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Page -1 The Canadian Statesman. Bowmanville, July 2. 1997 f he Canairian Statesman Former Publishers and Partners Rev. John M. Climie and W. R. Climie 1854 -1878 M. A. James, 1878 -1935 • Norman S. B. James, 1919 -1929 G. Elena James, 1929 -1947 • Dr. George W. James, 1919 -1957 Produced weekly by James Publishing Company Limited P.O. Box 190,62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3K9 905-623-3303 lnternel-statesman@ocna.org Fax 905-623-6161 HOURS: Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For 142 Years, Our First Concern Has Been Our Community Publisher - John M. James Plant Manager - Rick Patterson Ad. Manager - Brian G. Purdy Production Assoc. Publisher - Rick James Editor - Peter Parrott Supervisor - Ralph Rozema, Suzanne Bennett, Kevin Britton, Sharon Cole, Laurens Kaldeway, Doug Lugtenburg, Barb Patterson, Jim Snoek, Vance Sutherland, Jim Tuuramo Advertising Editorial Laverne Morrison Brad Kelly, Lorraine Manfredo, Laura J. Richards Office Supervisor - Angela Luscher, Juriia Hodge, Grace McGregor, Nancy Plcasance-Sturman, Marilyn Rutherford Make It a Monday Now; let's see. It's Canada Day, so...we're closed on Tuesday, but some stores are open on Monday, but other are closed both days, while some decided to stay open both days, while others took the whole week off, while the stock markets opened and then closed while the super markets closed then opened. Others worked both days so some staff could take Friday while other staff could take next Friday or Monday. Confused? You bet! When business owners plan their schedule of holidays, the one date that creates havoc for everyone is Canada Day. Whenever July 1st falls on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays, businesses are expected to close on that day to give employees a well-deserved day of leisure and allow everyone to celebrate our nation's birthday. But, it doesn't work that way. This year, the thought of a long week-end with the family vanishes as employees have to report back to work for Monday morning, only to be off again on Tuesday. Because of the varied demands on production schedules,'.there is no consistency to which days are observed as holidays. Family picnics, a long week-end at the cottage, . visits from friends, and even golf course tee-off times are a mess because some people need to work while others do not. Even the Canada Day celebrations are diminished because of the confusion ns to when events like fireworks are being held. From an economic point of view, businesses have to incur costs to re-start equipment for a day of production only to have the machines shut down on Tuesday and then re-started on Wednesday. Everything from lights and motors to compressors and air conditioners need to be fired up for one day of production. production. The immediate reaction is to shut down for both days to avoid the costs. Unfortunately, most businesses cannot afford to forego a day's sales or shut down and pay their employees an extra day's wages. It's a very expensive procedure that could be avoided by moving Canada Day to the first Monday of July. Every other statutory holiday in the summer is observed on a Monday. We observe Queen Victoria's birthday on a Monday, why can't we do the same with Canada's birthday? When Canada Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the celebrations celebrations still fall on the day, but most businesses move the lieu day to Monday. The reason we have the holiday is to celebrate Canada Day. With so much confusion over who's working and who's not, not everyone is able to make it to the party! By moving the statutory holiday to the first Monday of July, everyone can enjoy the festivities together and celebrate the birthday of the greatest country in the world. Word Connoisseurs by Jim Stasiowski The Writing Coach The word I was looking up was "catacombs," but my eye fell on "Cash (kash), Johnny." No way, I said. Johnny Cash in the dictionary? So I looked up Presley, Elvis Aron. There he is. Well, that's good. If Johnny Cash deserved a listing, so does Elvis. Then I looked up Lennon, John, considered a prophet of my generation. Hah! Not there. Johnny Cash makes it, and John Lennon doesn't? What a farce this dictionary was. Then 1 wondered: The Beatles? My, my, my, there they are, all four of them, including years of birth and names. Everybody knew Ringo Starr was born Richard Starkey, but you could have knocked me over with a yellow submarine when I read that Paul McCartney's real first name is "James." John, Jim, George and Ricky? They'd still be hacking around Liverpool. 