Cemetery condition
Dear Editor:
As a citizen of Centre Wellington, I must stress my anger over the lack of concern by the groundskeepers of Belsyde Cemetery. I have bitten my tongue for the last five and a half years, but today I cannot keep silent. The cemetery is a place where we lay our loved ones and it is meant to be a place of respect. Well, that is definitely not the case! On Monday, the grounds looked like a hayfield waiting to be baled. There is no need for globs of grass to be left in rows or scattered about. There hasn’t been any inclement weather preventing staff from mowing the grass. If the grass is too long, maybe someone should rake it or perhaps get a bagger. What was there on Monday was awful!
I have seen how those who ride on the lawnmowers rush up and down the rows between the tombstones with no concern for stones or debris that shoot out and damage/chip the monuments, our sons’ included. I have seen the mowed grass left lying there to decay and nourish the ground, but the amount on Monday, was not acceptable.
In an attempt to help out, my husband and I dig dandelions and whipper snip around the sites of our loved ones and those around our sites.
I have reached out to Centre Wellington and the infrastructure department and I have been told a service request will be issued, but I just had to say something as I am sure I am not the only person upset by the condition of Belsyde Cemetery.
Libby Darroch,
Fergus
Logical approach?
Dear Editor:
We have lots of developers in the area wanting to build multi-storey buildings but are facing the pushback of residents and the logistics of creating parking spots.
Meanwhile, we keep opening up farm fields for sprawling detached homes. A simple solution to the need for rental properties and to keep our existing cores at minimal storeys is to mandate that all of these new subdivisions have at least one apartment building.
The town can easily make this a reality. New buyers would know that there is an apartment around them before they purchase, and existing residents can choose to remain in their two-storey-max neighbourhoods.
With the drive to create so much living space over the next few years, how is this not the most logical approach?
Lance Henderson,
Centre Wellington
‘Master work’
Dear Editor:
On the chance that through some heavenly process, Steve Thorning is still able to read the Advertiser each week (and you know he would if he could), I just want to thank him for the spectacular legacy he left behind in the form of his 500-page doorstop of a local history: The Model Village.
And likewise, to Elysia Delaurentis, who is clearly both a remarkable editor and a truly wonderful writer in her own right. I am a fan of local history, and it was a wonderful read. Thank you. Thanks also to those many others who helped to fund and otherwise work to bring this remarkable book all the way to publication.
It was so interesting to see how the village continually rose and fell (we are currently rising for sure) through its first century. It was particularly interesting to see how the Spanish Flu experience of 1918 so closely echoed the recent experience of COVID-19, although no vaccine ever appeared to save the day in that instance.
The many historic characters who fill the pages of this book would no doubt be astonished and delighted to see what became of their town, so many years into the future.
I have read a number of histories of Elora, and what kept amazing me about this book was the incredible level of blow-by-blow detail and context that was offered.
Editor Delaurentis also did a truly wonderful job of including so many photographs of what are often instantly recognizable parts of this community from long ago, as well as many important things that are now lost (the two railways and their stations, the old municipal building, the Bissell factory, and others).
The only regrettable thing about all of this is that Steve eventually and understandably ran out of steam by the time he got to our history of about 100 years ago. Which means that the reader is left hoping for more when the book suddenly ends (what happened here during the Depression?).
Here’s hoping that some day, some passionate historian picks up where Steve left off and writes the second volume – perhaps another master work about Elora’s second century.
Paul Taylor,
Elora
Carried out ‘in secrecy’
Dear Editor:
Without public consultation, a private company from Austria, Therme Group, is going to build a private $350-million spa and waterpark at the former Ontario Place site.
We will pay for servicing and preparing the approximate $200-million site only to then hand over the 22-acre public property to an Austrian company. The whole redevelopment proposal has been carried out in relative secrecy even though you and I will be paying Therme in the process.
The result, like all the underhanded deals of the Ontario government with respect to private development, is to hand over this property to a for-profit corporation. They have released the Therme Group from the necessary environmental assessment, and from following through on their heritage commitments.
Without our consent, they are forcing us to pay an estimated $650 million toward this investment. Some of our MPPs join with many other citizens to express our concerns over Therme Group’s plans for the park. And what will be the environmental impact of demolition and construction?
Residents, activists and politicians are raising objections. Have these concerns been addressed by the province in the their official development plan? Are provisions being made for environmental assessments during the building process?
The plans were filed with the City of Toronto back in December: “the proposed development ensures that approximately two-thirds of the parkland site is open to the public without cost.” Fully one-third of the parkland will be restricted; 100% of the waterfront will be “publicly accessible,” according to the planning documents.
Some unique 20th century architecture, which is a distinctive part of Ontario Place’s history as well as its landscape design, would be eliminated. We may see ourselves listed among the countries that ignore the historical significance of their prized attractions. Ontario Place provides shoreline green spaces in which to enjoy beautiful views of Toronto’s cityscape.
There is a distinct and ongoing lack of accountability for privatizing public land now, and concerns about the lack of transparency.
It will cost us over half a billion dollars to pay for this Austrian company’s elite spa! This flies in the face of our implied resolve to create a people-friendly space, free, for people!
Another expensive payout by us and another abandonment of a uniquely 20th century Canadian treasure. Thanks, again, Ford and friends.
