‘Sterile’ arena
Dear Editor:
My wife and I attended the latest Jr. B lacrosse game (Elora Hawks versus Orangeville Northmen). It’s the playoffs, and now Elora is up two games to one.
The arena was “packed.” Standing room only. While the game was exciting and the crowd totally involved, we were dumbfounded to discover that there is a total lack of “history” in the arena!
Not a hockey or lacrosse banner, no trophy cases, medals, ribbons, no framed sweaters. We had three boys who were very involved in both sports and have been to hundreds of arenas, or barns, as they are affectionately called, and without exception, all pay homage to their past.
Lacrosse has been played in Elora since the mid 19th century. The Hawks (once the Mohawks) have played since 1967. Elora had teams participating in the Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) from the 1920s to the 1940s. The Elora Rocks currently play in the OEHL.
With all this rich history, there must be mementos that were saved. Where are they? Why are they not on display? The arena looks sterile.
As if the sports teams were just created this year. In all fairness there was a TV screen with pictures of past teams cycling through past years, but no one paid attention. There can be no replacement for trophy cases with memorabilia.
Something needs to be done to rectify this atrocity and truly recognize past players, coaches, managers and all who give their time, and in the case of the players, their sweat to these wonderful games
Paul Gooch,
Elora
‘Small price to pay’
Dear Editor:
RE: Town of Erin refuses to renew humane society’s lease, July 17.
I am very upset that Erin council has decided to abandon support (by terminating its lease with the Upper Credit Humane Society [UCHS]) for a very essential service that it provides our community at large.
UCHS is not just an Erin organization, but a broader regional one and it should be part of Erin’s philosophy to be a good neighbourly citizen.
I have adopted quite a number of rescue and rehabilitated cats and dogs over the 30-plus years that I have resided here, all from UCHS. I annually provide financial support to them as well.
I may not actually live in Erin but I do reside on its border. I volunteer in Erin and shop in Erin. I certainly spend a lot of my leisure time in Erin and consider it as much home as I do Halton Hills.
Although my volunteer work is based in Halton Hills, my organization and I are frequently doing our conservation work in Erin. We don’t say, “Sorry but that’s over on the other side of townline.” We know that you don’t have a service equivalent to ours and we have gone out past Hillsburgh and into Caledon.
It’s not just about money. Council needs to consider quality of life and ensure that necessary services are provided to its residents and the community at large. Providing a long-term lease is a small price to pay, but shows a big heart.
Dan Poirier,
Halton Hills
Precious parking lost
Dear Editor:
Part of Colborne Street in Elora has been closed for reconstruction since the end of June. This closure is scheduled to last until December.
I’ve noticed that every time our glorious municipal government reconstructs a street near downtown Elora, we lose some parking spots.
This brings up the question, how many parking spots are we going to lose this time?
As there is a shortage of parking spots in downtown Elora, I have never understood why we keeping losing spots. It doesn’t make any sense to me.
Anthony Martins,
Elora
‘Pay-to-play’ land grab
Dear Editor:
Doug Ford is at it again! He wanted to break up the Greenbelt to make developers millions of dollars. He was called out by voters and his own MPPs and finally reversed course. Now he has devised another way to grab land and power in Bill 5.
The bill ignores environmental legislation and protections, archeological investigations, and consultation with the First Nations.
These lawless Special Economic Zones could be declared anywhere. The Wilmot farms or any farm could be expropriated at the premier’s whim. The Dresden dump, owned by a major donor to the Conservative Party, could be approved despite being located over a creek that empties into the Sydenham River.
It is a pay-to-play situation open to further corruption, environmental devastation, and it is a gross insult to Indigenous people.
Nine First Nations have asked for an injunction against Bill 5 as it violates our charter and is a danger to treaties in addition to democracy, municipal planning and farmland.
First Nations have a successful track record of winning in court while Ontario taxpayers continue to pay for Doug Ford’s bad decisions that land the province in court so often!
This ill conceived Bill 5 needs to be rescinded before it creates more havoc and costs taxpayers for the resulting damage!
Donna McCaw,
Elora
‘Help solve a problem’
Dear Editor:
Rent prices are up, housing prices are soaring, Gen-Z and even Millenials can’t afford to own a home, but still people don’t want subdivisions built.
Still people say “I don’t want to live next door to a subdivision”, “not in my backyard”. How can we fix a problem when everyone says they don’t want it near them? Don’t get me wrong, cookie cutter homes that all look the same aren’t appealing, however a simple change of colour to siding and trim and the homes don’t look photocopied.
Build subdivisions that work with the surrounding area; rather than cut down forests, put in a park and walking trail. And to keep the small town-feel, you don’t overdevelop your downtown core.
Building homes will bring down rent prices and housing prices and make it more affordable to live in our little slice of heaven we call home.
I think it’s time Fergus opened its doors to some more builds, fill in the gaps in the urban boundary, and help solve a problem.
David DeWitt,
Fergus
Sideroad 18 ‘dangerous’
Dear Editor:
I have sent numerous emails to the Township of Centre Wellington about my speeding concerns on Sideroad 18 in Fergus.
Starting in early spring I have repeatedly asked for something to be done about the drivers ignoring the posted 40km/h limit. Finally, one sign was posted at one end of the road. Big whoop! It is at the wide part of the road were one doesn’t even need to slow down to get past.
Two years ago there were three or four of these signs spread down the road, which helped somewhat. It has become dangerous to walk or bike on our road due to the speed and volume of traffic. There are no sidewalks or even a shoulder on Sideroad 18. What does it take to be heard and have this addressed?
Cheryl Steen,
Fergus
‘Sell the whole mess’
Dear Editor:
I have noticed that since the postal strike in December that the amount of mail I receive has been slowly declining as the year goes on.
My mail has dropped to only utility bills and government notices and maybe three or four Christmas cards, due to postal rates.
Rarely do I get fliers or junk mail so that now I only go to collect my mail once or twice a week. During this same time period more fliers are arriving in my weekly Wellington Advertiser paper.
So why does Canada Post want to increase mail delivery to seven days a week? My thoughts are they want to recover the parcel business.
I have news for them: you lost it due to inefficiency and you will never get it back again.
To solve the endless requests for government assistance, as they have no plans to make a profit, just sell the whole mess to someone who can do it right. Purolator comes to mind for one.
Paul Roberts,
Fergus