Favourites.
We are very grateful to Lorie Black for featuring mom’s story in the Advertiser recently.
Our mom, Patti Bird, passed away Dec. 6, after a 10-month battle with cancer. She was the owner of Sweet Patti’s Catering and is fondly remembered by many for her cooking and baking. All profits from her cookbook are donated to the oncology department at Groves Memorial Community Hospital.
We are so fortunate to have her legacy live on in her cookbook and we can’t possibly express our gratitude to everyone who has purchased a book. It truly means so much to us.
This feels incredibly overdue, but we also wanted to thank everyone for all the love and support we received throughout mom’s fight, and after. We really saw our family and friends rally together to be there for mom, for our dad and for us.
Mom truly looked forward to every visit. We appreciate every meal that was dropped off, every phone call, every card, every hug. We know the loss of our mom was felt by many throughout this community. Thank you for being there for her and for us.
A Celebration of Life for our mom is being held on July 13 at our family cottage on Belwood Lake (717 Seventh Street) from 4 to 11pm. If you knew mom, please join us for an evening of live music, good food and fun as we remember and celebrate her.
Stacey and Jodi Bird,
Elora
Not working hard
Dear Editor:
RE: Creating chaos, June 20.
Kudos to Donna McCaw for her letter. It is well researched, to the point and I agree with her.
Doug Ford is running an ad stating that he is “listening and working hard for the people.” Really? Members of the Legislative Assembly are paid for full-time work. They are receiving full-time wages. I don’t know anyone in Ontario who is working full time and gets a 19-week summer break. Of course, Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks will soon follow.
I call that part time or semi-retired, certainly not working hard.
Cinda Martin,
Fergus
‘Off-shore money’?
Dear Editor:
RE: Benefactor offers to build public washrooms in Elora, May 30.
How many washrooms does a small town need? The mayor of Centre Wellington and his council hear “free” and right away agree with the idea.
Things are not free, especially with Pearle, Hillis and Kogen – there are strings attached. The township does not own the land or the buildings. Twenty-five thousand dollars per year to clean and operate?
This is another way to control your little town. Every restaurant and pub have washrooms. The Taj Mahal of washrooms is behind 1 MacDonald Square.
These groups are taking more control of your town and controlling council by asking for tax breaks, lane variances and variances to put posts on a Mill Street sidewalk for an overhead balcony, and many others.
Off-shore money is running Elora.
J. Alexander,
Fergus
‘Disappointing’ day
Dear Editor:
On July 1 my husband and I decided to go to the Canada Day festivities at the sportsplex in Fergus.
There was a dance troupe from Brampton there to entertain us before the fireworks. The music was so bad we got up and left and came back for the 9:30 fireworks display. It lasted nine minutes.
We both looked at each other in shock – was that it? Really? What a disappointing way to end Canada Day celebrations in our town.
How about some rock and roll next year by a local band and maybe 15 to 20 minutes of fireworks?
Lanie Bryant,
Elora
‘Fair and free’
Dear Editor:
Three oceans wash upon our shores; Great cities rise. From time before,
The ancient ice uncovered scores; Of rivers, lakes and mineral stores.
From fertile soil grow forests tall, And prairie wheat to feed us all.
The rugged mountains rise so high; They keep white snow against the sky.
We share our space with those who come, From war or need to make a home,
Who bring a talent, trade or skill, Our great potential to fulfil,
To build on all our forbears gave, And earn a share of what we have.
Before the sun sets on this age,
And politicians turn the page,
We all should recognize that we
Are born Canadian, fair and free.
Arlene Callaghan,
Fergus
‘Recipe for better’
Dear Editor:
A year ago, we launched our Community-Led Guelph Housing Coalition, seeking political leadership and a clear plan of action to address one of our community’s most pressing challenges: housing. From meeting emergency housing challenges to increasing affordable and market housing options, our diverse coalition recognized the urgent need for a coherent, coordinated, transparent and comprehensive approach.
While we have yet to make headway on this fundamental issue, our efforts have elicited improvements to planning and analysis, on relationships between non-profit providers and private sector partners, and has catalyzed and amplified ongoing efforts by many others in our community.
The lack of progress on a new approach was on display in the recent discussions on tiny homes. The Tiny Homes Coalition is a passionate and committed group of volunteer contributors with a clear and well-developed idea that can be a key part of our collective approach to address homelessness, mental health and addiction.
Our local governments are compelled to act, but their efforts remain stuck in the realm of current inadequate structures for action. We must stop tackling housing challenges and evaluating solutions in isolation.
What needs to be considered is how tiny homes (or any option really) is anchored in a full ecosystem of interventions required to address complex challenges. Tiny homes are likely part of the solution, and to ensure its success, we need to determine how it fits into the bigger picture of increasing housing options and supply across the continuum. Only then can we place the necessary resources, people, and ideas to execute and act; including working with other levels of government to secure funding.
Imagine if Guelph had a central point for information gathering and decision-making, like a housing commissioner, as we suggested a year ago. This role would serve as a primary contact to identify and address issues such as the current debate on insufficient student housing and emergency housing options, working to coordinate and activate different solutions, and community assets.
I want to stress that this systemic and structural challenge is not a criticism of any individual, government or institution. It’s clear that the current structures and systems are insufficient for the significant challenges and opportunities we face as a community. As the old adage suggests, the recipe for better means not continuing to do what obviously is not working.
We need concerted, purposeful political leadership – not to own or be blamed for the problem, but to bring together the commitment, assets, and actions required to move forward. To get us unstuck.
I express my deepest gratitude to everyone who continues to contribute their time, expertise, and passion to making Guelph a better place. Your efforts are invaluable, and together, we can achieve more.
Shakiba Shayani,
President and CEO, Guelph Chamber of Commerce
Buyer beware
Dear Editor:
Be alert when buying any real-estate in Elora or Fergus. There is a termite area in each. Real estate agents and sellers are supposed to inform you if their place is in one of these areas. I know of a young couple that found out the hard way – they purchased a house with termites. Thousands of dollars for treatment and even more to rid the house of damaged wood.
Rick Yuill,
Elora