The Times-Advocate, 2002-11-13, Page 11When I was a child in public school, I could never under-
stand why we had to hold Remembrance Day.
After all, how could we ‘remember’ something that hap-
pened before we were even born? We weren’t there during
the war.
We didn’t know what it was like to fight and die.
We were too busy playing and enjoying the freedom
fought for by those who did.
I don’t remember anyone coming into the school to tell us
war stories about what life was really like in war time.
Because even if we weren’t there, it teaches respect
and appreciation to hear those stories.
Through story-telling comes the miracle of collec-
tive memory.
Last week, a group of ladies and myself listened to
83-year-old Rachel Schwalm of Hensall talk about life
on the prairies during the dirty ’30s and war time.
She told about working as a cook/housekeeper for
$5 a month. Of mixing a concoction of potato water
to stretch a package of yeast to make bread.
Of lumber and cement shortages when building
her house.
Of taking in boarders and selling baking and eggs,
just to make ends meet.
And her stories triggered Marg Thomas to remember lin-
ing up in downtown Toronto for the privilege of buying
nylons, only to be disappointed when the store ran out of
stock.
And of the thrill of buying a vase for 25 cents and making
it the centrepiece of the second-hand furniture in her small
flat.
We all listened, learned and now remember their stories.
Each year as our veterans age, it’s more important than
ever to hear their memories.
To me, these life stories are endlessly fascinating and pre-
cious.
And as we age, our stories of a simpler time also matter.
From the defining moments, like the day JFK was shot, to
the little things.
Like polishing everyone’s shoes before church,
and wearing matching hats and gloves every
Sunday, not just on special occasions.
Remember the 5&10 cent store, when you
could actually buy a lot of items for 5 or 10 cents?
Remember when farms were self-sufficient,
growing their own beef, pork, eggs, chickens,
vegetables and fruit?
When people wore home-made clothes and
ate home-made bread.
Remember when we did Red Cross projects
and carried Unicef boxes on Halloween?
Remember hoola hoops and saddle shoes and
the peace symbol?
Only by telling our stories will others also remember and
the younger generation respect and appreciate our lives.
They need to hear our stories of a simpler time.
4 Wednesday, November 13, 2002Exeter Times–Advocate
Editorial&Opinion
Jim Beckett
Publisher and Editor
Don Smith Deb Lord
General Manager Production Manager
Published by Metroland Printing,
Publishing & Distributing Ltd.
424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850
Exeter, Ontario N0M 1S6 • (519) 235-1331
EDITORIALS
PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications
Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs.
About the Times-Advocate
Address & Office Hours
Times-Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850,
Exeter, Ontario N0M 1S6. Our office is open Monday
to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Holidays.
Contact Us By Phone or Fax
Classified ad & subscription sales . . . .(519) 235-1331
24-hour automated attendant . . . . . . .(519) 235-1336
Fax number for all departments . . . . .(519) 235-0766
Subscription Rates
One year rate for addresses in Canada: $36+GST
Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $65+GST
One year rate for addresses outside Canada:
$104 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription.
Classified Rates
Word ads: $10.00 for 20 words, 20¢ for each addi-
tional word+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announce-
ments, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks):
$13.00 + GST for up to 50 words, All ads must be pre-
paid. The classified ad deadline is Monday at 10 a.m.
Display Advertising
To place a display ad, (519) 235-1331 weekdays 8:30
to 4:30 p.m. or evenings (519) 235-1336 (leave mes-
sage) or toll-free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Fri. 4
p.m.
E-mail Us
Website:www.southhuron.com
TA e-mail addresses consist of the person’s first initial
and last name followed by @southhuron.com.
For example, Jim Beckett’s e-mail address is <jbeck-
ett@southhuron.com> Our general e-mail address is
ads@southhuron.com.
SANDRA
FORSTER
SANDRA
SPEAKS OUT
Remember when life was simpler?
Shocking” is the way most people are
describing their hydro bills these days.
Tales of residential bills hitting $500 per month
and higher are not rare. Everyone is being hit hard,
particularly those on fixed incomes.
Premier Ernie Eves has promised some sort of
action to protect the most vulnerable among us.
Apparently he was taken by surprise that opening up
the market has not resulted in savings for the cus-
tomer but appears to have triggered a dramatic rise
in prices.
We have been told it is a case of supply and
demand, in this case, a very hot summer (meaning
air conditioners) and not enough electricity to go
around. We know we have too many electrical appli-
ances, and if we choose to operate three television
sets and two computers, wash our clothes, dishes
and ourselves in electrically heated water, leave
every light in the house on, and maintain a tempera-
ture of 23 degrees in our homes winter and summer,
we should not complain about our hydro bills.
We understand electricity has been very cheap
and we have been spoiled by what some say were
artificially low prices - until a couple of months ago.
We know we could ease the pressure a bit by turn-
ing down the heat when we are not at home, switch-
ing off lights and appliances which are not being
used, and in general trying not to be so wasteful.
However, we also realize there are people in this
community who are wondering how they will get
through the winter without having their power shut
off. We know there are elderly people who are afraid
to turn up the furnace to a comfortable level because
they cannot afford to pay more for hydro. We know
hospitals and schools are caught between the rising
cost of electricity and funding formulae which are
static.
The increase in electricity cost has not been grad-
ual, something for which people could plan and bud-
get. It has been sudden, dramatic and potentially
devastating.
To the fortunate, the electricity rate hike is frus-
trating and inconvenient. It means conserving when
we would prefer to sail along as we did when utility
prices were low, and having less money to spend on
luxuries such as vacations. It means dining by can-
dlelight is not just for romantic newlyweds. It puts a
wood-burning stove at the top of the home owner’s
must-have list.
To the less fortunate, this is a life-and-death situa-
tion. Winter in our part of the world is long and
hard. To a person struggling to survive on a small
pension, who depends on electric heat, freezing in
the dark is a real possibility.
Whatever Eves does to ease the crunch, we hope
he does it quickly. And we hope he does not think a
$45 rebate cheque is enough. The sudden jump in
the price of electricity is creating a real hardship for
a lot of people.
Someone in this government has to understand
that people in immediate danger of having their
hydro shut off do not care about theories that the
market will right itself, that the price will drop when
more suppliers move into Ontario.
This is a long term solution for an immediate
emergency, roughly akin to recommending lifestyle
changes to a man having a heart attack. Speaking of
which, winter means more lights and heat. Next
month’s bill should be opened sitting down, with a
good stiff drink handy.
A government facing an election should note that
skyrocketing electricity prices, plus increased water
costs, plus the threat of more school closures and
doctor shortages, would tend to add up to very dis-
gruntled voters.
Freezing in the dark is a
real possibility