1 closed the dictionary, then realized: I never did look up "catacombs." "catacombs." I love dictionaries. I know what you're thinking: "Geez, what a boring guy, he loves . dictionaries." The only reason most writers used to use the dictionary is they didn't how to spell "hors d'oeuvre." But with computers, who needs to know how to spell? Just type in a command, hit "execute," and even a writer who can't spell "ain't" becomes as good a speller as the one who always remembers the difference between "siege" and "seize." I love computers, Couldn't do my job without one. But, when the computer keeps writers from using their dictionaries, the word business suffers. Here's an example: The writer used the word "artifact" to refer to items found at a famous battlefield of the 19th century. I look up "artifact" and found it means, "any object made by human work; esp. a simple or primitive tool, weapon, vessel, etc." So clearly the emphasis of "artifact" is on primitive items, not something found on a 19th-century battlefield. So then I looked up "relic" and found it's probably the better word for the battlefield objects: "Something that has historic interest interest because of its age and associations with the past, or that serves as a keepsake, or souvenir." That sort of word discovery is exciting. To learn such distinctions, distinctions, to know that "relic" is a safer, more general term than "artifact," "artifact," will make me a better writer. I even found a mistake in the dictionary. Under "Aberdeen," the dictionary lists a town "in NW Md.," which is incorrect. It's in NE Md. It's also the hometown of Cal Ripken Jr., who this dictionary decrees, is not the equal of Elvis Presley, the Beatles or even (gulp) Johnny Cash. But, while I was looking for Ripken, I came across "Risorgimento ... the 19th cent, movement for the liberation and unification of Italy, or the period of this." Run that through you spell checker. It would be like shoveling seaweed down your garbage disposal. The point is: Writers should be connoisseurs (I looked it up) of words, but, the computer has turned us into language processors instead. We should be on a constant quest to love the mysteries of English; computers are inexorably tugging us away from the romance of the mystery and the obsession with speed. I have been in dozens of newsrooms, and 1 have heard writers give countless excuses for why they haven't yet turned in that story. "I'm waiting for a phone call" is the most popular, but lately, "I'm running it through spell check right now" is gaining. I have yet to hear anyone say, I'm looking up 'pigheaded' to see if it's hyphenated." BHS Class of '87 Reunion Noodles of Fun The Dales' backyard on Andrew St. in Newcastle, was filled with lots of kids on Thursday, June 26 as they enjoyed "Messy Day." Here Tianna and Victoria Etherington (wearing 101 Dalmations swimsuits) are joined by Sarah Dales, Erika Whitley and Caitlynn Hurren in the cold Pasta Pool. This event which includes a 'Jello' splash, a painting sheet, eating a pudding cake with popsicle sticks and other delightful messy stuff was sponsored by the families of the Newcastle Family Connection. Letter to the Editor Remember Yimy on Canada Day Deal• Editor: 1 just thought that 1 would send a quick e-mail to the Statesman to let you know that the Class of 1987, Bowmanville High School is having a 10 year reunion on Saturday, July 5th at the Port Darlington Marina, 7:30 p.m.. Everyone has been invited and the response has been promising. It should be a good time for all. If anyone wants more information, information, they can call Jane Seto (416) 595-1632 or Carole Wiseman (905) 721-0890. Canada is preparing to celebrate the birth of our Nation July 1st. This would be an appropriate time to reflect on The Battle of Vimy Ridge in April of 1917, as the Defining Event on Canada's road to nationhood. In the first week of April this year, a contingent of more than 100 prominent veterans veterans travelled to the Canadian Monument at Vimy Ridge to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of the Battle. Canadians, fighting as a single Army for the first time, Public Deserves Voice in Government Dear Editor, I was always of the opinion opinion that the editorial of any newspaper was the place where concerns affecting the public would be aired. If my assumption is fair comment, then why have you not used your editorial column to draw attention to what the Harris government is trying to do in respect to their curb of the democratic process? The Harris government wants to stop the public from being able to scrutinize what they are doing. Harris is about to make changes to the provincial parliament process that will allow him to pass legislation