The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-09-17, Page 4PAGE 4 GODERICH SIGNAL: STAR. WEDNESDAY ,•SEP' ,.SEPTEMBER 17, 1986
Why must our town resort to phoney
tourism advertising? How do we deserve the
anitquated watering restrictions when our
new reservoir has the storage capacity of
over 1,200,000 gallons?
These two questions have bothered me for
some months. It is a good time to address
them now when summer's activities are
over and before next year's plans are on the
drawing board. The first concern is directed
to the town council chambers, the second
across the road to the P.U.C.
We have all seen travel supplements and
other promotional material in which a state-
ment is made that the Town of Goderich is
the "prettiest town in Canada" and that
Queen Elizabeth said so. Someone is respon-
sible for the wording, someone who is not
particular about the truth and reality.
The slogan about the "prettiest town" still
makes me wince, because it is so obviously
a rather arrogant overstatement carelessly
tossed to the ignorant crowds who believe
anything! There has been no country -wide
contest and nobody has checked all the
towns across the continent. Would we be
worse off, if we were known as a very pretty
and friendly town?
The recently added references to Queen
Elizabeth make the whole thing even more
ridiculous. No Queen Elizabeth has visited
Goderich. It did not exist at the time of the
first Elizabeth and the present Queen has
not been here. Besides, had the Queen ever
visited here, she would not have singled out
one town's attractions over those of other
places. So why do we want to be known -the
promoters of nonsense?
To go one degree lower, last summer big
and ugly signs were erected on St.
Opinion
Christopher's Beach and in the Lighthouse
Park, creating a further embarrassment by
heralding "sun setting twice" claims.
Twice, indeed! Every place on two or more
levels could claim this entirely meaningless
fame. How about the CN Tower? The sunset
most people enjoy is an explosion of fast
changing colors lighting up the sky.
Years ago the New Yorker magazine car-
ried an illustration of what looked like a
beautiful sunset, with a large sign in front of
it saying "This is a beautiful sunset". It was
a lampoon of the excessive tendency to
mark everything with signs. I would not
have thought that I would live to see such
silliness in real life, in the town where I have
my home.
It would be a kindness to all of us, if the
signs in question got quietly lost over the
winter, never to be found again. If the sunset
does not say it, a sign never will.
Still, much worse things take place
elsewhere. You might have read in the
Globe and Mail recently that a Thunder Bay
poster shows a family beside a waterfall
which does not exist, but was created in a
photographer's studio "because it reflected
what families wanted to see." Presumably
families are too dumb to notice that the
waterfall is not there.
Do I just notice it more or is there a grow-
ing trend to treat the public like so many
creatures who never developed good brains
and who fall for whatever tricks are aimed
at them? Do .the phoney politicians and
public relations officials really think that`s
they are not found out?
We have a lovely town. Its natural beauty
is enhanced by the excellent work of the
Parks Department, with homeowners and
many businesses completing the very at-
tractive picture. We have so much to be pro-
ud of, honestly. People do not come here to
look at signs and nobody is really imprpsQed
with contrived and overdone claims. fil
As to the second suggested improvement
which can be prepared for next summer, mli
appeal goes to the P.U.C. Perhaps we could
be treated to a more updated system)
without the annoying watering restrictions
of the past.
The new pumping facility and reservoir,
opened in the summer, increased the former.
208,000 gallon capacity by cine millio
gallons. When completely finished, the $3.5,
million project, financed by public money,(
ought to result in clearly noticeable advan-,
tages to the public. We trust that the restric-
tions can be lifted or at least relaxed, even
on a trial basis.
Please, P.U.C., treat us as responsible
partners and tell us what we may expect. Do
so in plain talk, remembering that the
public does indeed notice whenever the
waterfall of the picture does not really exist.
THE NEWS PORT FOR GODERICH & DISTRICT
SINCE 1848
the E ya4
Goderich
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Time is right for day care
Port Albert Falls
By Paul Hartman
1Y<r� YU '.
a d it " 1 j. P rtr1Clge-shouGoderich town council may be considering the.e$tablishment of a municipalday:care can- , � ill.
c ai ' rn a riorit with the oliticians an `�1� nst. �
tralust at the right time. Day care is finally becoming priority p Letter s' against -
could be that funding for capital projects to establish day care centres will be available
soon
John Turner mentioned when a inJuly
wasar thrown in the garbage, says rea
Burin his visit to Goderich in July, �e
One of the first things federal Liberal leader Joh
reporter asked him to outline his policy objectives, g
his comm
itment to improving the child care system. Dear Editor,
Day care is a priority with the Liberal party, said Turner in an interview with Mike I have read the headlines regarding Bill TT R S
Ferguson of the Signal -Star. The party is looking to show flexibility in terms of day care cen- Partridge and such situations lead
tres in the neighbourhood, -public centres or at,the place of work. "We're exploring all the democracy to anarchy. The most essential
options," Turner said. ' element of democracy is freedom but with .
