The prospect of a new highway cutting through another part of Wellington County brought back memories.
While a member of county council almost a decade ago, discussions were underway for Highway 24 South to Cambridge, and Highway 7 to Kitchener. Both highways have been needed for decades, but neither is any closer to a conclusion of the planning, let alone a starting date.
Our publisher, who also sat on county council, albeit three decades ago, recalls talk of the same roads getting rerouted and rebuilt. With that knowledge, we feel safe in suggesting no one need feel panic about upgrades or expressways happening nearby any time soon.
The question of how to best achieve traffic flow remains a noble one. In fact, we advocated a roads rationalization study while in office, and continue to hold the belief that a transportation strategy is necessary if Ontarians, let alone Wellington residents, are going to embrace an efficient, industrious future. But, alas, it is far easier to wait out an advocate by slowing the wheels of progress to a standstill until more accepting souls, with little interest in real change, enter the political arena.
Problems continue to mount. Gladly, we rarely have to go to Toronto, but on a recent trip we were stunned to see the slowdown of traffic now starts at the 401 exchange at Milton. Previous trips we could make it close to the airport without braking. Now, the parking lot is many miles longer.
Additionally, our hopes for travellers and commuters to have access to mass transit from city to city, continues to be stalemated by hefty fares, poor schedules and a city on the other end that is not without its own set of transit problems. Efforts to plan and study are in vain if the powers that be are unable to decide to pursue a recommendation.
And even when a decision is made, that work can be stymied by endless rounds of environmental assessments, public hearings and law suits resulting in soft costs that mirror the cost of actually building something.
What’s in a parade?
In recent weeks, county residents have been treated to a series of spectacular parades ringing in the merriest of seasons, all despite the absence of snow in November.
Much planning goes into such an event. From marketing to seeking sponsorships to mapping out the route and meeting times, thanks is owed to those who take on this task each year. Historically, service clubs have taken up the cause, making it a truly community affair, since those clubs are not about self enrichment or individual kudos – they are about community betterment.
In Harriston, Clifford and Drayton the local firefighters were instrumental in setting up the parades this year.
Many groups this year have gone to presenting a theme in their parade. The superheroes in Arthur looked fun as did red noses in Puslinch, fairy tales elsewhere, toyland in Harriston and Christmas trees in Mount Forest.
Christmas should be fun and certainly organizers tried their best. But, like most things of value in life, there is more to it than simply putting a sign up and hoping people join in.
In addition to jolly old St. Nick, the important shared element between parades is that they all run on the goodwill of the community they serve. Business men and women, service group volunteers, municipal workers, bands, politicians and others work together to provide a magical time for little people and the young at heart.
We hope that measure of goodness and demonstration of cooperation we have become accustomed to in all our home towns continues well into the holiday season.
