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Home>Kincardine>2008>June
by
Fred Kirby June 4, 2008
Mark June
17th on your calendar for on that day Community Living - Kincardine and
District Branch is holding its Annual General Meeting at the Kincardine
Pavilion starting at 6: 30 p.m.
Following a short general meeting, there will be a unique educational and
entertaining program. “Kaleidoscope Ride Tour” was created by Kim, singer
and songwriter, in collaboration with her autistic daughter, Sara. The
mission of Kaleidoscope Ride Tour is, “to celebrate life’s possibilities”
with families dealing with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders). Music is the
bridge between our world and the world in which those with autism live.
Kim uses music as a vehicle for developing awareness and educating the
public.
Community Living needs our support. Those, children and adults, whom
Community Living serves, need our support. The parents of these
developmentally handicapped children and adults need our support. There
was a time, when society hid those we called ‘retarded’ in their homes;
the alternative was the back corridors of Ontario Mental Hospitals. Later
they were placed in Ontario Training Schools, a soothing great euphemism.
Not to be confused with the other euphemism of the time, the Ontario
Training Schools for Juvenile Delinquents. I knew families who chose the
Training Schools for Delinquents rather than the Ontario Training Schools
because they felt the latter had too much stigma attached to them. We have
come some distance from those days, but have far to go if we are ever to
be remembered as a just and compassionate society.
I ask readers to give up an evening of their lives and attend the General
Meeting on June 17th. Is that too much to ask when the parents give up
every evening of their lives? If you wonder what you could do, where you
could help, remember that there is always a part to be played. To
paraphrase William Tynsdale, writing in the 16th Century, “There is no
work better than another…to pour water, to wash dishes, to be a doctor, to
be a student, all is one if we ever are to form a compassionate and just
society.” The decision is ours.
June 11, 2008
“Vision
without action is merely a dream, action without vision just passes the
time, vision with action can change the world….” (Joel Barker - scholar
and futurist).
My pet rock has more vision than have members of the Kincardine Council.
Their inability to grasp what Kincardine could extraordinarily be and
their lack of thoughtful action are disheartening realties. And when
members of Council refuse to have their votes recorded lest their record
surfaces at election time, their lack of political courage is for all to
see.
If the Paddy Walker House had been left to Council to deal with, it would
not have become the wonderful gem in Kincardine’s crown that citizens
raised from the ashes. If it had not been for the vision and drive of
citizens, we would have no historic Pavilion with its music waxing over
Lake Huron on a moonlit night and dancers on the original floor sharing in
the memories of the thousands who danced on the self-same floor in by-gone
days. Do members care when they see something not maintained or are their
standards such that they do not know when something needs work?
Because of their blindness they failed to see the importance of the
Lighthouse to this municipality and they failed to see its significance in
identifying the municipality. Council is prepared to spend over three
quarters of a million dollars on tourist building, the wrong building in
the wrong place, yet destroys one of the municipality’s main tourist
attractions. In a more just society Council’s actions would be considered
criminal. Yes, the Lighthouse requires significant repairs; that is a
direct result of politicians wilfully ignoring the need for ongoing
maintenance. Now the current crop of politicians decided, in their lack of
forethought, to do the repairs on the cheap thereby destroying it as an
historic tourist site. Was it a question of money? Council would have you
believe so. It is hogwash. Council was quick to subsidized Pryde’s gated
community to the tune of $26,000. It has wasted thousands of dollars on a
website that could be far better designed and far less costly if Council
had utilized the abilities of KDSS students. It happily gave members a
raise in pay though it faced new costs to resolve the Medical Clinic issue
and the mayor keeps the $6,000 he wrongly spent on an office. No, it is
not the money.
Members of Council should not take umbrage with me; the fault lies with
them. The vinyl from the Lighthouse must be removed and the Lighthouse
properly repaired as an historic site before more money is wasted.
June 18, 2008
I was
interested to read that the Kincardine Council has established an
Environment Committee. Do we need another committee for Council to ignore?
The Works Committee studied the Huron Ridge and flooding issue for months,
presented their recommendations to Council only to have key parts
dismissed, and Council still has not come to a decision. How involved was
the Accessibility Committee with the planning of the Davidson Centre? Were
they asked to be part of the planning? No. Did Council seek advice from
the Heritage Committee before taking a chain saw to the Lighthouse? They
did not.
It would better serve the environment if environmentalists formed their
own group. That way they would be available if Council ever thought to ask
their advice, they would avoid having their concerns lost in a cumbersome
reporting system, and the environmentalists would be free to be proactive.
An on-going concern is Council members’ lack of preparation for meetings.
Councilors, too many, fail to do the necessary reading in order to speak
to the agenda with an informed opinion, nor do they have a fund of general
knowledge to address the critical issues of the day that affect the
well-being of the community. What is the point of an Environment
Committee, or any other committee, presenting information and
recommendations to councilors who have no concept of the issue under
discussion? A multi-million dollar business cannot be operated
successfully by winging it.
Related to the above is the latest fiasco by Council, the botched-up
Lighthouse repairs. Considering the importance of the Lighthouse as a
municipal symbol, its care should be placed under an organization that has
a strong sense of heritage and history’s place in our community. Though
the Kincardine Yacht Club does a terrific job operating the harbour and
has greatly improved the harbour facilities, members are primarily
sailors, not historians or heritage types. Perhaps that is why the Club
apparently did not ask about the nature of repairs when they learned of
the Municipality’s plan to stop the leaks at the Lighthouse.
Understandably, it did not resonate.
As Council reverses its irresponsible decision and immediately begins to
repair the Lighthouse under the guidance of the Heritage Committee, it
also needs to consider what historical group should assume care of our
priceless symbol, the Lighthouse.
June 25, 2008
Beware of
Mayor Kraemer when he says “perhaps.” When Larry spoke to the Lighthouse
issue at Council last week, he rambled, signifying nothing, but towards
the end he did sound an ominous note: “perhaps in the future” he said in
response crying for a decision now. For the record, I say Mr. Kraemer has
no intention of seeing the Lighthouse properly restored? Let him tell me
without equivocation that I am wrong.
Whether the decision by Council last April to repair the Lighthouse
without first consulting with an heritage architect was done through
maliciousness or ignorance will never be known for certain. But though
Councillors have said there was no intent to destroy the historical
aspects of the Lighthouse, their waffling last week over repairs leaves
the question open. The issue is straightforward. The mistake is
acknowledged. Why compound it? Unless! All that was required was for
Council to pass a motion to remove the vinyl now and restore the 1880
features under the direction of an architect recommended by the Heritage
Committee.
The creation of a Kincardine Heritage Partnership is just more smoke and
mirrors. The motion reads that the Partnership “to utilize the expertise
of existing community groups….” This Partnership, that Council does not
call a committee, will report to CHAT (Community, Heritage, Arts and
Tourism) and will include: Heritage Kincardine, Bruce Township Historical
Society (that already works with Heritage Kincardine), the Walker House
which should be the custodian of the Lighthouse, the Kincardine Yacht
Club, and the Pavilion. This is a terrible way to organize a reporting
structure. You have groups reporting to themselves as members of CHAT and
those not members. With due respect for the Yacht Club, their business is
boats, and they do that well, but that has nothing to do with heritage.
Why not add the Cemetery Committee with its historic head stones or the
Airport Governing body which has as much credibility in discussing
heritage as the Yacht Club? This Partnership is just more snake oil and
should be put out of its misery.
Council, quit looking for wiggle room. You brought the mess upon yourself;
correct it now in accordance with heritage guidelines. |