At present a seven member parliamentary task force on child care is fulfilling Prime certain responsibilities and a strong sense of
discipline. discipline.
t
Minister Brian Mulroney's election promise to take a detailed look at the issue. According o I understand that . six County Library
Toronto Star columnist Carol Goar, no one from the prime minister on down has quietly sug- Headquarter's staff members wrote two let-
gested to Shirley Martin, task force chairman that she keep the federal deficit in mind when ters against the Chief Librarian. I also
preparing the committee's final recommendations. Martin seem* prepared to go to cabinet understand Bill Partridge has been Chief
with a compelling case for a federally financed national day care sy§tem. Librarian for 14 years and won the Ontario.
In an interview with Goar marking the anniversary of his massive election victory two
years ago, Prime Minister Mulroney said he hoped the Conservatives' battle with the deficit
did not blind them to some of the profound needs in society. "A woman should be able to go
to work and not be concerned as to whether her child is being properly cared for, either at
home or in a facility," Goar quotes the prime minister as saying.
One has to regard politicians' remarks with skeptiscism at the best of times but surely
this indicates a change in thinking on day care. It wasn't long ago politicians were saying, as
some local politicans still believe, that women who want to work outside the home should not
expect society to help pay for their child care costs.
It is unrealistic to think that the federal government will choose state -financed universal
day care especially since the Tories still have a very close eye on the budget deficit. But it is
a signficent step forward to see politicians recognizing that day care is essential and that
society must play a role in providing quality child care for those who need it and cannot af-
ford to pay the total cost.
An alternative is to expand the existing day care system by redirecting funds from other
programs. The government does not have to provide free day care for every Canadian fami-
ly, especially when it is looking at the universality question in other social programs such as
pensions.
Worthwhile alternatives include taxbreaks for employers who provide on the job day care
facilities to start up money for neighbourhood child care centres. The challende is to design
the best package for the available tax dollars.
It is important that the local council is looking at the issue of day care in Goderich at this
time. It is crucial to meet this need in our community. Quality child care for working
parents is as essential to today's society as public education and health care.
time for consensus
High water levels causing erosion and flooding are a major concern for lake front proper-
ty owners and no one is more concerned right now than the residents of Port Albert.
A feature on the front page of today's community section outlines the problems caused by
the highest water levels in recent years. The beach has been reclaimed by the water, the
high water driven by winds is forcing water back up the river and it is flooding low lying
areas upstream.
Residents of the hamlet have discussed the subject of what to do to stop the erosion and
how to keep the river mouth open for as long as there have been cottagers in Portaklbert, but
this year's high water levels are so threatening, residents have finally decided to take some
action.
A meeting with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority has prompted a study to
determine possible solutions and Ashfield township council is being requested to take action
at critical times.
The study will take time and it is almost certain that should it indicate an erosion control
device is necessary, such a device will not be built in time to prevent the damage that is cer-
tain to be caused by this November's storms.
The study will cost $7500°and the solution will surely cost more.
Whatever the study determines should be done, the ratepayers must be diligentand per-
sisteht in their efforts to have effective erosion control made a reality at Port Albert. This
will take co-operation and patience and a good deal of determination.
In the past Port Albert ratepayers have never been able to agree on what method to per-
sue to stop the flooding and erosion. Past meetings have resulted in differences of opinion
and a lack of consensus,. - .
13ut an evening's stroll along the beach is evidence that something has to be done to keep
the mighty waters of Lake Huron at bay or the natural environment of the beloved Port
Albert beach is going to be altered forever and property owners are going to suffer
thousands of dollars in damage. S.D.
Award as the best librarian.
I have been Chief and Head of the Depart-
ment of Psychology since 1967 and served
from Manitoba to Newfoundland in Canada.
In every case I had two capacities.
1.) 1 was responsible to the Chief of
Psychiatry and to the Administrator of the
Hospital. In this capacity I was to do my
best and follow the times of direction. The
two were the two captains and were respon-
sible to the hospital board. It was the board
who was to give them directions.
