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Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-12-09, Page 44 Lucknow Sentinel • Wednesday, December 9, 2015 • www.lucknowsentinel.com The Lucknow Sentinel PUBLISHED WEEKLY P.O. Box 400, 619 Campbell Street Lucknow Ontario NOG 2H0 phone: 519-528-2822 fax: 519-528-3529 www.lucknowsentinel.com EJ POSTMEDIA JOHN BAUMAN Group Manager, Media Sales john. bauman@sun media.ca JOYJURJENS Office Administrator lucknow.sentinel@sunmedia.ca LINDSAY THEODULE Media Sales Consultant I indsay.theodule@sunmedia.ca MARIE DAVID Group Advertising Director 519 376-2250 ext. 514301 or 510 364-2001 ext. 531024 Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064683 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO SENTINEL CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT P.O. Box 400 Lucknow ON NOG 2H0 For any non -deliveries or delivery concerns: 519-528-2822 • lucknow.sentinel@sunmedia.ca SUBSCRIPTIONS Regular one year $40.00 + $2.00 =$42.00 Senior one year $35.00 +$1.75 = $36.75 Two year regular $70.00 + 3.50 = $73.50 Senior two year $60.00 + $3.00 = $63.00 Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All advertising and editorial deadlines: Friday 2 p.m. Changes of address, orders for subscriptions, and undeliverable copies (return postage guaranteed) are to be sent to The Lucknow Sentinel at the address indicated here. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, the portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid at the applicable rates. The Sentinel is available on microfilm at: GODERICH LIBRARY, (from 1875) 52 Montreal Street Goderich ON N7A 1 M3 Goderichlibrary@huroncounty.ca KINCARDINE LIBRARY, (from 1875 to 1900 & 1935 to 1959) 727 Queen Street Kincardine ON N2Z 1Z9 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities. Canada 1 ocna Member of the Canadian Community Newspaper Association and the Ontario Community Newspapers Association My thoughts on things Troy Patterson Companies growing brazen in the marketing of holiday season It feels like this year companies and corporations around the world have no qualms about wrapping up gift -giving as the rea- son for the holiday season. And because Canada is so heav- ily focused on multiculturalism, focusing on gifts is far easier for them to service all religions that celebrate holidays in the months leading up to the New Year. It's more than a bit weird to see refer- ences to things like 'Giftmas' as an advertising ploy, because even in recent years the focus for compa- nies had seemed to be around fam- ily. But this year it feel's like it's changed. It's embarrassing enough that most big companies choose to avoid recognizing all, or any of the holidays people celebrate, often in favour of the bland, generic 'Seasons Greetings' refer- ences designed to be all-encom- passing. It just rolls of the tongue wrong for me. Regardless of your religion, or lack -there -of, focusing on the importance of family is always a noble (and often acceptably neu- tral) way for any company or business to frame the season. And in the midst of that family fun, you'd always see advertising for things that you'd want as window dressing, subtly marketing it to you. I get it because it's been a part of how we celebrate Christmas all of my 34 years. And I've had no problem with it until this Christ- mas, because I know the fun of gift giving, surprises and the joy of making other people happy. Now, it irks me to see just how shameless companies can be in telling consumers to spend money on themselves, or spoil their families. Is this the new sub- tlety used to describe what family is in consumer culture? I really don't think so and it's up to the public to point these things out when they interfere with the meaning of holidays, watering them down each year and further removing them from even the most neutral of meanings - family. It's not only shameless, it's hijacking the cultural and reli- gious origins of these holidays for the sake of profit. And though all holidays have piggy -back market- ing attached to them now, we can all agree that the focus on family and community during any holi- day, shouldn't be lost to the glitz and glamour of consumerism. I'm not naive to think the Christmas season isn't a major budget time for business in today's economy. I just think it's important for businesses to be true to their purpose. And when being true about Christmas means being openly obvious about marketing the season... well I guess that's genuine, but I can't help but see the disrespect to the origins of the holidays. My issue is now it seems com- panies aren't even trying to play the 'family' angle anymore. They know their markets and they know many people focus on what they want, what their spouses and children want this time of year, and are marketing items to show them just what they should want. But on the bright side, my idea of family and inclusiveness dur- ing the holidays has been trans- formed by these heavy marketing ploys, because of how uncomfort- able it makes me feel. Now, I'm more apt than ever to focus on my family this time of year, than material things I can buy (often during the many other deals ad sales throughout the year). In essence, I guess I should thank these blatantly-Grinchy marketing campaigns for showing me the rea- son for the season - family. - TP Lucknow Sentinel Mitten Tree collection on until Dec. 11 Ruth Dobrensky Lucknow News Carolfest at the Lucknow Christian Reformed Church last Wednesday was absolutely uplift- ing. Just the thing to get everyone in the Christ- mas spirit. All the choirs were wonderful and to see the church so full of appreciative people was great. It makes one wish we could experi- ence this sort of musical event every month, not just in December for Christmas. Several people from Lucknow travelled to Wingham's St. Paul's -Trinity Anglican Church last Saturday night to greet Saint Nicholas. Dec. 5 is Saint Nicholas Day and he made an appear- ance and talked to the children of all ages gath- ered there to meet him. The kind old gentleman also brought gifts for all the children who placed their shoes or boots neatly for him to fill. Saint Nicholas was the one who began the tra- dition of giving gifts at Christmas in stockings or shoes, so we all owe him a big thank you. Our whole family still hangs our stockings out at Christmas, and boy, do they get filled. Many in the area travelled to Blyth this past Sunday to attend a lovely Christmas choral show featuring the Blyth Festival Singers with special guests the "Glister Children's Choir': The two choirs filled the afternoon with beautiful Christmas music. Don't forget to make a donation to the Mitten Tree at the Lucknow Sentinel office, there are a lot of children out there who needs mittens and scarves. You have until Dec. 11, so hurry on down. Only 14 days until Christmas folks, my shop- ping is all done, how about yours? Sympathy of the community to the families of : Christine Martin, 59, Ripley; Kenneth Macken- zie, 77, Goderich (formerly Kintail); and, Gary Dauphin, 66 Brussels. Call 1-866-734-9425 or visit www.medicalert.ca MedicAlert Lets You Live Life. Planning an event? Don't forget to advertise! The [ucknow Sentinel 519-528-2822