I can see a lot of irony in the condemnation of council to skew the city and continue to show ‘council continuing per se’ in a bad light. Negativity is more popular as it helps people to ‘feel’ they have a right and the power to shout others down.
I am somewhat ambivalent about the rink and as said in todays paper we got caught between a rock and a hard place on this one. That means ‘both’ sides had very important points to make. On the one hand, the Vincent’s, through the kids showed the effect ‘picking on kids’ by the power of the bylaw was overzealous, meanies while highlighting the real needs of the community and that is free, easy and accessible sporting for neighborhood children.
This is where years of foresight have let us down. EVERY area of the city should have a block sporting facility in open air, with volunteers but city jobs and tardy maintenance usually by under are at risk. Winter to be a rink and summer to be a splash pad or a swimming pool. We all know this to be expensive making it improbable. Insurances have knocked us down to cover litigations that we never use to have.
Society has cocooned to the point of invisibleness in this regard. Expensive formalized sporting facilities have power of need to stay alive to force bylaw maintenance as much as neighbors disagreeing with each other. Street sports are dangerous and even more frowned upon than ever.
For the Vincent’s and their supporters, with the media hype, to take this to the max. was unfortunate with regards to the city getting it in the eye nationally, once again. Yet ultimately they have voice and they have a point we cannot ignore. Our children’s life skills are at stake. Those that slouch, lose while those that do, lose.
Council and other core heads need to visit this serious growth need without delay. It is not something to put under the rug. It will fester.
Dave Windsor
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