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Home My WebLink AboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2015-03-18, Page 5www.lucknowsentinel.com letters to the editor A quote from one of Canada's Founding Fathers Just the other day I came across a quote that was written over 150 years ago. The mes- sage in the quote is relevant for today's Canada. It is necessary to give a bit of background before the quote is read. Around the 1850s, Canadians were spreading hatred among themselves. It was Protestants against Catholics and vice versa. Both sides had their rad- icals and the hatred ran deep. Canada could never become a nation with such divisions. The quote is from Thomas D'Arcy McGee. Thomas was born in Ireland in 1825 and quickly became a radical Irish Nationalist. He moved between Ireland and the USA in his fight for Catholic rights. He was a complex man and some believe he was the deep- est thinker among our Found- ing Fathers. After years of work and little positive outcomes he decided to move to Canada because he thought his chances of equality would be better. Unfortunately, Canada too had it's problems. Over the years, Thomas went from radi- cal to moderate as he worked to set Canada up for nationhood. Fast forward to today, and I see a federal Canadian gov- ernment that is encouraging fear. A government that is dividing Canadians. During the month of January 2014, Mr. Oliver and Mr. Harper said that Canadians who are environmentalists are ene- mies of Canada and they are terrorists. Before that, I saw Mr. Harper on a CTV show say that Islam was the biggest threat to Canada and he did not say radical Islam, he just said Islam. He has bad rela- tions with our Native breth- ren, our French Canadians friends and he has attacked our citizens in the Maritimes. There are no words of love for Canadians, just lots of talk about how we should be afraid. Fear leads to hatred. Hatred leads to a failing soci- ety. Just look at Syria. Back to Thomas. The quote is directed towards a group that was spreading divisions among Canadians. Internal divisions do not make for sta- ble countries. This is what Thomas wrote, "addresses itself only to one order of the intellect- the narrow, the dis- torted, and the unteachable; it builds itself on the lowest level of human nature, on the basis of unchangeable hatred and mistrust. There is noth- ing in it noble or generous, or attractive to good men." He finishes with saying that the group is "radically and inde- fensibly anti -Canadian.: Canadians should think about these words carefully. Thomas helped Canadians obtain religious rights. He worked to unite Canada and form a nation. He went from radical to moderate. In the end he was assassinated, some believe that this occurred because he was branded a traitor for being a moderate. Canada needs to focus on our many problems such as youth unemployment, health- care, food security, a strug- gling middleclass, infrastruc- ture and a hundred other issues. We must always be on guard for dangerous ideology but we do not need to divide our citizens to accomplish this. Please Canada, listen to Thomas once more as our future depends on it. Dan Taylor Clinton, Ontario Bluewater District School Board Public Budget Information Meeting Submitted Bluewater District School Board is once again seeking public input as part of the annual budget planning process. A public meeting regarding the 2015-2016 budget will be held at the Bluewater Dis- trict School Board Educa- tion Centre in Chesley on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 beginning at 6:00 p.m. Parents and stakeholders are invited to participate in the board's budget consultation process that will consider input from the public in developing the 2015-2016 budget. Ques- tions from the public can be submitted in advance of the meeting by e -mailing com- munications@bwdsb. on. ca. There will also be an oppor- tunity for members of the public to present as a dele- gation at the meeting. Dele- gations are required to reg- ister by 12:00 noon on Monday, March 30, 2015 by contacting Ginnie Smith at 519-363-2014, ext. 2108. ti,), HEARTS(' STROKE FOUNDATION ASSESS YOUR RISK. MAKE HEALTH LAST. CA Wednesday, March 18, 2015 • Lucknow Sentinel 5 Valerie Gillies/Lucknow Sentinel Black and MacDonald Insurance made a donation to the Lucknow and District Lions Club towards their youth programs. From left: Jeannette McNeil, Event Organizer, ABMO Staff Appreciation; Amanda Stieva, Construction Manger, ABMO-K2 Wind Project; Wayne Todd, past president Lucknow Lions; Kathy Todd, treasurer Lucknow Lions. Black and MacDonald Insurance Supports Youth Programs Valerie Gillies Lucknow Sentinel Black and MacDonald Insurance employees raised $1,602 to be put towards youth projects. The check was presented to the Luc - know and District Lions Club on March 9, 2015 at the Black & MacDonald office on Dungannon Road. Current youth projects get it lucknowsentinel.com March Break Activities at the Lucknow Public Library Grant Robertson Bruce County Library, Lucknow Branch The Lucknow Public Library will be hosting a week of excit- ing activities for children of all ages. Saturday March 14th, 2015 at 11:OOam Magic Potions & Fizzing Formulas. Join us for some fun with chemistry creat- ing slimes, potions and crafts. For all Elementary School Children Wednesday March 18th, 2015 at 2:OOpm "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" Chil- dren's Craft, All Ages Welcome. Wednesday March 18th, 2015 at 6:30pm "The Boxtrolls" free movie. Everyone Welcome. Thursday March 19th, 2015 from 6:30-7:30pm a bedtime story for ages 1-8. Friday March 20th, 2015 March Break Tech Mad- ness, starting at 10:OOam. Activi- ties will include crafts, a windmill generator, electric dragster and an electric plane launcher. The Library is also pleased to welcome Team 781 of the Kincardine Kinetic Knights. They will be bringing their robots for participants to operate, as well as their LEGO Mindstorm Robots for all to learn about, and how to build their own. "I am so pleased that Team 781 will be joining us next Fri- day. They are the first team of the Kinetic Knights and I love to see when members of the com- munity can learn about things going on right at their front doors. As a community, let's support our local organizations and have fun learning," states Claire Andrusiak, the CAP Intern at the Ripley and Luc- knowbranches. If you would like more infor- mation, please call the Luc - know Branch at 519-528-3011, email at lulib@brucecounty. on.ca or visit their website at library.brucecounty.on.ca through the Lucknow Lions are: Youth Exchange Camp which is with international students, Peace Poster Con- test, Effective Speaking which is in both Lucknow Central Public School and Brookside Public School, free skating which is mainly for kids and the skateboard park. SUDOKU Tlils WEEK'S PUZZLE SPONSORED BY -IW, Encknow Sentinel y r I rll town oewlpo} r airi:x 1873 619 Campbell Sheeb, Box MO Luck nay/. ON NOLs 2€1Q 519-5 TI1-2821 .L www. 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