so quickly that the public will not be able to speak out before they do it. Ontario is not some corporation corporation listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange where the shareholder's only chance to have a say is at annual meetings. meetings. A democracy depends on us, the public, being able to speak out on what the government government plans to do before they do it. Can you imagine not being able to speak out about cuts to health care, education, child care, environmental protection, fire fighting and libraries until it's too late? Unless the public takes a stand, and newspapers serve the public through factual commentary, the Harris juggernaut juggernaut will kill democracy as we now know it in Ontario, to replace it with a dictatorship running all of our lives. It's up to everyone to take a stand, now, before it's too late. Call the M.P.P, and tell him you will not take this reckless destruction of democracy. Gord Mills Orono focused attention on the recognition of Canada as a full-fledged member of the world community. When we celebrate our 130th anniversary of Confederation on July 1st (and express our concern about national unity), it is of importance to examine how the concept' originated and how it has been perpetuated in the 80 years since. Canada was given a seat at the Peace Conference (1919). The Statue of Westminister gave us an independent Canada (1931). A major war memorial built on the site of the battle in 1936, tells the story: "It is a memorial to no man, but a memorial for a nation." Charles Stacey, official historian of the Canadian Army, told the Canadian Historical Association in 1967: "If a single milestone is needed to mark the progress on the road to national maturity, maturity, one might do much worse than nominate that famous Easter Monday " Pierre Berton in his epic VIMY (1986) stated: "Canada had at last found its maturity." D.J. Goodspeed, an historian historian with the Department of National Defence and in his book The Road Past Vimy (1969) suggested: "No. matter what the Constitutional historians may say it was on Easter Monday, April 9, 1917, and not on any other date, that. Canada became a Nation. " Historians Dosmond Morton and Jack Granatstein in Marqhing To Armageddon (1989) labelled the Great War as "Canada's War of Independence." The War Amps is not extolling the virtues of war. Our NEVER AGAIN! Program is the strongest indication indication of this. Canadians have no difficulty difficulty in accepting that Vimy Ridge was the major launching launching pad of our ascendency as a nation. Let us once again reflect upon the significance of Vimy as we celebrate Canada Day on this - the 80th Anniversary of the day we went from Colony to Nation. Yours sincerely. Cliff Chadderton Chief Executive Officer, The War Amps and; Chairman, National Council of Veteran Associations. Newcastle Resident Didn't Apologize to Members of Council Dear Editor The unsigned article on page two (June 25, 1997 Canadian Statesman) referring to my presentation,at the council meeting on Monday, June 24, 1997 is incorrect. It is not a statement of fact, and conveys misleading information. information. Most people know parliamentary procedure is not in effect during recess time. 1 did not apologize to anyone. If you could print a copy of the letter I read at the council meeting, it would be appreciated. appreciated. "To Council, Staff and All Persons Present "Re: Monday June 16, 1997, 9:30 a.m., Council Chambers "If parliamentary procedure is still in effect during recess time, then 1 apologize for breaking parliamentary procedure at the end of the 15 minute recess and before the meeting was reconvened." reconvened." Yours truly, Lloyd Stephenson King St., Newcastle Dog Owner Shows Respect For Property and Children Do you have.children? Have you hugged them recently? On Saturday morning, June 28, I attended a funeral in Ottawa. While that is a simple enough statement, I must add that the person had only lived for 29 days. Joshua was a child who, if he had lived, would have suffered suffered greatly. He was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot by doctors at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). He has an extreme case called Pulmonary Artresia. He had no connection for blood flow from his heart to his lungs and there was a hole inside his heart between the two chambers which pump the blood. Doctors discovered that he had a weak immune system and a defect in his blood which caused it to clot when it shouldn't have. Another strike against him was that his Aortic arch was in the opposite direction than for most children preventing the traditional surgery used to