‘Wait with hope’
Dear Editor:
Many churches this past Sunday (Nov. 29) marked the beginning of Advent.
Advent means arrival – and Advent is a season of waiting for the arrival of Christmas and the birth of Jesus. In 2020, waiting for an arrival has taken on a new dimension, as we await an end of the COVID-19 crisis, as we wait for the arrival of a vaccine, as we await a return to “normal”.
Waiting is difficult. We want the thing we are waiting for to be here right now.
But in waiting there is hope. To wait is to hope that the thing we wait for will come, will occur. Once the hoped-for thing has arrived, we no longer hope for it, hope is no more. Hope is beautiful, full of anticipation and wonder. In our waiting we live in hope.
Waiting slows us down. In our waiting we have time to think, to reflect on the world, on our lives, on the things that are important. Waiting helps us, if we use the time wisely, to sort through our priorities, to reflect on the meanings of our lives, to discern the kind of people we want to be.
Waiting is not passive. To wait is to actively prepare for the thing we hope for. Think of a couple preparing for the birth of a child. To wait is prepare mentally and emotionally for the arrival of what we hope for. To begin to live now as though the hoped-for has arrived.
In this season of waiting, may we have the courage and the patience to wait with hope, to take time to reflect, to prepare well to welcome what we hope for.
Peter Bush,
Fergus
‘Made a difference’
Dear Editor:
RE: 3D printing team receives award for COVID-19 response, Nov. 26.
I really want to say thank you to all of the students and teachers on the 3D printing team who, very early on in the spring, made face shields for frontline workers.
I remember reading this story earlier and I should have written then of my admiration for such a strong team of students reaching out into their community in a time of need and making a huge difference in so many peoples’ lives.
These students produced a product for hospitals and seniors’ homes that helped so many stay safe.
So thank you, Charles Benyair and Jack Cox and to all of the other team members listed in the article. Your work saved peoples’ lives and helped the virus be contained.
You truly did help in a time of crisis. Thank you. I admire you and you truly made a difference!
Brenda Chamberlain,
Elora
A poor decision
Dear Editor:
Recently parents of special needs sons and daughters were informed of the permanent closing of ARC Industries in Guelph, which was a devastating decision for us as parents and our sons and daughters.
My son has been attending ARC for over 30 years, so this will cause a big hole in his everyday life. This is his social life, a day doing activities he enjoys, seeing friends, learning skills, etc. He is one of many who are not capable of holding down a job in the community, doing volunteer work or taking part in most community activities.
Before the Liberal government decided to close most of these facilities in Ontario, ARC Industries was a well run place for our sons and daughters. Since the changes, I was assured by two government officials that ARC would NOT be closing and my son would always have ARC to go to.
The staff are doing their best at this time of the pandemic, but when it is over, what then for those who still need a day program to go to? This was not a well thought out decision. People like my son will be vegetating at home.
While visiting my son last week he said “I want to go back to ARC.”
Those who sit behind desks, hold meetings and make these decisions don’t recognize the special place ARC has been to our sons and daughters and have made unqualified decision to take this away from our sons and daughters.
Sylvia Quinn,
Guelph
Touched by letters
Dear Editor:
The letters sent by two members of the Simmons family of Harriston regarding the closure of the Community Living Guelph Wellington day program touched my heart!
I sincerely believe the letters showed readers how really necessary this facility is to certain members of this area.
As for me, I had no idea how much the clients benefit from the social interaction that is given to them, or that deep depression results from the lack of this social interaction.
My letter is a plea to the community to find some way to keep this program open.
With some good will and some really inventive ideas, surely the program could be enlivened.
Those who are benefitting from the companionship need our deepest consideration.
Sytske Drijber,
Rockwood
Not acceptable
Dear Editor:
I would like to share my thoughts and a few concerns in response to Bill 229 and in particular Schedule 6, titled Protect, Support and Recover from COVID-19 Act (Budget Measures 2020).
When I was a little girl of about 10, a small wetland in a neighbouring farm field was drained and my heart was broken for the wildlife that rested there as part of a long migration pattern. It was also a safe haven for deer and other small animals and a place for a little girl to spend quiet time connecting with the natural world.
