Defining vision
The newly amalgamated County had barely learned to walk by 2004 when a fresh council embarked on a radical initiative to ask residents what they thought. Some grumbled that it was a waste of time. Some likely saw it as mild form of treason. After all, residents spoke on election day. That was it. No […]
The small things
The last time we spoke, Ralph was a bit cross with me. I had failed to follow up on an incident on Melville Road. Ralph was disappointed. If the story wasn’t told there would be no remedy. If there were no repercussions today, the cost would be greater tomorrow. Ralph Margetson wrote letters to this […]
A new plan
It has been five years since residents were asked what they believe makes Wellington a special place—why they feel so passionately about this village and their community. In March 2010, more than 100 village residents filed into the lunchroom at CML Snider school to consider the future of Wellington. They worked into the night, writing […]
It would be funny…
With school children arrayed at his feet, Ontario’s environment minister, Glenn Murray, announced last week his government was giving $1 million to an organization dedicated to educating children aged five to 11, about how to help protect animals and their habitats. His advice to the children assembled at the ROM for the press event was […]
Not an achievement
One of the more intriguing arguments made by some council members explaining why they oppose reducing council size now rather than during the election, is that this group is working well. “We are proving that council can work,” claimed a first-time councillor proudly last week. Another diagnosed council’s prior ills to be the last gasps […]
Curiouser
Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of time as she went down to look about her and to wonder what was going to happen next. – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll It has been nearly a decade since we were first dragged into the rabbit hole known as council […]
Win win
First let us applaud the decision to change course. Too often, when public projects get bogged down in planning, process and escalating costs, governments tend to stubbornly push onward. It is how we get airports in the middle of nowhere, the most expensive Pan American games in history and sewage plants on a hillside overlooking […]
Bomb
Pessimists are never disappointed, as my buddy Grant likes to say. If you spend your days believing the worst in people, they will eventually prove you right. Being prepared, therefore, equips you to skip right through the heartbreak and disappointment. But what happens when we take pre-emptive steps to ward off the bad thing that […]
Call to action
Now we know. Life, for many in Prince Edward County, is tough. A struggle every day. Too many families among us rely on foodbanks because there is little left over after paying heating, electrical and rent bills. Nearly half of County residents say it is a challenge to get around—to visit the doctor, the pharmacy […]
Welcome
All the world headed to the beach this past weekend. Sandbank’s beaches in particular. By mid-afternoon on Sunday, cars were backed up on every route into the park. Police officers were sent to break the disappointing news to weary travellers that the park was full and they weren’t getting in today. Many received a County […]