Letters: March 18

Re: Culture if necessary... (CF Council, Mar11/10), Pat Maloney

How will Ontario’s new developmental services act address systemic inequities?, Karin Steiner

Re: Proposed seniors’ residences on Clement Rd, Dawn Morden

Google Streetview comes to the country, David Sappleton

Re: Culture if necessary... (CF Council, Mar11/10) 

There was almost a bright light shining in Central Frontenac for a few brief minutes but it was quickly snuffed out when our lead-footed township council reverted to form last week and squashed any thought of a real cultural centre for this community.
I volunteered enthusiastically for what was advertised as the ‘Steering Committee for the Development of a Multi-Use Cultural Centre’ (note the exact wording) because it was something I saw as truly visionary and beneficial for the whole township.
One of the stated purposes of this committee was to “ Establish appropriate uses for this facility” but as soon as the discussion at the inaugural meeting veered away from the Sharbot Lake-centric agenda, Council reined it in by redefining the terms of reference for the committee. Retreating from its earlier bit of inspiration it opted instead “to develop a plan for a multi-use centre that could have a cultural element”. . . in other words a municipal bldg. - another multi-use facility like the several others that already exist around Sharbot Lake and elsewhere in the township and, by location, primarily for the use of Sharbot Lake area residents and, of course, the township council.
As the only plan put forth at the inaugural meeting centered around a new library, meeting rooms and a railway museum/art gallery falls far short of what could reasonably be considered a multi-use cultural facility for the whole township, I proposed a fully functioning 200-seat theatre, with a replica of the railroad station providing a foyer/museum/art gallery. It’s hard to imagine what better fits the definition of ‘multi-use cultural.’
The theatre proposal has a sound business plan. Useful for drama, dance, music, lectures, seminars, political forums, school productions, movies for all ages, it will generate income from both local shows (North Frontenac Little Theatre, Blue Skies) and touring attractions (see Bancroft Village Playhouse web site). An independent theatre would be a landmark feature for the township and a significant tourist attraction.  
Modeling the theatre facade and foyer after the old RR station, although not the most architecturally exciting design, provides significant marketing opportunities. A theatre is sustainable - to use the preferred jargon.
Councilor Harvey is wrong to assert that “No community even twice our size has something like that.”  The 192-seat Bancroft Village Playhouse has thrived since 1995 with 827 fewer residents than Central Frontenac. Of course Mr. Harvey was probably only thinking of Sharbot Lake, forgetting, as seems to happen more often than not, that the township actually extends beyond his village.
It seems that it’s no problem to find a $million to build a couple of glorified fire truck garages but when it comes to building a facility that will not only enhance the image of the whole township, but also significantly boost our tourist industry, which is still the only industry that we have, Council gets cold feet.

Patrick Maloney

How will Ontario’s new developmental services act address systemic inequities?

I wish to thank M.P.P. Randy Hillier and his assistant, Mr. David Shostal, for hosting a community forum on the new Services and Supports to Promote the Social Inclusion of Persons with Developmental Disabilities Act, 2008. This forum, held in Napanee on March 15, 2010, gave caregivers of adults with developmental disabilities a rare chance to raise questions about how their disabled sons and daughters will be able to obtain the services they so desperately need.

The plain language brochure on the new act tells us that “adults with developmental disabilities want more choice and control over their lives [and that] they can live independently with the right supports” (www.ontario.ca/community). Further, this brochure states that the government will fund a range of services: residential services, supported group living residences, host family residences, supported independent living residences, activities of daily living, community participation, caregiver respite, professional and specialized services, and person-directed planning. While the language is upbeat and promising, the subtext is gloomy, especially for families who shoulder the full-time care of disabled adults. This silent majority has apparently been left out of the so-called transformative process the Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS) is currently undergoing.

