‘Trumpian methods’
Dear Editor:
I bet the Chinese can’t believe their luck! We have a Canadian political party using Trumpian methods to discredit an honest man who knows more about Beijing’s subversive plans than any of us due to his exemplary work doing the job he was assigned by our PM.
At the formal hearing purposed to determine next steps in combatting Chinese meddling in our democracy, particular Conservative members used the time to make detailed accusations of bias regarding Johnston’s past history without giving the gentleman time for a complete sentence in reply. His integrity was never questioned when he was called upon by the Harper government to oversee delicate negotiations.
Interesting to note, Johnston would not be deterred from his message: the problem of subversion exists. We need to develop ways to deter this, ASAP.
Pierre Poilievre and other party heads have been invited to review his findings under a strict security regime. Only Jagmeet Singh has accepted the invitation. And still China will continue to find ways to undermine our democracy by sewing discord and disorder.
Arlene Callaghan,
Fergus
Public inquiry needed
Dear Editor:
It is imperative that a National Inquiry regarding Chinese interference in our elections be completed before parliament recess.
Why? This is a national security issues. If Jagmeet Singh would help democracy and we are able to get an election tabled, we need to be absolutely certain there is no foreign interference or other interference in the results of our elections before we enter into another election.
We need to be certain there is no technology interference too. We have already learned that our own MP in this area was interfered with and also others from parliament.
I would strongly suggest that we email Jagmeet Singh and let him know that we need a national inquiry into the Chinese interference before parliament goes for a recess. This is vital.
I would suggest that you ask Mr. Singh to force a public national inquiry by a person other than Johnson; a person with no connection to Trudeau or with a conflict of interest agreeable to the opposition, even if it means he has to break his agreement with Trudeau because he needs to put Canadians first.
Thank you to the newspaper for publishing this letter to support freedom of speech and our democracy.
Carolann Krusky,
Fergus
Speeding problem?
Dear Editor:
An open letter to the council of Centre Wellington.
We live in a beautiful open area of Centre Wellington featuring large, flat fields and open areas with wide, straight stretches of road. Great avenues to get to work and school.
Recently we became curious about pressure treated posts planted all along Sideroad 20 from Jones Baseline to East/West Garafraxa Townline. Before long we realized that town council, in their infinite wisdom, decided it was necessary to drop a proper speed limit of 80km/h to 60km/h for that entire stretch.
I wanted to give benefit to doubt by inquiring why this was felt necessary and received a report from some engineer hired by the town. There appear to be 24 sections of road in the township that are seeing speed limit reductions.
Why? Because of accidents? Because there are a lot of people living there? No, this is due to some speeding at 15km/h over the posted limit. Really? In his response was the following: “the 60 km/h limit should be maintained on Sideroad 20 from Jones Baseline to East-West Garafraxa Townline to encourage consistent driving behavior.” Really?
This stretch of Sideroad 20 has less than 20 homes or driveways in an 11km strech. If there is to be a change to the posted limit at all, it should be changed to 90km/h. You will solve your speeding problem.
Chris Feenstra,
Belwood
‘Hard choices’
Dear Editor:
When I am home in Erin, if someone asks me where I live I define my address by street and number. When I travel in Ontario, by my town, Erin; in Canada by my province, Ontario, or if I go abroad, by my country, Canada. But it stops there.
Why? Because no one disputes your citizenship on Earth. But so often, we forget what this planet gives us. Everything you use, every beautiful mountain you see, every breath-catching view of the ocean is freely given by the planet, by Earth.
She will give you everything you ask for: a delicious dinner, an array of seasonal flowers, your bike, your clothing, Ontario Place … whatever you can think of, but we have taken so much more.
We have brutally extracted the things she has hidden under the Earth for safekeeping. We have used some of these things to create life saving medicines, but also nuclear warheads. We cut down vast areas of her lungs, the rain forest, to grow plants and animals where we shouldn’t, when they could be grown elsewhere.
We have made the horrific mistake of claiming that humans are at the top of the evolutionary process, as some interpreter of the Bible has mistakenly claimed: “man” has dominion over all the creatures on Earth. Sad. Mistaken.
Indigenous peoples who live in harmony with the Earth understand our interconnection. It has taken many billions of years for this planet’s wisdom to form an unimaginably interconnected and complex system that keeps everything in balance; from every gnat and bird to the huge sequoia, the giraffe and the butterfly. First Nations know this. Why doesn’t the modern world?
We are in a time that calls for hard choices: trying to resolve differences or reacting with hatred and suspicion, reaching out, cooperating and compromising when we can, or rushing to judgement and condemnation, which separates and destroys us.
We are entering a time when our address must be and is Earth, Mother Earth, because, like a mother, she gives and gives until she is exhausted. She wants to give us everything we need to thrive.
