Archived Letter – 887

I read with great disappointment and discouragement Chris Daponte’s opinion piece regarding the Dominion Day Parade in Elora.

It was stated in Mr. Daponte’s opinion column that the parade was “marred” by the display. Marred in which manner? Marred because Canadians felt so passionate about the future of their nation? The accompanying amateur editorial cartoon clearly illustrates The Wellington Advertiser’s lack of understanding and uninformed position on this manner.

The community in Elora and Friends of Elora Water came together at Dominion Day Parade to celebrate and protect our precious groundwater and also to raise awareness regarding the threat of privatization of this life sustaining substance. What better thing to celebrate than one of the very natural features that have helped define and form this country, and that is water.

Elora is not a water-rich area, however, some residents of Elora (via Friends of Elora Water) are greatly concerned about the potential purchasing of the Middlebrook well by Nestle. If this well is purchased, Nestle will be permitted to completely remove from the watershed 100% of the water they draw, every hour of every day. When there’s raging wildfires and droughts out West, we need to think about the future of our water systems here in Wellington County so that we can be a sustainable and thriving community, now and into the future.

It is highly unfortunate and very poor journalistic standard that the WA portrayed such a wonderful expression of love for this country’s water as a negative thing.

I can’t speak for all, but I would suggest that staff at the Wellington Advertiser stick to advertising.

Karen Rathwell
Wellington Water Watchers

Karen Rathwell