‘How many years?’
Dear Editor:
RE: Injuries in multi-vehicle crash at notorious intersection, Oct. 16.
On Thanksgiving Monday, a major collision with multiple vehicles and injuries occurred – again – at the intersection of Highway 6 and Wellington road 22/8th Line on the border of Centre Wellington and Guelph/Eramosa.
Thirteen OPP vehicles, ambulances, firetrucks and an Ornge Air helicopter responded. Someone made a poor decision that will affect many lives and families.
We hear about the plan to change the intersection, but collisions keep happening, and we keep being told changes are coming. How many years does this planning take?
We are represented by Joseph Racinsky provincially and Michael Chong reps us federally, and there is a Conservative government. If they don’t think it’s important enough, it won’t happen.
Premier Doug Ford is focused on a 401 tunnel to get through Toronto faster, on Highway 413, to get you home faster, and on removing speed cameras. You get the hint? It’s all about speed.
Why wouldn’t they want to slow down traffic? Not in their interest.
What does it cost for emergency services to repeatedly respond to collisions here over and over? I’m sure that roundabout would be paid for in excess. We live west of this intersection, and go through it multiple times per day, but avoid it at peak hours.
We tell our friends and family not to use this intersection. I can say there are many more collisions here that go unreported. I can hear screeching tires and impacts from my house. Thoughts and prayers to those affected.
Mark Kozakowski,
Centre Wellington
Christians under attack?
Dear Editor:
According to the Sept. 17 letter that I received from Canada Family Action (CFA), “Christians are under attack.” They cite three examples.
First, the CBC tried to cancel Sean Feucht, an American Christian musician that few in Canada knew until the government-funded broadcasts whipped anti-American and anti-Christian hysteria over his religious and political views, resulting in municipal governments banning his performances in Halifax, Quebec City, Vaughan and Abbotsford, citing “safety concerns” and “code of conduct violations.” A church in Montreal was fined $2,500 for defying the ban.
Second, Charlie Kirk deeply held Christian values and was a political activist, author, media personality and founder of Turning Point USA (a non-profit organization that rallied and organized students to stand for conservative principles). He believed in free speech and respectful debate. He respected others even when he disagreed. Yet this man was assassinated by a young person who believed in the vitriol created by the left. The CFA letter continued by drawing attention to the CBC running a story in which they related some of Kirk’s more controversial positions, which could be interpreted as justifying the assassination.
Third, before the last federal election the Conservatives appointed around 90 candidates after the election writ was dropped. This blocked any local candidates including Christian conservatives and others from being nominated and elected. How can we expect a democracy in the Conservative Party when it is not practising democracy within itself?
If we want to preserve democracy in Canada, we must have democracy within our electoral system.
Pat Woode,
Fergus
*Editor’s note: CBC’s coverage of Feucht, much of which came after his concerts were already cancelled, included articles stating that governments “engaged in censorship” by revoking his permits and that Feucht “should still be allowed to perform across Canada.” Running a story about things Kirk said does not suggest his killing was justified.
‘Whitewashing’
Dear Editor:
Re: A sincere Christian, Oct. 9.
Henry Brunsveld’s letter to the editor is truly concerning. No one deserves to be a target of an assassin.
But at the end of the day Charlie Kirk’s rhetoric was indeed incendiary. Your whitewashing of it is nothing short of incredible, especially in Canada.
A review of 100 videos and no evidence of hate, racism, violence or white supremacy (you left out misogyny)? Unlike Dr. Thaddeus Williams, Helen Keller would be able to see and hear evidence to the contrary.
And then you end your letter by saying that Kirk’s assassination was an attempt to “silence his conservative Christian views”? Are “Christian views” suddenly categorized under “conservative” and “liberal” headings? Give me a break.
My father immigrated to Canada from the U.S. in the early 1960s to get away from the hateful ideals that men like Kirk proclaimed and the individuals who believed in those words.
There’s a fine line between First Amendment Rights (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms) and hate speech. I can differentiate between the two.
Brett Davis,
Orton
‘Nobody listened’
Dear Editor:
I have told you in the past many times big business was taking over your little town of Elora and nobody listened.
Now big business is running your town, and Centre Wellington’s council and mayor are helping them. The mayor is very protective if you mention the names of any of the big businesses.
Now the mayor and council have hired former mayor Kelly Linton, who helped create this mess, to try to solve the problem at a cost to taxpayers. Good luck.
The BIA is trying to recoup from big business and take back the organization. Kudos to them.
Be vigilant, It’s not over yet.
J. Alexander,
Fergus
Litter in Elora
Dear Editor:
Trending now is the oh-so-popular straw in a to-go cup. It’s a favourite of mine because I can usually attribute such litter to raccoons or other woodland creatures, or to seagulls.
But, the upright stance of a cup, as well as the far-from-precarious positioning of its straw, tells me that this is the work of a human. And being on a safe, flat ledge as so…
Last time, something resembling ranch dressing is what I found within one or two of these cups. I guess that could also be trending in litter: ranch-drinking, along with straws in to-go cups.
