Youth centre thanks Kinsmen, firefighters, entertainers, businesses, community members
Dear Editor:
Twenty-five years is a long time for a youth centre to thrive in a small town. The Drayton Youth Centre has many people to thank for this longevity.
The support our community has provided these many years, both physically and monetarily, is testament to our belief that it takes a village to raise a child. Our 25th anniversary celebration was no exception.
Thank-you to the Kinsmen for your eagerness to join us in setting up your barbecue tent to serve over 200 people some very delicious burgers, hot dogs and sausages.
Thank you to the fire department for bringing in two fire trucks and allowing so many excited children the opportunity to sit inside and imagine being a firefighter. Thank you to the firefighters who stayed to help clean up afterward.
Thank you to Chuckles Balloons for your amazing balloon creations.
Thank you to Five Nineteen Productions and Catherine for your very popular escape room tent. We saw long line ups to beat their time in solving the puzzles.
Thank you to Tashia Esseltine for the many cotton candy treats you served to the youth.
Thank you to the Drayton Youth Centre’s (DYC) founder Andy Knetsch for speaking to us about the youth centre’s history and to councillor Marlene Ottens for representing support from the township.
Thank you to the Drayton Funeral Home for providing easels to hold the canvases for our young artists. The colourful canvases are now on display at the youth centre.
Thank you to Andy Speers for lending the Waddies games that even two-year-olds enjoyed playing.
Thank you to A la mode and Drayton Pharmasave for the much-anticipated prizes they provided.
And thank you to all who came to help us celebrate this milestone.
Dahl Atin,
On behalf of the DYC board,
Drayton
‘Sad, embarrassing’
Dear Editor:
I have never sent a letter in before but after seeing what Town of Erin officials did by spending $20,000 for a new logo, an unnecessary change I might add, well, it made my blood boil.
Mayor Michael Dehn, you should know better than to agree to and allow this ridiculous amount of money to be given to Trajectory Brands for a logo that is not new nor unique for our town.
It appears this was not designed for Erin, but simply copied from European logos used.
Councillor Cathy Aylard did you really make the statement that this new copied logo reflects our town’s mission and vision? All I can say is unbelievable.
The shamrock that has been used in our logo for many years worked just fine; so much so new homes are being built all around us.
Mayor Dehn and the town council obviously had lots of taxpayer money kicking around to waste on such a rebranding. Our town does not need rebranding, we need smart elected individuals who will think through things before spending unnecessarily.
As a taxpayer and long-term community member, I personally find this sad and embarrassing, and that is an understatement.
Cheryl Griffith,
Erin
‘Deeply disappointed’
Dear Editor:
Erin is a beautiful town symbolized by the shamrock, which underlines the “rural, historic, agricultural charm” of the town.
The shamrock is beautifully presented to the general public and visitors with hand-carved signs by local artist Myron Lasko. His work is a beautiful representation of Erin’s Irish/Scottish heritage. It’s enjoyed by visitors and is unique to Erin.
Reading last week’s excellent article in the Wellington Advertiser, I agree that I do not see any historical connection, any reflection of the history of Erin in this change of logo – a logo that is not new or fresh. But it is expensive. There is no connection to Erin/Hillsburgh or the Town of Erin and yet this is supposed to be one of the reasons that $20,000 was spent to create a “new” (and I would have anticipated unique at that price) logo.
The new logo shows no individualism, no warmth and no message. Well, it does remind one of the same logo, with subtle changes of colour, used by various companies and entities. And it does not show any need for artistry, professional training or skills to create a heart within three “tear drops”. It was not even created! It was already in use.
And, then there is the statement about public input. Which, in my experience means a substantial time frame to send out information and await responses from the public. I am not aware of any notification to the public; thanks to upset fellow citizens, Facebook and the Advertiser, we are now aware of this disgusting attack on Erin’s beautiful shamrock logo.
But many of us are not on Facebook and do not receive the Advertiser, so where was the council’s effort to contact their residents?
We all have mailboxes. Notices could have been sent to us before sending our hard earned tax dollars to a firm in Toronto to do a job that could be done here by our many gifted residents.
At a time of financial stress for Erin residents and businesses; at a time when projected expenses for 2024 have grown beyond initial expectations; at a time when we have ongoing concerns about completion dates and cost of new subdivisions and projects including the wastewater system; at a time when so much is on hold in our community – why this?!
Why would council think a new logo was a sensible expense? Not to mention the wisdom of then spending that $20,000 on a Toronto firm (the mind boggles) while our local foodbank and other volunteer groups desperately need financial support and assistance.
I am stunned at all of this and deeply disappointed with our council.