treat the ailment. On Friday, Gillian and I went to Ottawa. Joshua was her nephew. She had not met him and only heard updates from her brother Mark and her parents. There is nothing like a child's funeral. I have been to two. There is nothing in this world that prepares you for the emotions emotions of grieving parents who really wanted to be called 'Mom' and 'Dad' or grandparents who don't know what to do with themselves. The experience at the funeral home was interesting. Beside the tiny casket were at least a dozen bouquets, a hand-painted plaque which would have gone into his room, and a board full of photographs. The most intriguing ones were those which had been taken prior to his death. They showed all of the equipment that had monitored him and helped to keep him alive. The other photos, I found quite morbid and disturbing. They were pictures of Joshua with different members of the family. But Joshua was not alive in those. On Friday night 1 had a hard time dealing with the photographs. photographs. But, as I write this Sunday afternoon, I do understand why die family members wanted to hold this tiny package of unfulfilled potential. They had hopes and dreams for Joshua. Dreams that will never come true. Reflecting on the Friday/Saturday trip to Ottawa, including the visit to the funeral chapel, the funeral itself, the visit to the gr.Vvë site, and the reception afterwards, I understand why die family was so devastated. Joshua was the first grandson/nephew in this family. They wanted to document his life and death to ensure he would not be forgotten. The video shown at the reception held many of us in our seats. It was taken mostly by his father during the time Joshua was hooked up to monitors and during meetings with the doctors doctors at CHEO. Joshua was really a gorgeous baby. While many people go through life unaffected by it, the death of a child is heart wrenching. Yet, Joshua's parents, Mark and Rachel, will always know they did the best they could. No matter if they have other children, children, Joshua was their first. And he was loved. We are lucky to live in a country like Canada, where doctors doctors work hard to help all those who require it, and the health system provides care second to none. We are truly blessed to be Canadians. Notre Dame Welland Looking for Graduates L3C 4H4. BY INTERNET: www.notredamewelland.com (You'll also get up-to-date reunion information). BY PHONE: (Toll free): 1-800- 217-5451. BY FAX: (905) 734-1533 Sincerely, John (Boxer) Belcastro Retired Principal, Notre Dame College School Constituent Sorry to See Ward Three Councillor Leave Politics Dear Editor, Notre Dame College School of Welland, Ontario is calling all graduates from 1948 to the present to attend a very special reunion - the 50- year celebration of the founding founding of the school. Since 1948, Notre Dame Welland has been an important important educational institution in the Niagara Region. To celebrate celebrate the 50th anniversary, an exciting weekend is planned for May of 1998. Activities will be held Friday, May 15, Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17. This will be a great opportunity to renew old friendships and to view memorabilia gathered over the past 50 years. We are hoping to contact the more than 10,000 graduates graduates to help make this a truly memorable event. We invite your readers who are graduates graduates to contact us by any of the following means, giving their name (Including maiden name), address and year of Grade 12 graduation. BY MAIL: Joe Drar '49, Notre Dame College School, 64 Smith St., Welland, ON Dear Editor Going unnoticed in the darkness of our porch late one June evening, we commend the pet owner who picked-up after their dog did business on our lawn. Further, our appreciated observation of the growing number of pet owners who clean-up after their pets do their duty on properties including school yards and parks where our children play. Again, you pet owners arc setting a responsible responsible precedence to reduce this unhygcnic practice in our community. Thanks from the bottom of our 'soles'. Paul Reesor Bowmanville Dear editor: L was sorry to read of David Scott's decision to leave council this November. It has been my privilege to work with David before and after he joined council. He has represented our ward with dedication, grace, humor and style. As an environmentalist, I have always been grateful David was representing our interests at council -- preserving preserving our wonderful way of life and our natural environment environment in Clarke and Clarington, I know 1 speak for many when I say... Thank you David. You will be hard to replace, Judy Hurvid