HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1981-04-22, Page 7Ladmow Sentinel, Wednesday, Apol 22, 1981 ---Page
e
Farmland ie
Canada's Wonderland, they're calling'
it.
It's a mammoth' leisure complex
located on 370 acres of land near the little
town of Maple,, about 18 miles north of
Toronto just off Highway 401.
Or Disneyland North and a few other
tinsel-tYPe names.
It is goingto open near the'end of May
and it has already eaten all those acres of
prime agricultural land. Regular.
readers of this column will know that I
have been opposed , to this dreamland
since it was first proposed a couple of
years ago. Already, I' hearhat an addi-
tional 50 acres- of land across the road
from this artificial playground has been
bought for a motel complex. Another
farm gone. ' Another area no longer
available to farmers.
The original 370 acres of land was
enough. In fact, it was too much. Pro-
bably another few hundred will disap-
pear under ticky-tacky hot dog stands,
fast food outlets and ancillary buildings
to service this park.
You have probably seen, some of the
advertisements, watched some of . the
television commercials.
Whenit was proposed, it got final ap-
proval from the Ontario cabinet. Even
the agricultural minister at the time
gave his approval.
Nobody, at that time, spoke for green
growing things.
They were and I suppose they may
havehad an obscure reason for" doing so
- talking about jobs. They were more in-
terested in jobs than in saving prime.
farm land.
But look what is happening to this
theme park which has a false mountain
Made of concrete, chicken wire and steel.
The owners have spent $122 million, $50
million in Yankee money and the balance
from four major Canadian insurance
companies including Great West Life and
the Toronto Dominion Bank. Yet, the
Yanks will: retain 75 percent of the Park.
Something sounds a little screwy there,
what?
Anyway,this company, now per-
manently housed on farmland no longer
able to produce crops, expects to attract
2.3 million people this year who should
generate more than $46 million in
revenues.
When all \ the fooferaw and the objec-
tions died when the park was finally ap-
proved, it was supposed to create a lot of
jobs. That was one of the reasons it was
-Lena%e•e eooi c,He4 .;SOb trove. ;lois* Rd Eim.!e Oni "43112C1 '.
allowed to happen. How many jobs? So
far, 2,200 of them but only about;. 200 are °
permanent jobs. The rest are seasonal.
And whatkind of pay? The base for the
seasonal help is $2.75 an hour for those
under 18 and $3.50 an hour for those 18.
and . over, barely more 6 than the
minimal».
Some job at $3.50 an hour!
As this is written, this wearisome
wonderland has been put on the "unfair"
list by the Toronto Musicians Association..
for 'paying performers less than scale. So
much for all the jobs it was supposed to
create. Less than one full-time job per
acre of farmland.
But that ain't all, my friends. Not only
is it a bust in providingemployment, it
has little or nothing in it that is Canadian.
It's all imported or most of it from
good old Uncle Sam, even to its comic
strip characters.
So when you're driving north or, south
along Highway 400 this summer, bumper
to bumper as the traffic moves in and out
of Canada's Wonderland, think of all that
farmland now lost forever. Think of all
those jobs that were not created. Think of
those 2,000 students working for the sum-
mer,:for almost minimum wage. Thinkof
this phoney dream -theme park with next -
to -nothing that
ext-to-nothing.that is ".Canadian.
Think . of the 75 : percent American
ownership. Think of the money being
spent by the 2.3 million visitors, most of
whom will be Canadian, spending an
average $20 each, every time they go in-
side the gates.
And then weep for Canada, Canadian
culture, the hundreds of acres of
farmlandlost forever,
When your radiator boils over, thumb
your nose in the direction of that .man-
made mountain.
Letters to the editor....
Lady Anne china
To the Editor:,
I have been trying to locate some old
China ' which I .bought. in Lueknow
about 25: years ago at Mr.' Schmid's
Jewellery Store. The pattern is now
obsolete and I wonder if anyone
around Lucknow is interested in
parting with any of theirs if they have
no more use for it. The pattern is
"Lady Anne" - Spode.
Back in those days. his basement.
was filled with this pattern-. In my
travels,. a few pieces are missing.
Thanks for your assistance.
(Mrs.) Eileen Wieke,
Box 125,
Kelwood, Manitoba.
ROJ OYO
Jamboree '83
To the Editor:
ably withcommittees: and ' events
being planned. Several meetings with
the executive and members oforgan-
izations have been held during . the
past months. .
It is most important that a mailing
list for. invitations and information
concerning the special weekend be put
together as soon as possible.
We therefore appeal to all residents
in the area to forward names and'
complete addresses of former resid-
ents. reltives, friends and any other
interested persons to . Miss Maudie
Fisher. P.O. Box 227, Lucknow,
Ontario, NOG 2H0, as soon as
possible. We need your support. Tell.
your family and friends to plan their
holidays for the July 1st holiday
weekend in 1983 for the "Jamboree in
83".
Jamboree in '83 Committee,
Al Hamilton, Chairman.
Plans for .Lucknow's 125th Birthday
in 1983 are progressing quite favour-
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Announce
colouring
contest
winners
The Sentinel is pleased to announce the
winners of this year's Easter, colouring
contest. The . response from our young
readers was excellent. Congratulations to all
who submitted entries.
Age 2.4
1. Pauline Huizinga, 2. Jennifer Porter., 3.
Dennis Hogan.
Ages -7
1. Daryl Graham, 2. Candy Fielder, 3. \
Jennifer Cranston. '
Age 8=lt0
1. Laurie Hayden, 2. Dana Humphrey, . 3.
Annie Stutzrnan,
Prizes may be picked up at ,the Sentinel
office,
Across
i.Spring and summer are -------
4.A daisy is one
17.Another word for shower
8.The sun gives you a -=-
9.0pposite of cooler
11.Hibernating is like a ---
14.An orange pit is a ----
15:The color of leaves
16.The sun will --- later
17.Opposite of.daylight
20.The hottest season
21:Tulips grow from
23.Crops are ------- in the spring
24.A birdwith a red breast
26. Where flowers bloom
28.You don't need them under
' sandals .
19.He, she, --
32.Another word for autumn
35.A maple is one
37.The. grow in odes
36.---= ice cream con
s
39.Snowtires areptaken off ----
40.A
---40.A spring sport
41.Play in public
Down
1.Winters, -------, summers
2.It shines warmly
3.A thunder -----
4.Noses are on
5.M"ud is --- earth
&Sneakers are shoes
9.It blows
10.Roses are ---
12.Sounds like `R'
13.The colorful part of a
flower
18.Opptisite of empty
19.In the spring, ice
21.Sparrows are ---
22,What birds sing
23.Melting snow makes
them
25.Kids ride there
27.Do this on a bike seat
30.A journey
31 They grow on trees
33tThe fourth month
34.'he third highest note
36.A baby sheep
,38. Hop, ----, jump
(c) 1981 Canada Wide Feature Service Ltd.
by MacKay Fairfield Tate