Park being utilized
Dear Editor:
RE: Council declares Strathallan Park surplus, opens door for new Catholic high school in Fergus, Feb. 1.
It has come to our family’s attention that there are possible plans to construct a Catholic high school at Strathallan park.
I am a longtime resident of Parkside Drive East whose backyard is one of the many that back onto the green space that Centre Wellington council has recently approved to be declared as “surplus property.”
This new designation brings a lot of confusion to us and our neighbors.
Firstly, we can’t understand how this park, which is used regularly by the children of families on surrounding streets, by FEDS soccer and ultimate frisbee, can be deemed as surplus. It is stated on Infrastructure Ontario that the purpose of declaring and selling surplus government property is to “put properties back into productive use, benefiting communities and increasing the potential for local economic development.”
With regards to this space, these intentions ignore the fact that the park is being utilized as is.
It’s far reaching to state a high school would be more beneficial when there is not only limited space to provide all the amenities required, but also an existing issue with traffic and speeders on Strathallan.
Given the space is fenced on three sides, we worry what the addition of so many students, staff, and buses would look like with only one access street – notably short and shared with a primary school.
Additionally, a high school needs a large parking lot, a field, gymnasium, library, cafeteria, and classrooms. There is simply not enough space in that area to integrate all that is needed while maintaining enough space between the surrounding infrastructure. It is not to say that a Catholic high school is not needed in our township.
However, the students that would attend both the primary and high school deserve better than a plan using such limited space.
Catherine Daultrey,
Fergus
‘Shoehorning’ school in?
Dear Editor:
RE: Council declares Strathallan Park surplus, opens door for new Catholic high school in Fergus, Feb. 1.
Wow, Strathallan Park declared surplus. A park with a children’s playground, sport playing field, winter skating pad (weather permitting). This moderate-sized green space is the only one of its size north of the Grand River in Fergus.
Council has declared the park surplus to open the door for a new Catholic high school.
If you have the availability, study this plot of land by going to Google maps and clicking on satellite view. How is it that they can shoehorn a high school in there?
A high school requires a large building footprint with a large parking lot, bus accesses, gymnasium, sport field, etcetera. All of this at a loss of utilized existing green space of a neighbourhood that is increasingly becoming denser.
David Barker,
Fergus
‘Turning in his grave’
Dear Editor:
Purgatory: that somewhat mythical place some people wait to be admitted into heaven.
However, in Canada purgatory is our emergency waiting rooms. Chances are you could be in heaven before you get to see one of our angels working in emergency. You can bet our prime minister and premiers don’t wait in line.
It would seem there is lots of money for auto battery plants and highways we don’t need. But when it comes to the rank and file, well they can go to Hades.
The founder of our health care system Tommy Douglas must be turning over in his grave.
Harold Robertson,
Minto
Energy, beer stores
Dear Editor:
I am writing this to say that Premier Doug Ford has said that he is promoting “clean nuclear energy.” That is an oxymoron as there is more long-term harm from nuclear waste than any other form of energy as far as I have heard. It is a problem to find a safe way to store the waste for thousands of years so the effects will be for future generations … The clean energy would be wind, sun and water. Why are we not looking at those more?
The closing of beer stores will also have repercussions. What happens to all the staff currently employed in the system? What about their pensions and the pensions of retirees and former staff? The Beer Store take care of returns of beer, liquor and wine containers. Where will those be taken if the stores are no more? Will we see more “deposits” on the side of the roads and in farmers’ fields? There are already piles of litter on most roads – a whole new problem for us to consider.
Grace Eisen,
Centre Wellington
‘An amazing place’
Dear Editor:
As I wrap my first year at the Centre Wellington Food Bank, I have felt motivated to send a communication to the community. I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to join the team that provides this essential service to Centre Wellington and I am continually amazed by the members of our community and the support they provide us.
To our volunteers, thank you for your many hours of time ensuring all runs smoothly at the food bank. Picking up food, unloading, sorting, stocking shelves, portioning items, preparing in the kitchen, cleaning, supporting clients and representing us at food drives are all important roles filled by our awesome volunteers. Their kind, non-judgemental and welcoming approach to anyone who walks through the doors is very much appreciated and a key element to the type of place it is today.
To our donors and supporters, I am humbled by your generosity. Throughout the year, we are helped by individuals, families, clubs, businesses, sports teams, church groups, service organizations, and others in many ways. Monthly donations, one-time donations, event fundraisers, and online donations through Canada Helps are so appreciated and will allow us to continue to serve a growing community with a growing need.
As well, thank you so much for your donations of non-perishable goods. I appreciate the many people and organizations for thinking of the food bank when communicating with customers and clients, for organizing events and parties, or simply for running food drives. I was overwhelmed (in a good way!) throughout the last six weeks of 2023. I received emails and phone calls daily with questions about running a food drive, what the most needed items were, and scheduling times for drop off of items. Amazing!
To our clients, thank you for having the courage to recognize you are struggling and need help with food. Hang in there. It is not easy to walk through our doors and it is often an emotional time for new clients. Typically there is worry, uncertainty, and trepidation when registering followed by relief, hope, and happiness when departing with groceries for their household.