Gerry Walsh,
Erin
‘Get on with reality’
Dear Editor:
Stop the politicians from investing millions or even billions of our tax dollars to entice private corporations into our province to build batteries for electric vehicles (EV).
VW and Stellantis (Chrysler) both have their greedy hands out to scoop up federal and provincial handouts in the name of prosperity, local growth and a cleaner environment.
Sorry to burst their collective bubbles, but batteries will very quickly become solely relegated to your items such as flashlights, cell phones and computers – not transportation and large needs for electrical power.
“Hydrogen is the fuel of the future”. This statement is based on current scientific facts and most important on reality. Instead of ridiculous handouts to greedy corporate entities, let’s spend our tax dollars to develop realistic plans for a cleaner environment based on a future of hydrogen fuel.
Electricity generated by fuel cells produce “O” emissions except for water (H20). If we build EVs with fuel cells just imagine the positive impact on our environment.
We need industry, aided by government regulations and enticements, to stop this crazy race to build batteries. Instead, we need to develop realistic long-term plans to produce and distribute hydrogen.
The gasoline industry accomplished this in the early 19th century, now we need to do the same for hydrogen this century. The transportation industry has made amazing progress in the design, manufacturing and implementation of fuel cells and using hydrogen as a fuel in ICE (internal combustion engines) vehicles. The large-scale hydrogen production and distribution to end-use customers is now our biggest challenge.
Governments around the world must provide leadership, vision and a clear path forward to a hydrogen-based economy which will facilitate meeting the Paris Accord objectives for our planet.
So, let’s stop wasting precious time and get on with reality.
Michael Brooks,
Alma
Responsible carrier
Dear Editor:
I was outside enjoying the sun last Thursday afternoon when the Wellington Advertiser was delivered.
The young man, Brian, had been delivering for a few years, always tucking the paper under the doormat, protected from wind and rain.
Week after week, and year after year, that is what I call personal responsibility and it should be encouraged and recognized. Thanks for keeping local news real.
David Morgan,
Fergus
‘Nefarious’ plan
Dear Editor:
Premier Doug Ford’s nefarious new plan for an even bigger increase of housing in Ontario (except for those who need it most!) on agricultural, farming and wetlands makes you wonder where we will get our food and water from in the future.
And what is a town without protection of it’s heritage properties? We cherish the histories of our small towns, which is what gives them their charm. Cutting down trees, draining wetlands and softening climate change protective policy puts us all in dire straits.
We do need more affordable housing, which Ford is removing the focus on. I think the very perceptive boy who wrote from John Black Public school was right about low-rise housing, which would use less space and save land and trees for food, water and breathing.
I learned when I was eight57 years old that trees made it rain, trees produced oxygen and trees shade us from the increasingly hot sun. I wonder if Ford has a retentive memory. He is young enough to know that he will still be around when the excrement hits the fan.
Christy Doraty,
Fergus
No help, no results
Dear Editor:
Finding a doctor to fill out and asses, examine me, for the purpose of disabled person status, I have been to walk-in clinics for five years, on a waiting list for a doctor.
The clinic here in Fergus will not complete the government forms. I have been to several doctor here in Fergus that will not take me as a patent.
I have been to a specialist in Guelph who told me my diabetic neuropathy puts me in the disabled person category, but he will not fill out any government forms.
I have contacted my MPP Ted Arnott several times, with no results. I have contacted Groves hospital with no results.
I have not been able to do my income taxes for two years, now waiting for a doctor to complete my disability government forms.
I, as a tax paying retired citizen, have been ignored, brushed off, left with this problem. Everyone I contact says they can not help me.
David Hern,
Fergus
Wants to keep statue
Dear Editor:
I am a 12-year-old at John Black Public School.
I am here to remind the town of how they are taking down something that lots of people know and love, “the Defender of Blairgowrie” statue.
A living log, the tree has been with us for over 200 years, but it was carved 17 years ago by Sean Kosvic and his dad.
I feel slightly frustrated with the township for taking down something that they call “a safety hazard,” but in fact he is quite safe because it is quite easy to see. This makes it easier to avoid and the only risk it poses is falling down, but its trunk is really wide (and nor is he that tall) so that’s virtually impossible.
But if we consider him to be a hazard, why don’t we consider every other tree on the side of the sidewalk to be a hazard? It is an important symbol for Fergus and its connection to Scottish culture. It helps to blend our Fergus culture with Scottish culture.
Now can you please reconsider taking down the Scottish gentleman? Even if you do have to take this beautiful statue down, can you please recreate this statue out of another more sturdy material?
Adam Blenkiron,
Fergus
Successful walk
Dear Editor:
The Lions Clubs of Fergus and Marsville want to thank Centre Wellington and area for supporting our annual Pet Valu Walk for Dog Guides. These national walks provides funds to raise and train service dogs that are given to Canadians at no cost.
Held on Sunday, May 28, it was a very successful, very warm event. Many came, ate walked and donated over $8,700. That combined with $2,600 donated on-line locally will put us close to our goal of about $13,000, when all deposits are tallied.
Fundraising is not over. Come to the Brew Hose in Fergus on June 4 at 1pm and for every pint of beer sold before 4pm the Brew House is donating $1 (aptly named “Pints for Puppies”).
We Lions also want to thank the entire area for supporting and attending our recent annual Fergus Lions Home and Leisure Show.
Marg Murray,
President, Fergus Lions Club