Lee Douglas,
Erin
Money ‘wasted’
Dear Editor:
Thanks to the Wellington Advertiser for researching the knock-off logo the Town of Erin has selected to represent our town.
Is there anyone at the town offices watching over the taxpayers’ interests?
Perhaps they could have selected a well known sports company’s “swoosh” to represent the sound of $20,000 being wasted.
Mac Yule,
Erin
Stop the 413
Dear Editor:
There’s a lot of informed people in Ontario that realize how important it is to stop the 413. They know that we are already losing 319 acres of farmland every day in Ontario. They know how important our Greenbelt, farmlands, clean water, clean air, forests and the biodiversity is to sustain a healthy environment for future generations. They know it is paramount to protect species at risk (ie. – redside dace).
They know Doug Ford’s government can’t be trusted. They know the 413 will increase congestion. They know the 413 is a gateway to increase greed sprawl. They know Ontario has 16,900km of roads already and most of them in southern Ontario. They know Toronto has 5,600km of streets in its city. They know we don’t need any more roads. They know the highway we need is already built – it’s called the 407.
They know by a stroke of a pen the Ford government can make the 407 free for commercial traffic; they know the congestion on the 401, 403, 410 and 400 would ease by at least 40% right now with a stroke of a pen.
They know by subsidizing commercial traffic on one of the most expensive toll roads on the planet (407) would save taxpayers the billions it would take to build the destructive 413.
They know the 413 will do absolutely nothing for congestion. They know the 413 is plan B for greedy sprawl developers – the same ones involved in Doug Ford’s infamous $8.3 billion Greenbelt scandal.
They know we can stop the 413.
Let’s do it.
Terry Brooker,
Orangeville
Dog home again
Dear Editor:
Two weeks ago our “new to us” dog, Maggie/Wiggles, escaped and for five days and nights and remained out there somewhere. People everywhere across Centre Wellington-Guelph, and Woolwich –KW Region posted and re-posted information.
Folks phoned, texted and emailed us with possible sightings, advice on searching and offering support.
Five days into to her travels a phone call came with a sighting in Elora. We headed out and found several people, including OPP officers, gathered together on Water Street in Elora and there she sat in the seat of an OPP cruiser.
So many people shared information, kept looking out for her and finally were able to follow her and secure her. It was “the community” that made all this possible and it is our privilege to be a part of it.
Our sincere thanks to you all.
Dorinda and Robbie Keith,
Elora
Festival thankful
Dear Editor:
On behalf of the board, staff and volunteers of the Eden Mills Writers’ Festival, we extend our heartfelt thanks for your support of this year’s festival.
A special thanks goes to our incredible volunteers and the Eden Mills community for warmly hosting and caring for the festival and its attendees.
We are deeply grateful to our monthly donors, online donors, and sponsors. A special shoutout to Sydney Fisher Dawe and the Re/Max Connex Team, our gold sponsor this year. We also extend our thanks to our silver sponsors: The Neighbourhood Group, Penguin Random House Canada, RLB Chartered Professional Accountants, League of Canadian Poets, HarperCollins Canada Ltd., Tracey Morrow and TrilliumWest, and the University of Guelph.
This year’s sponsors made it possible to provide essential elements like golf carts, volunteer and author green room catering, our author’s reception and dinner, and children’s activities.
We are also incredibly thankful for the ongoing support from The Angel Gabriel Foundation, The Emerald Foundation, The Guelph Community Foundation’s Musagetes Fund, and The Bookshelf, whose long-term investment helps sustain our programming.
Lastly, we would like to recognize our granting and government partners: the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Access Copyright Foundation, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, County of Wellington, and the City of Guelph, whose grants covered our staff and operational costs this year.
Our team is committed to enhancing the festival’s sustainability, with exciting initiatives on the horizon, including a new partnership with The Bookshelf. Stay tuned for updates, and thank you once again for your continued support!
Kristin Morrison,
Festival fundraiser
Club appreciative
Dear Editor:
The Elora Lawn Bowling Club has held their last tournament for 2024. Bowling has been ongoing for over 100 years in Elora.
This sport is for all ages and affordable.
Out-of-town clubs come to Elora to compete, win a monetary prize, and enjoy our area. Without the generosity of local businesses sponsoring our tournaments, this would not be possible.
The executive and club members extend their appreciation, gratitude and a big thank-you to: Mountjoy Financial, Graham Giddy Funeral Home, Rafferty Insurance, George Mochrie Real Estate Corporation, Speers Electric, Dino’s Auto Collision, Heritage River Retirement Home and Morris and Shannon LLP.
Looking forward to next season May 2025.
Norma Seibert,
Sponsor co-ordinator
Elora Rocks Lawnbowling