I was going to write about municipal conflict of interest this week, you know, with what’s happening in the Town of South Bruce Peninsula and all, because of Mayor Carl Noble’s financial interest in wind energy through a small energy company with a test wind turbine on his farm property near Mar. And then there’s his strong support for wind energy in general and specifically for another company’s controversial plan to develop a wind energy farm near Kincardine. Continue reading
Boys, I Tell You Something
There’s a big, multi-level parking garage there now, but many years ago a group of idealistic young men spent many evenings one summer sitting around a table at an outdoor café in Toronto’s old village district north of Gerrard Street, between Bay and University. We solved the problems of the world every night that summer, and in the process befriended another regular, a mysterious, older man-of-the-world. Continue reading
The Health of the Aging Human Brain
The topic this week was going to be municipal restructuring. Boring, I just heard someone say. But let me hasten to add the crowd of squabbling crows who live in the bush behind our house and are quickly taking over my garden (with the current emphasis on my meagre first-year crop of strawberries) agree. Continue reading
Too Many Questions about the Wiarton District High School Property
Where do you get most of your information about events in your world in a way that helps make it understandable? These days a growing number of people would likely include the Internet in the answer. Yes, indeed you can find a wealth of information on the Internet about just about anything. But I find myself wondering again if people realize what an important role the news media plays in their lives and the life of a democratic society, especially where the actions of government are involved. You have a right to know what’s going on, and the reasons why. Continue reading
Hearing Set for Residential Development Near Native Burial Sites
A long-simmering dispute on the Bruce Peninsula over residential development on private property in the vicinity of native burial sites is the subject of a lengthy hearing set to begin this coming Tuesday before the Ontario government’s new Environmental Review Tribunal.
At issue specifically is the Niagara Escarpment Commission’s refusal last fall to approve development permits for two lots of record in a provincially approved subdivision. That was despite a staff report recommending approval, and despite the fact the NEC two years earlier permitted development on two other lots in the same subdivision. The people whose applications were denied appealed. Continue reading
Sale of the Wiarton District High School Properties
I have a confession. I ran into some sort of a wall this week after a quest for information about the sale of the Wiarton District High School properties from the Bluewater District School Board to the Town of South Bruce Peninsula, and town council’s acceptance in principle of a bid from one of its members to purchase the same properties for considerably less than the town is paying. Continue reading
Provincial Government Downloading Mess
Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and his Liberal government are fast running out of time if they have any serious intention of straightening out the provincial downloading mess left behind by the previous Progressive Conservative governments. Continue reading
Elder Abuse a Serious Issue in Ontario
An elderly woman living on her own in a house tucked away in a relatively isolated rural area of Grey-Bruce was surprised one day last year to hear a knock on the door. She may have peeked out the front window to see who it was. She may have had a moment’s anxiety; but, if the sad truth be known, she was also lonely, and pleased at the prospect of having some company. The man certainly looked presentable. And when she slowly, tentatively, opened the door a little he had a nice smile and seemed very friendly. Continue reading
Draft Study Released by the NWMO
Most of us get up in the morning, flick all the switches that power our modern, materialistic lifestyle, and don’t give a moment’s thought to the fact we’re creating a monster. Every day, every push of a button or turn of a knob that sets yet another gadget or game in motion makes the monster a little bigger and a little more dangerous. Continue reading
Gaelic In The Bruce Part 3
Not long ago in this space I talked about that tragic and neglected period in British history known as The Clearances. Over a period of more than 100 years, beginning in the middle of the 18th Century and lasting well into the latter half of the 19th, many thousands of poor Scottish Highland farmers, known as crofters, were evicted, or “cleared” from the Highlands and the islands off the western coast of Scotland by wealthy landowners. Many immigrated to Canada. Some found their way to this area. Gaelic-speaking Highland refugees were among the first non-aboriginal people to settle in Grey and Bruce counties. Continue reading
Finding Hope Ness 