While the new act instills the hope that one of the most vulnerable segments of our population will enjoy the full range of services they need, the reality is that all too many of these citizens receive very few supports once they leave school. People are languishing on long waiting lists (e.g., in Mr. Hillier’s riding, 300 people that we know about are awaiting services). These Ontarians, particularly in rural areas, will also likely continue living without until the government addresses the major funding imbalance between transfer payment agencies and families. I was shocked to learn from M.P.P. Sylvia Jones (opposition member and critic to MCSS) that “agencies still receive 80% of the dollars in the sector and support only 20% of the individuals in the province who have a developmental disability while families who provide support to 80% of individuals receive 20% of the overall budget” (Official Records for May 26, 2008, Hansard Transcripts on Bill 77).

The representatives of MCSS who were present at MPP Hillier’s forum provided important information and insights into existing policy, the new act, and the evolving process of activating new practices. As the new policy may take up to a decade to implement, there is still time for the public to raise questions and concerns with their representatives. I sincerely hope that Mr. Hillier will host more public meetings on this topic, and that other officials in Southeastern Ontario will follow suit. Families need to have more chances to ask how the government plans to serve our sons and daughters in an equitable and timely manner.

Karin Steiner, Caregiver

Re: Proposed seniors’ residences on Clement Rd.

If I understand correctly, these units are being built for seniors who would like to move closer to town and need financial assistance to do so. There are many seniors who currently live independently, more than 4km. from a pharmacy, medical clinic and other amenities, and who likely already receive some services such as meals on wheels. It seems to me that these houses would improve the quality of life for people who will move there by reducing their distance to essential services and resources. As well, these houses might improve the efficiency and effectiveness for delivery of services such as meals on wheels by decreasing the distance service providers currently travel to assist these clients.

I am surprised there is not more support for this project.

Dawn Morden, BScN

Google Streetview comes to the country

I recently noticed that Google finally has Google Streetview for Perth and other small communities on major routes like Sharbot Lake, Kennebec, Ompah, Arden, Plevna and Sydenham etc. etc. Amazingly, they have streetview for the rural areas of arterial routes and villages, such as Highway 7, Road 38, Road 509, Arden Road (my favourite), County Road 4 through L&A.
For land use planners whose work involves providing land use planning services to rural and small urban communities like Perth, North Frontenac, Central Frontenac, Stone Mills and more across the province, this is great. Having this tool can make our job so much simpler, particularly for the urban projects since all roads are documented on Google. You can literally travel from Napanee to Pembroke on Streetview, watching as the terrain changes from urban Napanee to prime agriculture to Canadian Shield to highlands to mountain ranges, and back to agriculture and into Pembroke. Even far up north in communities of only several hundred people, 1/2 an hour from any real services, Google has streetview for. I've been to many of these places and was shocked to find Google spent the time to drive through their 30 or so pothole filled, crumbling streets to show online. It’s seriously a revolution, allowing people to see communities far away that they wouldn't be able to otherwise.

It may be premature, but I think communities or organizations that utilize this tool to market their communities can be successful. It will allow potential tourists and investors to view the communities from the comfort of home or the office. Christopher Hume, an architecture critic for the Toronto Star, wrote several years ago about how such accessible aerial mapping from Google and others has shown us the roofs of buildings and how ugly they are despite their majestic appearances from the ground, particularly office buildings and apartment buildings. Google Streetview provides a whole new dynamic by taking us directly into communities that most only see as a dot on the regional or provincial map, and may encourage communities and community groups to provide a better image to the world. I'm sure in time people will find interesting images for places like Perth and the Frontenacs, like wildlife or abandoned cars, similar to the images they've found in Toronto (truck on fire, garbage in skating rinks due to garbage strike), or the hundreds found on Google Maps.
It was a pretty big topic in the Toronto Star and Ottawa Citizen when Google Streetview was released for those cities in 2009. And I think in time people and organizations will make wise use of the tool.

Having very recently moved from Perth after working as a planning consultant for a local firm for two-and-a-half years, Streetview will allow me to tour Perth and reminisce about the beauty of the town that I came to admire.

David Sappleton

Editor’s Note: For those not familiar with Google Streetview, go to Google Maps and search for the community you’d like to see. Then drag the little person onto the map. You can rotate the view 360 degrees.