Protect Mill Creek
Dear Editor:
The proposed location of a large trucking depot at the corner of Gilmour and Brock Roads in Aberfoyle raises questions about the trade-off between business interests and the preservation of natural assets, as a legacy for the future, within a growing urban community.
One of the objections to the proposed depot is related to Mill Creek, a cold-water stream running through Aberfoyle. More than a century ago Mill Creek was a key part of the business infrastructure of Aberfoyle. The Aberfoyle Mill, powered by Mill Creek, was built in 1859 and functioned as a highly successful grist mill for over 60 years, winning a gold medal in 1867 at the World’s Fair in Paris, for its oatmeal.
Today, it serves as a bellwether for water quality in the area surrounding Aberfoyle and provides peaceful recreational and educational services to citizens of all ages.
While the proposed truck depot will meet all the guidelines related to septic systems and surface run-off, spills and septic overflows due to extreme weather or equipment failure are a possibility. Here is a situation where the application of the precautionary principle should apply: while the likelihood of a harmful event to the environment is small, the damage could be catastrophic.
To avoid irreparable damage to Mill Creek, and ensure this pristine asset is available for many future generations, the township and Wellington Freight Motors should work together to locate an alternative site for the depot, far removed from the Mill Creek area.
Douglas Auld,
Puslinch
Yes or no?
Dear Editor:
It has been long known that there are thousands of lobbyists cruising through Parliament.
Of all of them, only one, the Ontario Health Coalition, is a lobby for the voice of the people. All the rest offer consultative and service products.
It seems that successive governments, who have on record, not been accountable for federal transfers, have been persuaded to believe that defunding and skinning health care is the answer to long lineups for care and reduction of clinic and lab services and operations. It has not worked.
One step further, we now hear that our tax dollars will be spread thinner by paying private companies to do the work of the public hospital system and even physician services, both with focused protection by the Canada Health Act 1984.
Given the protection of privacy accorded to corporations, there can never be a guarantee of accountability or transparency from any private provider. So, for those who want to try a two-system administration of health care, you are also responsible for not asking deeper questions about the impacts on the most of Canadian citizens, whose taxes are inadvertently building a private system.
Those impacts have seriously affected middle- and low-income families, long-term care, people dependent on pensions, physicians, nurses, ambulance services, lab testing, auxiliary staffing and more. The items can fill pages.
If you feel that you have not been heard, I strongly invite you to have a say in May and especially on May 26 and 27 when The Ontario Health Coalition is holding a referendum in Guelph and Ontario both virtually and in person.
A referendum is the voice of the people and the goal in Ontario is to receive one million votes to the question, “Do you want our public hospital services to be privatized to for-profit hospitals and clinics?” People can vote “yes” or “no.”
Magee McGuire (advocate),
Guelph
‘No-brainer proposals’
Dear Editor:
I’m writing in regards to the proposals for the four-storey buildings in Fergus and Elora. In the middle of a housing crisis I am shocked by the level of opposition to these proposals. The argument that adding an additional storey will ruin the character of either town is very flimsy and not persuasive, especially considering that adding the extra floor allows for better accessibility.
Additionally, small business owners need support now more than ever and getting more downtown housing will increase the number of potential customers for downtown businesses and create convenient housing options for downtown employees.
Currently Ontario is losing 319 acres of farmland per day and this pace will only accelerate if we don’t start approving proposals like these. If we don’t build up in downtown cores the only other option left is to build out and pave valuable farmland.
I hope council decides to stop dragging its feet and approve these no-brainer proposals at the next council meeting.
James McCabe,
Wellington North
‘Get on with it’
Dear Editor:
“Think global, act local” is attributed to a Scottish town planner, Patrick Geddes in 1915.
It’s ironic that here in Centre Wellington, we dither and debate over what to build, while in other parts of the world they are busy destroying buildings or trying to save them from environmental disasters.
Centre Wellington, look for a compromise, somewhere in the middle!
Case in point: The five-storey complex planned for St. Andrew St. East in Fergus.
