‘Disheartening’
Dear Editor:
When I received my paper this week, I had to do a double take on the front page photograph.
What a beautiful scene! People enjoying a lovely care-free summer outing on a boat. But wait, we are in the midst of a global pandemic. Although the article cites the current public health guidelines, this picture balks at them all: a social gathering of more than five people who are not physically distanced or wearing face masks and are seemingly not from the same household.
This photo is a poor choice and gives the impression that public health standards do not make for pretty pictures anymore.
I’m tired too, but shouldn’t our local media support the current milieu? It is not my intent to shame those in the photo and I acknowledge that each of us has the autonomy to make our own decisions in terms of “following the rules.”
But the Advertiser’s advertisement of its ignorance towards public health recommendations is completely disheartening and disrespectful – especially to those of us in the healthcare industry and the community who continue to sacrifice for the greater good.
Sarah Williams,
Elora
Editor’s note: The Advertiser has never practised “ignorance towards public health recommendations.” All seven people in last week’s front page photo are family members living in the same household, so the gathering limit is not applicable to them.
‘Incensed’
Dear Editor:
I am incensed by the current ploy by the Ministry of Long Term Care to try to pretend that COVID-19 is to blame for the appalling conditions in our nursing homes.
Yes, many homes have been hit with devastating outbreaks, but the conditions our loved ones have to endure on a daily basis are old news. COVID-19 is not the reason that our seniors receive insufficient care or emotional support. It is not the reason that someone right now is sitting in a dirty diaper or waiting for help that doesn’t come.
This has been happening for years due to under-staffing, insufficient training, poor management, ineffective monitoring by the ministry and chronic under-funding by successive provincial governments.
My mother was in care for 17 years. She was left soiled causing chronic infections, bruised, had fractures of “undetermined origin”, found with her face crusted in dried food and denied any semblance of human dignity. These things had nothing to do with any outbreak; they were everyday life in long-term care.
The managing corporations will never admit wrongdoing, it is too easy to blame the helpless. Filing a complaint on the hotline doesn’t take the 48 hours claimed by the minister. It takes months, and nothing changes.
Mr. Ford is correct; the system is broken. Sweeping it under a COVID-19 rug is not going to fix it.
Sherri Moyer,
Centre Wellington
Not all homes the same
Dear Editor:
As a disclaimer, I retired after over 30 years as an a administrator in long-term care, but I am not writing with an axe to grind or as an apologist for the negligent owners in this field of health care.
I am concerned with the current direction of governments and the media to paint all long-term care homes with the same brush.
Throughout this pandemic we have been informed on an almost hourly basis of the horrific deaths in a number of LTC homes and this is a tragedy beyond measure . What is not being pointed out is that there are, I believe, over 600 long-term care homes in the province. They are staffed with thousands of dedicated people who have worked tirelessly through this crisis to keep the virus at bay and protect the residents in their care. Many homes had outbreaks and were able to contain them and residents recovered. These numbers are not being reported.
Where deaths did occur the impact on staff must have been unprecedented. Over the years I have seen staff in tears over the death of a resident they have cared for. To deal with this multiple times on a daily basis and continue working takes a special kind of strength. Let’s not forget these heroic efforts in our rush to judgements.
Certainly long-term care requires a hard look (and this seems like déjà vu), but let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water.
Peter Barnes,
Mount Forest
Keep studies straight
Dear Editor:
RE: Centre Wellington to develop new water policy, May 28.
I wish to respond to last week’s article about the capacity of Centre Wellington’s Water System. This needs additional context.
We have two water studies in Centre Wellington, and they each have a separate purpose.
At the May 25 council meeting, Councillor Ian MacRae drew attention to the Water Supply Master Plan’s conclusion that new water supply for our water system is required by 2020. This study concludes that we need two wells by 2022 and additional new wells added to the system every five years until 2041. Without considering a contingency of having one well offline for some reason, we are okay until 2026. We need these wells if the township intends to support the future growth that is planned over the next two decades.
The Water Supply Master Plan determines the infrastructure needs of Centre Wellington’s drinking water system in order to meet future drinking water requirements.
