Innovators
Redmond Walsh lived nearly all of his 94 years on the farm—120 acres of rich, rolling land between Hastings and Keene. By the time he had inherited the land—the fourth generation of Irish immigrants—it was already a well-established and productive farm. Large well-tilled fields produced crops on all sides of the large, rambling farmhouse. A […]
Fixing and building
Politicians love infrastructure. And by love, I mean that complicated kind we feel for wives, husbands, sisters and brothers. It is uneven, ebbing and flowing, sometimes volatile. Heartbreaking at times. Yet nothing brings a broader smile, or a warmer glow, to a politician’s face than when cutting a ribbon or grasping a ceremonial spade in […]
A louder voice
We need a break. Some time to spend with family and friends. To soak in the warm feelings that abound at this time of year. It hasn’t come a day too soon. It was a tough year. We feel less safe than we did a year ago. We are less sure that our institutions work […]
Headed to the top
Prince Edward County waterworks customers are stumbling toward a rather ignominious achievement. We have, by some measures, the unenviable distinction of the most expensive municipal waterworks in Canada. Currently, the nation’s costliest municipal water system per capita is in Grise Fiord, Nunavut at $1,570 annually per person. There are many reasons for its high cost—mostly […]
Let’s talk
We have two conversations about renewable energy going on simultaneously. On parallel tracks they appear doomed never to meet. The loudest conversation, at the moment, is conducted by those fearful for the future of the planet, that if we don’t manage to wean our lives and economies off fossil fuels soon, it will be too […]
Subs
A few months ago, council heard a presentation about risk management. The presenter outlined a set of guidelines to avoid costly insurance claims. All good information, except the person making the presentation, was employed by the County’s insurance underwriter. It was suggested to a couple of councillors, afterward, they may want to talk to other […]
Wonderland
I’ll try if I know all the things I used to know. Let me see: four times five is twelve, and four times six is thirteen, and four times seven is—oh dear! I shall never get to twenty at that rate! Iam often reminded of Alice’s adventures in Wonderland when faced with the ever-more confounding […]
Tested
In a few weeks, the horrifying events in Paris last Friday will fade. They will become absorbed into the fabric of an increasingly hostile world. We will adjust. The Russian Metrojet, blown out of the sky at the end of October and killing all 224 people onboard, is already a faint memory. If we were […]
Meadows, wetlands and woods
In Mississauga, ambitious plans are afoot to restore the former Lakeview generating station lands to meadows, wetlands and woods. With luck and money, proponents hope the land will one day provide habitat for migratory birds and other animals. Houses and shops will follow in the grand development plan between the municipality and the province. News […]
Plan 13
Council was defiant. An 8-8 tie meant the defeat of proposals to reduce the size of council. It was over. Mayor Robert Quaiff warned they were celebrating too soon. He pleaded with councillors to complete the process they had initiated. He feared an Ontario Municipal Board appeal. Particularly since they had short-circuited their own process. […]