1) Move the complex 30 meters northwest and put the parking lot in front of the building. This will move the shading to the two storey county building and away from the residences and it will also improve the traffic line of sight on the corner.
2) Make the ground floor only 50% retail and make the other 50% for e-bike and e-scooter storage and charging. Move some “retail”, (mostly lawyers and real estate) to the second floor. Insulate and secure the second floor for mixed use.
Let’s get on with it. Time’s a-wasting (Bertrand Russell).
Ben Collings,
Fergus
Don’t ‘ruin streetscape’
Dear Editor:
When the developer purchased the property at the corner of Geddes Street and Moir Street in Elora, he was aware of the height restriction of three storeys and that it was designated in the heritage district.
He has already received a variance for the 12-unit stacked townhouse on the same parcel of land. Now he wants to add an extra floor to the apartment building fronting on Geddes Street. This is not just any location, it is on the main street of a historic southern Ontario town where a four-storey building would ruin the streetscape!
We have an extraordinarily rich history as evidenced in Steve Thorning’s newly released book and we need to preserve our uniqueness.
Elora has become a busy tourist destination and is marketed as such. Any European town would not destroy their streetscape with a four-storey building. Heck, even Niagara-On-The-Lake would not allow this to happen.
I am aware rental accommodation is needed, but for the sake of a few more apartments on the fourth floor, it is not worth the negative impact it would forever have on Elora. Other options should be investigated!
The provincial government has opened the door to building rental accommodation on existing single home properties. Council should find the means to encourage and incentivize this. There are also options on the periphery of the historic core that are still within walking/riding distance to downtown.
Please think of our history and the future generations who should be able to enjoy a vibrant yet preserved Elora.
Lori Hintermeister,
Elora
‘Everyone benefits’
Dear Editor:
I am a student from John Black Public School. I have an opinion on the rule about how high buildings can be built.
I think that if people can afford to build five- or six-storey houses or buildings they should be allowed to. I think it is important to allow more people to live in one place. This allows people to share space, and the more buildings the more taxes, so everyone benefits.
There is a housing shortage in Ontario and I think that building higher buildings can lower prices for people.
Ben Perry,
Fergus
Book sale a success
Dear Editor:
The Elora Festival Book Sale was a resounding success on the May 5 to 7 weekend.
A huge thank you to all the volunteers for sorting books through the year and all the folks who worked on Sale weekend. Thanks to all our patrons, especially to a woman who shopped on all three days finally bringing in dozens of fresh butter tarts for the volunteers on Sunday. Wonderful.
See you next year.
Karen Eddie,
Steering committee,
Elora Festival Book Sale
‘Positive contributions’
Dear Editor:
RE: God Save the King, May 4.
Your editorial last week was very much appreciated.
There is so much negativity in today’s world and the coronation was a special opportunity to celebrate the positive contributions made by the Royal Family.
Thank you.
Priscilla Reeve,
East Garafraxa
‘Excessive speeds’
Dear Editor:
I live on Sideroad 19. The speed has now been dropped to 40km/h.
I can’t believe the amount of people that drive excessive speeds on our street. I called the OPP to have a little enforcement on our road. My mistake was asking for a little … that’s what we got! The police drove back and forth on the road four times and left. People are going 60 to 80km/h on our street – it’s amazing no one has been hit.
Asking for speed control from the town, or the OPP has been a waste of time.
Yes the town re-posted from 50 to 40; this has done nothing to slow all the inconsiderate people driving on this road … maybe the people from the new subdivision west of the Beatty Line, could have a little respect for the speed limit.
It has gotten worse since they moved in.
Dave Bittorf,
Centre Wellington
More chargers needed
Dear Editor:
I am a student at John Black Public School in Fergus, and I am writing to talk about the lack of public electric vehicle (EV) chargers in our community.
I believe in all of Fergus there are two and in Elora there are six, which means for someone to get an EV they would most likely need to install a private charger in their garage, which means if you live in an apartment you wouldn’t be able to.