We need to pay attention to her, to find out what She needs and do that until She is well. Then we and all who live on her will be well, too.
Gerry Walsh,
Erin
Appreciates coach
Dear Editor:
Official track and field is over and gone for the 2023 season. Training continues, exams loom and extra, fun track events await us on a few occasions this summer.
As our muscles take a brief break after the 2023 OFSAA (Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association) meet in Ottawa, we must take a moment. Many of us have had the privilege of dedicated mentors and coaches who tirelessly gave up their time to help us develop physical talents that we have been allowed to pursue.
Expressing our thanks to all those who volunteer is vital in reflecting our achievements.
Emmanuel Christian High School’s cross country and track coach, Brian, has encouraged us, helped us recognize our abilities, stretched our limitations more than we thought possible, helped us find strategies and paths to success and without fail has been to our meets to support us and tells us to “dig deep”.
Thanks, coach Brian.
It truly is a privilege to have you as our school’s coach!
Julie DeBoer,
Centre Wellington
Multi-generational
Dear Editor:
On behalf of everyone at the Blue Door Community, our thanks to the County of Wellington and the Advertiser for the chance to share how our home has evolved with the needs of our changing family.
Over the past two weeks, we have had lots of enthusiastic feedback from people we know (and those we don’t!) about our approach to multi-generational living. Housing is an issue that impacts everyone in our community and the intentional changes we have made seem to resonate with many.
It has been pointed out that we are privileged to have done what we have. We fully agree and have recognized that from the start of our housing journey.
We are blessed to have access to the physical space and capital that allowed us to build and adapt our living space the way we have. We fully acknowledge that everyone doesn’t.
And, we hope our story is a call to families, developers and all three levels of government that smart design and intentionality are tools all of us can use to support creative and people-centered housing.
It goes without saying that using prime agricultural land to build homes is neither.
Curt Hammond,
Elora
‘Beautiful music’
Dear Editor:
The Victoria Park Seniors of Fergus are making beautiful music … and, this is music to my ears.
What a grand opportunity for everyone who is a part of this.
Music lifts us up and brings joy and happiness to the heart.
Keep on keeping on.
Liz Hughes,
Puslinch
Poetry
Dear Editor:
The Sky of My Youth
How blue was my sky in my youth,
And the clouds so pristine white,
The wind sang fresh and sweet,
And the sun shone golden and bright.
At night stars glittered like gems,
On darkest velvet black,
The moon was a silvery disc,
Its countenance beaming back.
But now, alas, but now,
All is in a haze,
Copper have the nights become,
And brown become our days.
Barb Baszczynski,
East Garafraxa
Seniors worried about future of hall
Dear Editor:
Arthur Seniors Hall has been around since 1863. During its first many years it was used as a drill hall for the local militia. After the Boer War, the building was turned over to the town for $1. It became the hub of the town with shows, council meetings, dances and much more. When the Second World War ended, the town saw new schools and larger halls being built. The building lost its popularity and started to deteriorate.
In 1970, under the leadership of John Walsh, the council turned over the building to local seniors. With the help of grants and many volunteer hours, the seniors were able to restore the building and make it a meeting place for seniors and locals, for activities, parties, dinners etc.
Fifty-three years later, the township no longer feels the hall is a safe building to be in. We, the members, are uncertain as to what the problem is, as we have never received a structural engineer’s report which would outline what the problems are. We do not have a leaky roof, or walls and you can not see daylight from inside.
The town would like us to vacate the building and rent the upper floor of the community centre. The stairs there would be a definite challenge for seniors and the elevator only holds two at a time. We have shuffleboard equipment, cribbage tables, a pool table and card tables that we would not be able to take with us.
Presently people rent the hall at a reasonable price for various events. The money generated from these events helps to pay the bills. This would not be permitted at the community centre, making it very challenging for the seniors to pay the rent bill for use of the upper hall of the community centre.
VON Smart exercise is taught at the hall for zero cost to the seniors. This could only take place at the community centre if there was an employee working at that time to let the members in and it would not be free. There would be no guarantee that the exercise could take place on a regular basis or at all. AA has used the Senior’s Hall for many years. They too would have no where to go.
If you take a look around the town at any function, you will notice that many of the people doing the work are seniors. They volunteer a great deal of their time and energy to help our community. They do not receive any money for the endless hours that they put in. They do, however appreciate the fact that they have a building in which they can play shuffleboard, cards and exercise – helping to keep their minds and bodies in good shape so that they can volunteer in the community.
If the Arthur Senior’s Hall is closed and their is no viable place to relocate, what kind of disservice will you be doing to the seniors who dedicate much of their time and talents to make this community a better place to live in? Have they not earned the right to keep the building that was established for them 53 years ago?
Patti Emery,
Arthur Seniors Club