HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-08-31, Page 7gnal-Star • Wednesday, August 31, 2011
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editorial
The real beauty of Goderich lies in all of you
le beauty of tie k town lies in its
residents.
And the response of the citizens of
Goderich in the aftermath of the worst nat-
ural disaster to ever strike the area a has been
nothing short of remarkable.
Amazing and inspiring, in fact.
Our town is broken and people are sad.
'the town that I chose to makemy home 35
years ago is broken and it makes me sad as
well.
People have lost their homes, jobs and
belongings and they are despondent. Many
personal memories are gone, destroyed by
an uncaring and fiercely violent act of
Mother Nature.
People are sad. But they are not dispirited
and they are not broken.
"Their indomitable spirit is shining through
and in the face of adversity and in their
anguish they continue to help others:
It is with a very heavy heart that we provide
news coverage this week in the Signal -Star.
Gerard Creces covered meetings all over
town at all hours, found time to help
friends with cleanup and has been the lead
in organizing a community feel -good
entertainment event this weekend. He is a
good music guy and never hesitates to help.
Reporter Dominique Milburn kept every-
one up-to-date on Facebook all through
the week and fought through tears to take
compelling aerial photographs of the
destruction of her hometown that
appeared in the paper last week.
Selfless acts of kindness abound as people
look beyond their own misery and misfor-
tune to extend a helping hand to a friend,
neighbour or family member.
People are expressing amazement and
incredulity that only one life was lost and
that the extent of injuries was relatively
Not to minimize the loss of the life of Nor-
man Laberge, the injuries, or the extraordi-
nary damage, but residents are expressing
the sentiment that we are lucky in many
respects and have reason to be thankfid.
The loss of life could have considerable. It
could have been catastrophic.
As 1 walked tornado ravaged streets Sunday
afternoon, people rushed out of their
homes onto streets littered with trees,
debris, limbs, downed hydro lines and were
frantically. searching for loved ones, friends
and neighbours.
Their immediate and only concern was for
the safety of their loved ones. In all of the
chaos and destruction it was the only thing
that mattered. They're anguish and anxiety
was palpable.
The prettiest town in Canada has lost some
of its superficial beauty.
But its beauty shines through so stunningly
in its people. In their generosity, indomita-
ble spirit, determination, and willingness to
help. Their caring and sharing attitude
reflects the resilience of the community.
'[he hurnan and community spirit is one of
our defining qualities.
Every emergency worker and volunteer.
from out of town could not believe the hos-
pitality extended to therm bycaring people
Goderich. People who had to deal with
their own personal losses and adverse con-
ditions took the time to be courteous,
thankful and respectful.
It took volunteers by surprise. It amazed
thein and inspired them.
I am so proud of this community.
I am so proud of the people who looked
beyond their own personal circumstances
andchose to help others. Their untiring
efforts and small acts of kindness meant so
much to so many. Small gestures can make
minor. such a big difference.
letters to the editor
Youngsters raise
funds for town
To the editor:
Just want to tell you about 2 girls that had an
idea to help rebuild Goderich On Friday
August 26, in the afternoon they opened a
roadside stand and sold some toys, clothes,
jewelry, pencil drawings and juice. They raised
S153.00 which they took to Boston Pizza so it
could be matched where a gentleman told
them he had meant to stop and gave them
another $Z0.00.for a total of $173.00. 'these
two girls, are grade 4 students of Colborne
Public School and I am honoured to be a
friend of one and grandma of the other.
S. Schoemaker,
Sattford
Thanks to good
neighbour Ian Scott
To the editor:
In the immediate aftermath of the tornado
Sunday, i was diverted off Hwy 21 by the
police. This was my first visit to Goderich, on
route from The Pinery Provincial Park to Kin-
cardine and had no idea how to get out of the
city.
I parked my car and trailer on South Street
and found two gentlemen who informed me of
In our loss, we have every right to question
why and what is fair and right in the world
that this would be inflicted on us.
We have a town of special people.
We have a town of caring people who will
get things done.
1 felt the anguish and pain etched on the
face of Mayor Deb Shewfelt who struggled
through early press conferences to keep his
composure and keep media updated. The
man is simply guilty of loving this place and
its people and he felt helpless at the outset
to make things tight.
Butwe can be thankful for the capable
administration and leadership provided by
Mayor Shewfelt and CAO Larry McCabe
and the hard working people on the town
staff.
Things got done. Not as quickly as some
would have liked, but they got done.
There have been so many miracles in this
town manifested in so rnany small ways
through extensions of kindness, compas-
sion and consideration.
Our town is broken for a time and people
are sad. But they are also hopeful.
We need to restore the mine and people's
jobs and the business community in our
core.
There is always a tomorrow and we can
make it better.
We owe it to future generations to rebuild
our town. Their town.
Goderich may not be the Prettiest Town in
Canada right now, but in so many ways, it is
so much more beautiful..
The real beauty of the Prettiest Town in
Canada lies in all of you!
God Bless and take care of each whet.
•
Dave Sykes,
Signal -Star Publisher
the tornado and reported damage. When I
asked for directions to get me aut of Goderich
and north on l lwy 21 they got in a truck and
managed to get me through blocked streets to
Hwy 8 and up the Ben Miller Line. When we
found it was blocked north of the bridge they
helped me manoeuvre my taller into a U turn
and back to Hwy 8. At that point 1 headed east
and they were heading west to try and get back
into town.
!cannot adequately express my apprecia-
tion to Ian Scott and his neighbour, unfortu-
nately
nfortu-nately 1 didn't get his name, for leaving their
homes in the midst of a disaster to help a
stranger find their way out of the city.
Christina Summers,
Toronto