More public chargers would mean more people detouring off a road trip if they were driving in an EV. Therefore making people stop to shop at local businesses and boosting the local economy.
More public charging ports would mean that people would be encouraged to get an EV as a cheaper alternative to gas, which would help our environment. So in conclusion, more EV charging ports means more people switching, more people stopping in the area and helping benefit local shops while waiting for their vehicle to charge, and it would also mean easier accessibility if all other charging ports were taken.
Alex Lachlan,
Fergus
Buy – and tip – local
Dear Editor:
I am a student of John Black public school. A topic I would like to address is helping local businesses. There are plenty of local businesses that are here in Fergus. Most of the local businesses are in the downtown area. This includes Joe’s Butcher Shop, The Holland store or the Dutch store some call it, I Love Chocolate and plenty of others.
The way that we can help the most is buying from their stores and tipping. The workers really appreciate a nice tip because it supports the workers directly. Some stores even donate the tips to other causes like the war between Russia and Ukraine, hospitals and even other local businesses.
Helping other businesses can make you more of a friendly person and a better citizen too.
Carter Cameron,
Fergus
Apps won’t help grades
Dear Editor:
I am a student from John Black Public School. I believe that students today have very short attention spans. I think that most kids my age look at screens for half their day. I think some apps encourage kids to continuously scroll. I don’t think this is good for kids’ brains because it isn’t educational.
I struggle with some of these things, but I am working to stop it. I think this is actually a mix of a problem for both kids and parents. The kids should know their limits and parents should know how much time their kids are spending. Parents can use a few different apps that check or manually take the phone and check.
This problem affects school because people are tempted to look at their phone too often. Kids become addicted and look for ways to check their screens.
People posting on social media are often posting fake things to make people feel “less than.” Students’ grades can be worse because of this problem and some professions require a good education.
Checking apps all the time won’t get those grades any higher.
Nico Turano,
Fergus
‘Good riddance’
Dear Editor:
RE: ‘Laughable letter,’ May 4.
I guess fake news is that Rob Walker’s hero Tucker Carlson was never fired by every news station he worked at. Even the Murdochs, after coughing up $787 million had enough of his vile, racist trash. Hey, two more lawsuits to go.
Yes, I know Canadian and American politics since 1971, when I was discharged from the U.S. Marines infantry and service in the Vietnam War have split my time between both countries. Pay taxes in both. Interesting he mentions the fake Larry Elder, who is the same age as me. Elder talks of patriotism and never served in the war, just like Donald Trump, who is being sued over an alleged rape. Grifters, fake patriots and phony Christians.
Lets see: Trump married three times, cheated on wives, paid for sex, the list is endless. Lots of charges await Trump.
Elder who is described by Walker as having integrity and honesty, was investigated for allegedly threatening his ex-fiance with a gun. Elder does not believe in the minimum wage, but does believe it is okay for 13-year-olds to work in meat packing plants. He is against the LGBTQ community and does not believe smoking causes cancer.
Red necks are leaving California – good riddance! If you do some research, doctors and teachers are leaving Red states.
Jim Trautman,
Simi Valley, California
Bring back cursive
Dear Editor:
I’m a student at John Black Public School. I think children and teenagers should be learning cursive writing in school. For me, I live with my grandma and since she learned how to write in cursive and when she makes lists and things like that I find it difficult to read her writing.
For me I would love to learn cursive writing so I can understand my grandma’s writing. For other children and myself , we are usually busy with playing an instrument, a sport and other out-of-school activities. When kids are not busy doing their activities they are tired and want to rest. Most kids do not have the energy to learn cursive after school and after their activities. That’s why I think that children and teens should learn cursive at school.
Here are some reasons cursive writing should be a part of children’s curriculum. One, cursive writing has been passed on for many generations, and I think we should keep this tradition going. Two, cursive writing is good for hand-eye coordination. And lastly, it improves memory. A tiny thing to add is that it could be helpful for signing cheques and important documents.
Cursive writing was in our curriculum and I think it should be a part of our curriculum again.
Lilly Phillips,
Fergus