It was none of my business to evaluate
them. If 1 did not like the way these two cap-
tains were running the show 1 a to find to
place where I would be happy.Any let te
the Board was and would be a breach of
The six members of the Headquarter's
staff had no business criticizing `the Chief
Librarian. In my opinion it was the negation
of any sense of discipline when the board
took notice of the letters.
2.) My other capacity was that I was the
captain and I had Registered Psychologist,
M.A. and B.A. in Psychology and all these
staff members were to accept my policy. If
these members of the Psychology Depart-
ment did not like my policies or direction,
they were to find another job.
There was one case in Cornwall where an
M.A. in Psychology (Psychometrist) refus-
ed to write reports as directed by me. I had
no choice but to terminate the services and
the administrator refused to interfere when
she wrote a letter to him. There was absolut-
ly no question of going to the board.
In my opinion, the board would be doing a
great disservice to this county as well as to
democracy if any action is taken on those
der
letters. If Partridge resigns I can assure the
board that no qualified or responsible per-
son may accept the job of Bill Partridge.
I have tailed to understand, what type of
example the board is going to set. I am also
very sorry that Bill Partridge agreed to
resign with conditions.
If I were Bill Partridge I would have taken
disciplinary action against those who wrote
letters. The job of the staff is to do their best
and feel satisfied. If I were Bill Partridge I
would have never resigned. If I were a
member of the board, I would have thrown
those two letters in the waste paper basket.
May I beg the board to allow Bill Par-
tridge to handle this matter and take no ac -
ton on those letters?
May I request Bill Partridge to stay and
steer his boat as a capable captain of the
ship and not plan to run away..
Lastly may I request to the staff members
who wrote two letters that their job is to
work to the best of their ability under Bill
Partridge.
I hope other people who love this county
and wish capable people to stay would come
forward and stop this dangerqus situation.
Yours sincerely,
Saidullah Khan. Ph.D
Reader wants people toTe--roi in course
Dear Editor,
This letter is an appeal to interest five
people in taking the course in Social
Organization so that we can meet the re-
quirement of a minimum of 10 people to
justify sending a professor up from Western
University. or those . people working
towards a degree through the Adult, Part -
Time Education Continuing Education
Pro-
d to have taken Sociology 20 or
gram you nee
Terry Fox is still a spiritual hero
•
receive special permission from Western.
The course was to be held on Monday
evenings 7-10 p.m., beginning Sept. 8, and
ending Apr. 6 (no classes between Dec. 2 to
Jan. 4). People who wish to take this course
as a non credit course could also do so, as it
is enriching in understanding the 'New
Rules, Searching for Self -Fulfillment in a,
World Turned Upside Down'. This book by
Daniel Yankelovich, is but one of the areas
studied about the world we live in and how it
affects us.
The University of Western Ontario has
given us the privilege and opportunity of
providing Extension Centres for Adult Part- •
Time Continuing Education. We could Pose
this opportunity. If interested please call me
by Thursday evening at 524-7184.
Connie Osborn
as
his dream continues on
Dear editor,
The eyes and ears of the country were
once fixated on Terry's "dream" of stopp-
ing the pain by raising enough money for
cancer research.
He reached our hearts and raised our
spirits through his courageous and heroic
run which we have symbolically recreated
through our own Terry Fox runs each
The emotion is often left unexpressed and
the numbers who remember and care the
most have dwindled, but the day, its goal
and "the dream" continues.
I for - one, while participating in the -
Goderich run, found peace and a reunion
with the spirit which stirred in me during
Terry's own marathon of hope.
I would like to recognize and congratulate
all partiipators both young and old, able and
disabled, who shared a special feeling and
sense of commitment during this year's run.
I admire and respect you all. Through the
run "the dream" continues.
Sincerely,
T.G. Ewer
6 Bennett St. E.
Goderich.
September.
Reader is concerned about heliraising
Dear editor,
This is a letter of concern from a young
person who lives outside of Goderich.
, I am concerned about the hell -raising in
- your town such as the stabbing of a 31 -year-
old, and the hold up at Frank and Otis'.
I really don't see why these events keep
taking place in our county and I am really
upset. I can also tell You 'of another list of
events that. happened7rt Auburn where a
truck . was stolen aruPa ntnnber of lawns
were destroyed. What are we going to do?
Where are our police.. when all this hap-
pens? I know they can't be at one place all
the time but they don't need to be drinking
coffee at a restaurant or store either.
We all pay taxes and I'm wondering if this
is to keep the young offenders out of jail or to
pay the police officers.
Yours truly,
A concerned
resident of Auburn