Dear Editor:
RE: Pearle plea, Oct. 10.
It’s not often that I have to eat my words, as I spend every day writing and, as a lawyer, I have to consider every word carefully and only make a statement after I have confirmed I have the facts right. Sadly, I blew it in my previous letter.
The Elora Mill’s general manager Evan Baulch contacted me after seeing that letter. I wouldn’t have been so welcoming and calm had I been in his shoes.
I learned that Pearle has contributed to virtually every local event, gone to lengths to locally source as much as possible, made a sizeable donation to Groves Memorial Community Hospital and, more generally, taken many steps to demonstrate its commitment to the community.
Obviously, those of you that have been part of Pearle’s efforts already know this. My suggestion to Evan was that they advertise their good deeds more so that others in the community appreciate the efforts being made. I was also reassured that there will be public access along the south side of the river; landscaped access which will be a huge improvement over what was there previously.
My regret is in not writing to Pearle directly at the outset as part of getting the facts right. The one upside to all of this is having met Evan; his sincerity was real and his enthusiasm for Elora authentic.
Some will object to Pearle because they don’t like the growth Elora is witnessing. I think many can understand that perspective as they fear something will be lost in the process of growing. Be that as it may, someone was going to step in and rescue the Elora Mill and, based on what I have learned since last week, I don’t think we could have a better partner than what we have in Pearle.
Julie Galloway,
Elora