The other study, the Tier 3 Water Budget, looks at how much water is in the ground, in the municipal aquifer, to supply those wells. Knowing how much water there is in the aquifer can determine the risk there is to our municipal water sources into the future. This is the study that was presented to council last Monday.
This is a different thing altogether.
The Tier 3 study has determined that there is enough sustainable water in the ground to support population growth until 2031 to 2036. But after that we don’t know.
There is aquifer capacity and water system capacity – two different things. Yes, it is confusing, but we want to keep it straight.
When it comes to wells, we pay attention to the Water Supply Master Plan. When it comes to water in the aquifer, we pay attention to the Tier 3 Water Budget Study.
Jan Beveridge,
Save Our Water
Absolute stupidity
Dear Editor:
RE: The Marathon begins, May 21.
After reading your editorial, I completely agree. I guess I didn’t get the memo that the pandemic was over.
I needed to get out of the house, went for a drive and 95% of people not wearing masks, moving freely through the garden centres and grocery stores disregarding social distancing. These people just don’t get it; expect a second wave at the end of summer with this attitude.
Thanks for your comments regarding your observations when you were out there. I stayed in the car but the picture was the same. People just don’t get it. I was in TSC and Rivers Bend garden parking lots and the mall areas in Hanover. Absolute stupidity.
Rory Goodden,
Clifford
Motorcyclist dangers
Dear Editor:
May is Motorcycle Awareness Month. Sadly, on May 1 a motorcyclist was hit and killed locally.
My understanding is that the deceased and his wife were stopped on their motorcycles on Wellington 19 to turn near the 6th line. The truck hit them from behind, killing the male rider and injuring the female rider.
As we enter into the last week of Motorcycle Awareness Month there still has been no charges laid against the unidentified driver of the truck.
I, like many other motorcycling enthusiasts, have visited the location of the accident. I parked my car and walked the area, watching the traffic pass by. Now this may seem morbid to some, but as an experienced, skilled rider I feel the need to understand how this accident happened. It also helps me stay safe should I find myself in a similar situation. I, as well as many others, have heard talk of the hill, the curve and excessive speed. So I needed to see for myself even though I know this road well.
As I walked I looked for signs of the truck trying to stop, or swerve. Unfortunately, there had been a second accident at that corner days later. There were slight tire marks well back from where the bikes had been hit, leading me to believe that the those marks were from the second accident. There are no tire marks near where the bikes went down and spilt their fluids.
As of late there has been an alarming trend of vehicle drivers who hit and kill/seriously injure motorcyclists being charged with some of the lesser charges, under the Highway Traffic Act. These charges come with fines, and occasionally a driving suspension. These charges in no way reflect the gravity of the harm inflicted.
When I questioned a police officer why the charge did not equal the outcome of actions, I was told that the police had to charge the person with what they thought would “stick.”
I believe if the police have been “investigating” this mortality since May 1, they should have enough to hold this unidentified driver to the full extent of the law.
I am a motorcyclist, Not road kill.
Brenda Murray,
Fergus
Trailway a gem
Dear Editor:
Ontario is cautiously “reopening,” following the most extraordinary and challenging number of weeks that most of us have experienced in our lives. Our individual and collective behaviour has been altered as we adapt to a new reality. Virtually all health professionals are encouraging us to spend more time outside for our physical and mental wellbeing.
We are very fortunate in Wellington County to have had for the past 27 years a priceless resource, the Elora Cataract Trailway (ECT). Every year, many thousands of residents and visitors have walked, run, cycled, ridden horses, snowmobiled or cross country skied along it.
There was a collective sigh of relief within the wider community when the Grand River and Credit Valley Conservation Authorities reopened the balance of the trailway some two weeks ago. The GRCA and the Township of Centre Wellington had made a wise decision to reach an agreement permitting the busy Elora-Fergus section to reopen prior to the rest of the trail reopening. Indeed the trailway does link the two watersheds and some seven communities along its 47km length.
As part of a comprehensive newly released map of the Trailway (found online at www.trailway.org or as a hard copy), also incorporating the recently upgraded and ever-popular Trestle Bridge Trail, a vital User’s Code is included.