Sixty-seven years later, Doug Ford and company are making deals with developers to ignore environmental protections for significant wetlands. We now know that wetlands are an integral part to our water supplies, flood control, habitat and safe havens for many species especially migratory birds.
My heart is breaking again as significant wetlands which have been protected are under attack. We have the knowledge that these spaces need to be protected spaces for generations to come for many reasons. They are not places to generate wealth for land developers.
Is there another way to determine how we deal with things like wetlands?
A webinar on Reconciling Indigenous Ways of Knowing has given me cause for hope that we might be entering a new way of being in Canada in our relationships with the First Peoples and how we might become better stewards of the land.
The speakers spoke about the importance of ceremony, cooperation, kindness and compassion. They spoke to the need to respect one another and especially Mother Earth and the importance of diversity amongst everything and everyone. They continued that we must look to Mother Earth as a living being, not something to be exploited to further greed and selfishness. This is not the way Bill 229 and Schedule 6 is being presented for the third and final reading.
In closing, please stop the attack on conservation authorities and please remove Schedule 6 from Bill 229. We need more voices around the table, not just the elected officials and their wealthy friends. It is time to reconnect with Indigenous Ways of Knowing, which respects the importance of a value system that includes human, environment and indeed all living things to be protected – not for this generation, but for our children and grandchildren into the future.
Pavement over a wetland, changing the mandate of conservation authorities, destruction of and limiting access to green spaces, is not acceptable for the benefit of a very few as we go forward into a better future for all.
Burna Wilton,
Elora
Christmas spirit
Dear Editor:
2020 has been a year beyond belief in demoralizing events, instilling fear and dread in every aspect of our daily lives. So where now does the spirit of Christmas fit in?
I saw my answer to that question in the eyes of an unnamed child watching a televised Santa Claus parade. I couldn’t help but see the fascination, wonder, excitement, joy and most of all, hope, in the expression in those eyes.
Truly this year more than most, we need to rekindle that spirit brought on by this traditional season of hope and giving. Every year, the legendary Santa becomes this sense of wonder and anticipation for countless youngsters around the world.
As all legends go, there is always an element of truth in its roots. There is no doubt in my mind that somewhere in continental Europe, possibly in the 18th century that a retired, kindly carpenter did indeed fashion and deliver wooden toys to the children of his village, simply out of the goodness of his heart, every Christmas Eve. No doubt too, he made those deliveries on a reindeer-drawn sleigh, and possible even lived north of the village. As his village grew, the reindeer would figuratively, if not literally, have to “fly” to complete his giving of those gifts.
The original Santa would be the first to admit that he was not the proverbial “reason for the season”. That honour goes to a little town called Bethlehem, many centuries before.
Without the original nativity in Bethlehem, Santa would have no basis to be the character we know today. There is no reason to believe that Bethlehem and the North Pole cannot co-exist, for each in its own way delivers hope and wonder.
The world today, and the world in Bethlehem then, are not a lot different, imprisoned and demeaned by a force beyond any control; Bethlehem, by a powerful Roman army of occupation; and today, by this unseen and demonic virus.
No matter what our age, especially now, let’s return to that spirit of mystery, wonder and hope so evident in any child, and act with the true spirit of Christmas.
And with that, I leave you with this thought: “Merry Christmas,” in its true and original form.
Ron Johnson,
Mount Forest
Successful Santa visit
Dear Editor:
Santa Claus showed up in Aberfoyle on Nov. 22 despite the pandemic. It was a Christmas wonderland!
The Optimist Club of Puslinch’s annual Santa Claus parade, celebrating 25 years of bringing Santa to the kids of Puslinch, took on a different look this year as a drive-thru.
Families remained in their vehicles and drove by the decorated floats, listening to pipe band and Christmas music, in anticipation of seeing the “jolly old guy” in red. Tigger, Sparky and the clowns visited with families while waiting to drive-thru. Many smiling faces of the young and the young at heart waited in anticipation. Thank you Santa, for visiting Puslinch!
Santa’s elves gave out the full 300 goodie bags but fell short … however, the fire department came through with their colouring books. Vehicles were lined up in the parking lot for the whole duration of the event. Food items for the food bank exceeded our expectations: 975 pounds of food and $299 in cash.