For those in Centre Wellington struggling to make ends meet who have not yet accessed the food bank, please call us, email us or drop in. We can help you through a difficult time.
Centre Wellington is truly an amazing place to live and work. Thank you for looking after each other.
Curt McQueen,
Executive director,
Centre Wellington Food Bank
Farmers ‘vital to us all’
Dear Editor:
I am many things but amongst my credentials you will see farmer on my list, albeit on a small scale compared to so many others and I do have to work off the farm to help supplement our livelihood and get bills paid.
In most societies farmers are highly trusted. Not many can fault their tenacity or work ethic. They have a deep attachment to the land and care enormously about the well being of their livestock.
Farmers are a necessity because food is a necessity. If you eat it, they have grown it. Unfortunately, as I’ve discovered by talking with acquaintances and co-workers, many are totally unaware of the plight taking hold of the farmers across the pond in Europe. Not much has been mentioned in our mainstream media in the past week, maybe the odd blurb here and there about the angry farmers protesting with their tractors.
Why, you might ask? What are they mad about this week?
I suggest to anyone who eats to become more informed as to what they are facing and up against. If it happens “over there,” you know it will be happening here as well.
The farmers have had enough of the strangling E.U. rules that have been foisted upon them whilst importing goods with less restrictions. It started in the Netherlands, it has moved and taken hold in Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Romania, Ireland and Scotland. This weekend Spain, Portugal and Hungary have joined the fold.
The public is 75 to 80% and higher in agreement with their countries’ farmers.
They are rebelling against the increasing taxation along with the unreasonable green edicts being forced upon them. Sound familiar?
Farmers are vital to all of us. We expect and demand good, wholesome, reasonably-priced food and expect that all farmers are compensated for their hard work and efforts. Hopefully with the public’s support and pressure on their governments they will continue to be able to do so, not only “over there” but over here as well.
Delsie Drover,
Belwood
‘Pleasure, treasure’
Dear Editor:
This is a shout-out to the Elora library staff. What a phenomenal crew – always pleasant and helpful, professional, friendly and accommodating.
Thanks for making life in Elora and surrounding area a pleasure and a treasure.
Tom and Greta McGregor,
Elora
Helping orangutans
Dear Editor:
On behalf of myself and International Animal Rescue, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank the local women, artisans and businesses who have contributed to the Rain Forest Jewelry Collection, either through donating jewelry, appraising jewelry, and offering me opportunities to sell the jewelry as a vendor at markets and festivals.
I can’t begin to convey how much your compassion and support has meant to me; none of what I had set out to accomplish would have been possible without each and every one of you.
Four years ago, as I rummaged through my own jumbled collection of unworn jewelry, an idea came to mind and the Rain Forest Jewelry Collection was curated. I hoped that I might reach other women who would be willing to part ways with jewelry they no longer wanted, all in an effort to support the vital rescue and rehabilitation work that International Animal Rescue is doing in West Kalimantan Borneo to save the critically endangered orangutan and it’s rainforest habitat.
Clearing land to make way for palm oil plantations has resulted in mass deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia, where more than 80 per cent of the world’s palm oil is produced. This has destroyed the natural habitat of animals, including orangutans, tigers, rhinos and elephants, pushing many to the brink of extinction.
This forest clearance has also resulted in large volumes of greenhouse gas emissions; the clearing of these rain forests is one of the leading causes of climate change and is destroying some of the most biodiverse places on Earth, including the home of the iconic orangutan, one of our closest cousins.
We need to see and understand what is happening to our planet and it’s most vulnerable species and acknowledge our integral role and responsibility as consumers.
It has been so very moving and inspiring to meet women who were willing to get involved; I love that this feels like such a feminine initiative, women coming together to help save our planet, “Mother Earth,” and her most vulnerable.
I continue to collect jewelry and am always looking for opportunities to sell the jewelry and share the story of the critically endangered orangutan.
Please feel free to reach out to me if you would like to know more or think you might be able to help in some way (patricialeecuthbert@hotmail.com).
Patricia “Patty” Cuthbert,
Guelph
Paper picked poor poll
Dear Editor:
To begin I’d like to say that I quite enjoy your weekly poll questions. They are generally very topical and timely.
So I was a bit dismayed that your question for this week didn’t deal with the issue of some schools considering banning cell phone use in the classroom. Your brief editorial Ring a-ling covered this topic quite nicely as it is definitely a topical and controversial issue. As such, it would have been interesting to know what general opinion is vs. knowing who has a family physician.
Ted Ferguson,
Erin
Disappointed in article
Dear Editor:
I’m writing to express my disappointment with the article Laurie Duguay donating 174 blankets to Mount Forest seniors, Jan. 18.
I am a member of the Mount Forest Legion and find the article, especially the headline, very misleading.
The story promoted Mrs. Duguay very well and I feel it should have focused a little more on the fact that the Legion purchased the blankets.
Mrs. Duguay did not donate the blankets, the Mount Forest Legion purchased the blankets for $4,350 and Mrs. Duguay only delivered the blankets!
Leona Logan,
Mount Forest
Legion member