Dear Editor,
Last week, on August 11th 2016, I sent an email letter about the proposed sale of Don Maynard Park and Block 42 to members of our elected council of Mississippi Mills and CAO Diane Smithson.
I have, to date, only had contact/responses from 3 Councillors. Interestingly, at least to me, all who have responded are women.
All were appreciative of my letter and assured me that they too were impacted by the presentations. They indicated that they were open to hearing from more people, on both ‘sides’ of the issue before determing a course of action (my words, not theirs).
After sharing my email letter with other concerned citizens, it was suggested that I submit my letter to you for publication on your website.
Here is a copy of the email letter I sent, for your consideration:
Dear respected representatives,
I was in attendance at the public meeting held on Tuesday August 9, 2016.
I spent the first portion of the meeting outside, with a huge number of other concerned residents.
There were people of all ages, from those in strollers to children running about, to older children and yes, a few teenagers.
Of course there were a lot of adults- the young, the young at heart and a several ‘sen-agers’.
Aside from a couple of outbursts of ‘hear, hear’ and applause for speakers, overall the crowd was attentive and well-behaved.
After your exit from the chambers when an adjournment was called for, but later changed to being a recess, I moved to the overflow area in the building.
I am so pleased that you returned to hear the later speakers, including our much-respected former Mayor, Dorothy Finner.
I should note here that I had brief contact with Jill McCubbin via Facebook prior to the meeting and was pleased to hear that she was open to hearing from the public.
I also I had previously spoken with Jane Torrance at more length. After speaking with Jane, I understood more of some of the issues and heard possible reasons to consider selling properties. I felt that Jane was open to hearing from people- she certainly heard me out, indeed agreed with much of what I said.
I believe that she empathizes with those working to save Don Maynard Park and Block 42 and seriously wishes to find a win-win solution.
In other words, I believe that you are honestly listening to the public concerns. I am not as cynical as some. I still believe in you.
I learned more about the plan, the position of council as well as a lot of history and legal information on Tuesday.
I felt humbled and proud of the depth of work and passion that each speaker brought forward.
I learned about important things:
– mental health benefits, community use other than by the school,
– school programs and recess benefits,
– potential integration of those in the new seniors complex,
– community pride and expectation
and much much more.
And I learned about Don Maynard. Perhaps he deserves a bigger honour… a bigger park with lots of activity….but this is the park that was named for him.
This is the park that brought him to tears. He deserves to have that honour left untouched.
I do not pretend to understand all the needs of running our municpality, but I do understand something about people.
Sometimes what matters to people does not come down to dollars and cents.
Sometimes it comes down to belonging, sharing and living at peace.
Sometimes what doesn’t make sense with the value of ‘cents’ makes sense with the value of community.
Please revisit the presentations, the passionate speeches with so much factual background.
Please remember Don Maynard and what he stood for.
Please consider the value of our community over the value of dollar and cents in this case.
Please Please do NOT sell Don Maynard Park.
Please do not sell Block 42 next to it.
Please find a better solution.
This community might just surprise us all with the level of fundraising that could happen.
Wouldn’t it be better to harness the goodwill of this community instead of fighting against it ?
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Kate McDonough
Victoria St, Almonte