Lots of Dear Santa letters were collected, 161 in all. We had visitors from Stratford, Elora, Fergus, Ancaster, Oakville and Cambridge. Way to go Puslinch!
A huge thank you to all who participated in the drive-thru with their amazing Christmas floats.
Aberfoyle Snowmobiles, Aberfoyle Agricultural Society & Garden Club, Boy Scouts, Duff’s Presbyterian Church, Guelph Family Martial Arts, Hayden’s Garage & Sarmazian Carpets, Ken Tosh Vintage Tractor, Puslinch Fire Dept., Puslinch Minor Baseball, Puslinch Minor Soccer, Fred Prior Construction, Victoria Park East & Valley Golf Clubs, Wayne Fischer Vintage Steam Engine regrets due to weather, and Santa.
This event is made possible through the generous support of our local businesses, companies, organizations, individuals and community members. Please thank them and support them!
A Change of Pace Restaurant, Aberfoyle Snowmobiles Ltd., Accurate Home & Building Inspection Consultants, Benson Tire, Brennan’s Tire Service Inc., Bryan’s Farm & Industrial Supply, Capital Paving Inc., Con-Cast Pipe Ltd., County of Wellington Roads Dept. Aberfoyle, Dollarama, Fleet Image, L E L Farms Ltd., Robert F. Hammond, Henry Deter, Jefferson Farms, Ken & Brandon Tosh, Michael’s Mobile Truck & Trailer Repair, Nestle Canada Inc., North America Construction Ltd., Picard Peanuts Ltd., Ren’s Pets, Shar-A-Tree Christmas Trees, Township of Puslinch, Township of Puslinch Fire & Roads Depts., D.L.P. Heavy Haul Equipment – Jeff Townes, DM Davidson Water Pumping Equipment Sales & Service, Victoria Park East & Valley Golf Clubs, Village Restaurant, Wall-Custance Funeral Home Ltd., All the people that entered floats, Santa and his elves.
Merry Christmas! Yours in Optimism.
Brenda Law,
Parade committee, Puslinch
‘Unforgivable’
Dear Editor:
Community Living Guelph Wellington’s very carefully worded statement of Nov. 9, gives us no indication of their planned time for closures and it very carefully leaves out any mention of “temporarily” continuing the Day Programs.
I don’t think I have ever been so disappointed and ashamed of an organization that is supposed to be there to support our most vulnerable loved ones. And to try and close this most important program and wonderful building while under cover of COVID-19 is unforgiveable!
From what I understand from CLGW’s communications, they want to take a “person-centered” approach, speaking with each individual about what they want to do, what their goals are.
From all the ARC clients I’ve heard from so far, the refrain is the same: “I want to go back to ARC to be with my friends.” My brother has been attending ARC for over 40 years, is very difficult to understand and has a mental capacity of maybe a five-year-old. Have you ever tried asking a five-year-old what he wants to do in five years or “when they grow up”? Their answer changes every day.
As far as asking them what they want to do, the staff at ARC Day Programs are already doing this and providing them with the opportunities to try new skills and/or new sports. My brother has learned so much from his years in the ARC Day Programs. He just comes alive when he walks into the ARC building.
For the higher functioning individuals, this new approach may be wonderful, but why can’t this be incorporated into the present Day Programs using the present buildings as their base so that the other ones can continue doing what they love?
This new approach might give the client two to three hours of support per week. How can this possibly be better than the 30 hours per week of support and learning opportunities that they are receiving now in the ARC Day Programs?
Then they say: “in place of Day Programs, facilitate inclusive opportunities that serve to enhance connection between the people we support within and across their community.”
The staff and their friends at ARC is their community. It’s where they can be themselves and try new things with the support of the staff and their friends. Why is this any different than the Italian Canadian Club community? Or the Seniors’ Centre community? Any of the clients at ARC that can function in the wider community are now doing so thanks to all the help of the ARC staff. I believe your definition of “community” needs to be re-examined.
If you are truly committed to doing what is best for these individuals, you will not close the ARC Day Programs or the ARC building!
Betty Clyde,
Elora