Mail bag: 01/15/26
Not on time
Dear Editor:
A few weeks ago, it was reported in your paper that the St. David Street construction in Fergus was on schedule for completion by Dec. 23. Meanwhile, signs have been posted around town since before phase two of the project started that stated the completion date would be Dec. 12.
Is 11 days past due now the new “on schedule?” If so, I’ll have to speak with my bank regarding when my credit card bill and my mortgage payments are officially considered to be on time.
How does the construction company get away with claiming that they finished the job on time, especially since it’s not totally finished?
Jim Clark,
Fergus
‘Positive change’
Dear Editor:
On the morning of Jan. 9, traffic outside Elora Public School was heavy, but not unusually so. What was unusual, and deeply troubling, was the level of impatience and aggression displayed by school buses navigating that congestion. One bus crossed into oncoming traffic to bypass a turning vehicle. Another honked aggressively and continuously behind our vehicle as we waited for a safe moment to turn into the parking lot, creating pressure to move before it was safe to do so.
Inside our car were two children trying to understand why the adults entrusted with safety appeared so angry. A seven-year-old asking through tears why someone was being “so mean.” A nine-year-old struggling to process why that behaviour was acceptable.
Our children are always watching. They are learning how adults respond when safety is compromised and whether their voices and experiences matter. They are seeking support and action from those adults in a position of power and authority. I want my children to know that their well-being is worth advocating for, and that those entrusted with their care will do everything possible to protect them. Moments like this matter. They shape how children understand safety, authority and whether speaking up leads to change or silence.
I chose to use this moment as a lesson: that when something doesn’t feel right, we don’t ignore it. We channel that feeling into action. We advocate. We try to make things better.
What this experience made clear is that this issue is bigger than one morning or one driver. It is about infrastructure, systems and pressure points that put everyone – drivers, pedestrians, and children – at risk. We need to do better.
That means prioritizing:
– safer pedestrian infrastructure around schools;
– clear communication and accountability for all bus drivers servicing school routes;
– dedicated student drop-off and pick-up lanes within in the school parking lot;
– widened school driveway to allow a right-turn lane onto Mill Street from the school parking lot; and
– road widening and a left-turn lane on Mill Street into the school parking lot to reduce congestion and unsafe manoeuvres.
Safety should never rely on patience alone. It should be built into the design of our communities.
Our children are watching how we respond when safety is compromised. Let them see that we choose care over convenience, responsibility over reaction, and positive action over silence.
Let us take these moments, however uncomfortable and turn them into positive change.
Kate Ann Vandermeer,
Elora
‘Protected’ land
Dear Editor:
An open letter to members of Guelph city council on the conservation lands near Niska Road.
I moved to this part of Guelph over 20 years ago because of the Speed River and the conservation land.
Several years ago, I recall speaking with Eileen Hammill, daughter of Horace Mack, the visionary who understood the importance of this environmentally sensitive area, where the Speed River and Hanlon Creek meet. He protected this land and Eileen Hammill spoke fondly of growing up here, immersed in wildlife.
I also spoke with her husband, former city councillor Ken Hammill. They were both adamant that members of council and the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) should do the “right thing” and protect all of this land.
Former mayor Norm Jary wanted to see all of this conservation land on both sides of Niska Road protected forever too. All of you that were on council several years ago would have read the wishes of the above. That includes Mayor Cam Guthrie and councillors Gibson, Billings, Allt, Caron and Downer.
The moral and ethical thing would be for all of you to see the benefits of ensuring all of this land is protected for future generations. This wildlife habitat is extremely important. With continued sprawl in this city there will undoubtedly be a lot of displaced wildlife.
I will be watching very closely as this is an election year and I will work very hard to inform constituents of your vote. Do not use our protected conservation land for housing!
The Niska conservation lands are being held by the GRCA in trust. This land was paid for by the taxpayers to be protected in perpetuity. Humans need green spaces for well being.
Sandy Nicholls,
Guelph
‘Simple solution’
Dear Editor:
RE: Crash victim calls for immediate safety fixes at notorious Highway 6 intersection, Jan. 8.
The idea of a roundabout would potentially cause more accidents. First, northbound on the highway has a bend in the road just before descending to the intersection. If the conditions are treacherous and a transport truck for instance, has to slow down and then navigate a circle to continue northbound, I can see how control of the circle would be a problem.
I think the easiest and safest solution would be to install traffic signals with flashing lights on approach at all four intersections. This would alert all drivers that the signal is about to change to red.
It would remove any guesswork for motorists approaching Wellington Road 22 and the cross traffic at the bottom of the hill can relax and know that a green light is coming for them.
The flashing lights on Gartshore Street approaching St. Andrew in Fergus work great. Simple solution; way less cost.
Mary Rodgers,
Fergus
‘A waste’
Dear Editor:
The Elora Festival Book Sale is coming up on May 1. We are grateful for the steady stream of book donations throughout the year but last week we hit a snag.
Every week we fill six or more blue boxes (now two wheelie bins) with books in poor condition, textbooks, magazines and much more. Anything we can’t recycle gets taken to the dump.
Last week Waste Management suddenly stopped accepting books for recycling, leaving us with no option but to truck all this material to the dump where it is added to general waste. A waste indeed!
We are hopeful that this decision will be reversed, paper from books will once again be diverted from the landfill and recycled, and more trees will not be cut down to maintain our paper consumption.
Karen Eddie,
Guelph/Eramosa