Given the new imperative of maintaining physical distancing, proper trailway etiquette is even more critical than ever. It remains a multi-use trail, and as such, we must all be respectful, alerting others to our presence and provide ample room. A good example is to use your bike bell when passing other trail users.
With warmer weather, families will use the trail even more, with most youngsters not attending regular classes, it provides a terrific opportunity to embrace the beauties of our landscape.
This wonderful lengthy linear park is a gem. It is no exaggeration to say it is a critical tie that serves to bind us together and contribute to our wellbeing, particularly now.
Enjoy it and see you on the trail.
Rick Goodfellow,
Board member, Elora Cataract Trailway Association
Frontline salute
Dear Editor:
A poem in support of frontline workers, entitled You’re The Best.
The Frontline workers we have in our land, The bravest of brave and the grandest of grand.
Their loving hearts give they don’t hesitate, Knowing quite well what could be their fate.
I hear all the time how they risk their life, Giving out hope while dealing with strife.
As I do my part by staying at home, I’ll thank frontline workers by writing this poem.
A is for ACTION and ready they were, B is for BRAVERY they have it for sure.
C is for CARE these unselfish brave, doing their best every patient to save.
D is for DARING and for sure they are, E is for EFFORT and each one a star.
F is for FEARLESS each one of them shows, While each passing day the patient list grows.
G is for Good that they do every day, H is for HELP for the sick as they lay.
I is for much INSPIRATION they give, And praying to God that each patient will live.
J is for JOY that they still try to spread, K is for KINDNESS at each patients bed.
L is for LOVE and there’s no shortage there And it’s given freely for each one to share.
M is for MOURNING each patient that dies, N is for NUMB as each soul up and flies.
O is for OPEN their mind has to be, To offer some hope to each one that they see.
P is for PITY that they hold inside, Q is for QUICK to be at each bedside.
R is for REST they so desperately need But they motor on that’s the type of the breed.
S is for SORROW each day they conceal, T is for TENDERNESS traits they all feel.
U for UNSELFISH not even one bone, They’ll be at a bed for each murmur and moan.
V is for VICTORY a win they expect, W for WILLING to serve and protect.
X is for EXTRA the hours they worked, Right in the middle where the enemy lurked.
Y is for YELLS in their loudest of tone, Each time that a patient walks out on their own.
Z is for ZEST that doesn’t run out, Even though weariness gives them a clout.
We cannot find words to thank them enough, We honk horns, make posters and do other stuff.
Their loving hearts give though danger is near, They worry inside while hiding their fear.
We owe them so much we cannot repay, Their life is in danger on every work day.
But how can we thank the ones that have died, We must keep their memory and hold it with pride.
We do need a moment what e’re the cost, So we can remember each one that we lost.
For each one of you that have gone to your rest,
And each one still working I think you’re the BEST.
Lyndon Hunter,
Clifford
‘Confused fairy’
Dear Editor:
I learned about the “wine fairy” movement quite by accident. I was lucky enough to interact with one of these magical fairies even though I did not know about the community initiative that prompts strangers to leave gifts of wine and other treats on the porches of strangers.
Our paths crossed when this particular fairy left a gift bag on my front porch, with a note from the “wine fairy” addressed to someone else. I only caught sight of her red car as she pulled away, but as I was still on the porch trying to decide how I’d locate the anonymous fairy to ensure her generosity landed where it was meant to, I saw the red car going back the way it came and flagged it down.
When we solved the mystery, we were both left with a warm feeling of joy and gratitude, connecting us from a social distance.
This lady truly was an angel for me that day. Imagine my surprise when I opened the door a few days later to find a beautiful pot of Gerbera daisies with a lovely note assuring me this delivery was indeed meant for me, from the “confused fairy”
I still do not know who my “confused fairy” is, but I am grateful our paths crossed. She is one of the kindest and most sincere human beings I have had the pleasure of meeting. In a two minute interaction, she became one of my fondest memories of COVID-19.
I sincerely hope she stays safe and well and that our paths cross again in the community when we can safely connect in a less socially-distant way.
Brigid Reilly,
Fergus