Would you mind pointing your gaze downward and approaching this trash can, to view the contents which lie within?
What does that make you think?
It’s like a sea of corpses isn’t it?
A coffee cup graveyard, of many (I assume). It’s weird that almost all of them are identical. As though they were targeted. This illustrates, rather well, how we build things – or an entire people – up only to turn around and destroy them by the masses.
It’s interesting how people are concerned with the health of their teeth, so much so that they use a straw to drink hot or acidic drinks, like coffee.
Yet, the amount of waste they endorse doesn’t bother them in the slightest.
Courtney Pamela,
Elora
Hospital projects
Dear Editor:
As Guelph General Hospital celebrated its 150th anniversary this year, we embarked on the initial phase of a long-term redevelopment plan for our organization.
While we work with our partners at the local and provincial level to obtain the necessary support, financial resources and an appropriate location to build a new hospital, we are undertaking significant renovations to our existing spaces to ensure they meet the needs of the community we serve now.
Earlier this year, a major improvement project in our Laboratory Medicine area began which is enabling us to automate many of our processes to help meet the year-over-year increase in lab tests we conduct. In 2024, 200,000 more tests were completed than in 2020. Renovations, the introduction of digital pathology, replacement of state-of-the-art equipment, and an automated core lab will not only improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency but ensure an improved patient experience.
Completion of this project is anticipated in spring of 2026. However, that will be determined by the level of funding for equipment which is provided through generous donors to The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital.
Members of the Foundation’s Circle of Life have generously stepped up to fund the purchase of digital pathology scanners and an automated hematology system. Fundraising continues to support the purchase of these ongoing improvements, as well as all patient care equipment. Completion of this project is anticipated in spring 2026.
Thanks to funding from the province and a $1-million commitment from The Angel Gabriel Foundation, we have made significant progress on improvements to our Emergency Department and Mental Health and Addiction Services. When the project is completed in late 2026, we will have a new triage, registration and waiting area along with a new ambulance garage. These changes will help alleviate the pressures of treating more patients than the current space was built for (a space that was built to support 40,000 patients treats well over 60,000 annually).
One of the first milestones of the project will be to move our short stay assessment unit and join it with the Mental Health and Addictions Emergency Follow-up Services program on Level 1. This creates a more spacious environment for assessing, monitoring, and treating adult patients experiencing mental health emergencies. It also provides an appropriate environment for emergency follow up services that will help reduce repeat Emergency Department visits.
In addition, we are working with our partners at the Guelph campus of Conestoga College to create a new community-based medical centre that will house several Diagnostic Imaging services (breast imaging, ultrasound, x-ray, MRI and bone density) and over time will expand to include ambulatory medical clinics.
If you have any questions email info@gghorg.ca.
Mark Walton,
President and CEO,
Guelph General Hospital
Heart and stroke event
Dear Editor:
I am the owner of Hair with Care in Fergus.
On Sept. 7, I held a fundraiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and raised $4,000. On Oct. 17, I presented a cheque to Sara Felske, senior fundraising relationship manager with the foundation.
I would like to say a special thank you to the community for coming out and to local businesses in Fergus, Elora and Belwood for donating raffle prizes for the event.
Also, a special thanks to everyone for their cash donations, and to Peter and Bob at Tim Hortons for donating coffee and donuts.
A huge thank-you to all the vendors. We couldn’t have done it without you.
I am very thankful and appreciative of all the special people who helped make this fundraiser possible.
In September 2026, I am looking forward to holding my sixth annual event for Heart and Stroke. I hope I can count on the community once again for their support.
Carrie Anne Kierstead,
Fergus
‘Right on’
Dear Editor:
RE: The next shoe has dropped, Oct. 2.
Dave Adsett’s editorial comments about speed cameras are right on.
And his last sentence is also very correct. Thank you!
Wayne Weidemann,
Dundalk
‘Striped banner’
Dear Editor:
An open letter to the towns of Fergus and Arthur.
Please change up your banners that hang from your light poles. We are Canadian towns in Canada and yet (especially Arthur) there isn’t one Canadian flag hanging from any of your light poles.
The Canadian flag is inclusive for each person living in this beautiful country yet there remains one dominant banner strung on most, if not all, of the light poles.
The striped banner is the only banner that gets hung for most, if not all of the year. All of the other banners that get put up for their special month get their exact allotted time, and then taken down, so why not the same for the striped banner, too?
Arthur claims it is the most patriotic town in Canada – with not one Canadian flag to be seen on any light pole.
Nicoline Pieffers,
Centre Wellington
‘Thankful’
Dear Editor:
Governments seldom initiate original programs that are unique and beneficial. Usually these programs are copies of successful and tested measures used by private companies to alleviate expenses, which may signal a pending problem or even the demise of the company.
Many years ago, the dairies and bakeries ceased door-to-door home delivery. We are all thankful to have these purveyors available today.
Jim McClure,
Crieff