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We should all take time this week if only for a moment to stop and think about being aCanadian. Canadians cannot boast of the gallant past of the British nor can we very successfully draw the line between those which are truly our Canadian ideals and those which bear United States origin but have drifted freely across the border. The pride of being a Canadian is hard to feel when surrounded in your home province by other Canadians. Once in a'nother country it is riot even that evident to the travelling Ca- nadian until his or her path crosses that of an- other Canadian. Whether they be from the same province or residents provinces miles apart there is an immediate sense of comradeship. They are then aware they are Canadians. When you look around at some of the coun- tries that make up the rest of the world you might agree there is comfort in saying. “I am a Canadian .. . How many times have you heard a person reply to the nationality question as saying they were British or German or Dutch? Even though these people have been born and raised in Canada they still for some reason cling to the countries of their parents origin. Even where people were born in countries other than Canada and moved when still too young to remember it they decline procla- mation to country in which they are citizens. Maybe people don't say it because don't like proclaiming to be something cannot understand. Nationalism is something the British and Americans have grown up with while we are still in our post-natal stages looking enviously at the inhabitants of other countries thinking they know what it's all about. Published every Wednesday by Fairway Press, a division of Kitchener-Waterloo Record Ltd. 225 Fairway Road, South, Kitchener, Ontario. Address correspondence to Waterloo Square, Waterloo, Ont. Telephone 744-6364. What is wrong with saying "l am a Ca- nadian"? That all sounds very nice doesn't it? But getting right down to the fact of how to do such a thing is hard and the committee pro- bably won't accomplish it in this' single week or the year which will follow. Being a Canadian doesn't mean much to a lot of people. But then their are those to whom it means a great deal. That keeps our ship on an even keel. Those though who don't think about what being a Canadian is are the ones who are missing out on the best part of living in the country-sharing in the nation- alistic feeling. The week is organized by Committee Ca- nada, a chartered organization made up of Canadians in all provinces who have devoted themselves to strengthening the ties between our different regions and maintaining our political integrity. Canada, let's think about it - pensons y. Many people probably aren't aware of the fact that we are presently half way through what is supposed to be a week of participat- ion in a national celebration. Canada Week started June 25 and will run to July 1 and was proclaimed by Prime Minister Trudeau as a week when Canadians manifest their belief in a united Canada. 4 Waterloo Chronicle. Wednesday, June 27, 1973 We are Canadians In Canada: one year ttr, in United States and Foreign countries: one year $10 SUBSCRIPTION RATES ESTABLISHED 1854 Wendy Herman, editor they they But the strain on me was something else, Every day when I got home from teach- ing 150 students, I had to endure a two-hour mono- logue about her "kids" and what they2i said and done today Once in a while rd try to get in a word or phrase about what my "kids" had said and done. but It was like trying to stop Secretariat. m full gallop. with a piece of thread At the first of the year. she was worried about a few of them. who gave promise of becoming re- calmlrant But by sheer charm. and her Innate un- This year. as I mentioned previously, my wife taught English in a private school. It was her first crack at teaching. aside from kinder- garten and music, and she taught a Grade 13 class. so it was no cinch, She worked hard at it, Since Waterloo has only a small Horticultural Society. with too few members to participate with the city in an active program, as is done so successfully in Guelph, downtown area residents should help to convince Council that trees are a neglected attribute of Waterloo. Present problems Most of the trees in the downtown residential neighbour- hoods are welt over fifty years old, and are mainly maple. Maples are currently threatened by two diseases which could, according to tree authorities, be as devastating as Dutch Elm disease. hence it is quite conceivable that downtown Waterloo could lose a high percentage of its trees in the near future. SCA T TER ING THOUGHTS Trees contribute to the value of residents' property. they aid as noise barriers for city traffic. their shade lowers street temperature, and in many ways they could be considered as important as, say, a city recreational facility. Yet they are definitely a low priority item in the city budget. The Downtowners Why residents should be involved We are fortunate in Waterloo that residents in the past emphasized tree planting, for trees are as, important as paving, parks, architecture, etc. in contributing to the atmosphere of the city. Many visitors comment on the beauty of Waterloo's old tree-lined streets, particularly those who have seen towns where an absence of planning with regard to trees has led to a sterile atmosphere in the downtown residential sections. City trees come under three independent pruning authorities-Community Services. Waterloo Hydro and Bell Canada. Some of the pruners are knowledgeable, 1 ,. , -er - - , . ,/-*W ‘1 '1 ---- , . EeE5iEEE5EiEiiiqq [ g, haâ€" , i ///--_3 , .1 l a wr - iiiillli V" NM A few words about our trees an, H, =mliliTif!CrCl TrGL-GEtDzif= terest in other people. she was able to establish a close and friendly relation- ship with every single one of her huge class of ten. At any rate. the last day of school usually produces a feeling of fondness and ex- changes of. "Have a good summer. sir." And the re- sponse. "Will do. You too, See you imthe fall". Or. if they're graduating. “Come and see us when youve home from college" They usually do Once Of course. the longer you teach. the tougher you get. In my first couple of years. over a decade ago. I was almost stunned by the good will on closing day The class president would ad, vance to the front. watched by 35 hawklike pairs of eyes, each pair of which had luck- ed m a quarter. and. after a shy. umntolhglhlo mum- hte present me with a Hall suspecting a practr cal joke, for this was a group rd tangled with in the fall. I opened It. standing well back No joke There was a handsome httle book of In- spirational poems and pray- ers I thought this might be a pointed suggestion that I needed both, and was Sh” slightly warv Marlene came up and said. “Mr, Smiley, this is for you. for being such a nice teacher." Not a good teacher. mind. Just a nice one, And speaking of nice. it was one of the simplest and nicest speeches. I have ever heard, The City of Waterloo By-Law no. 509, governing trees. is basically negative in its approach. No provision is made for replacing trees, there is no encouragement for saving a tree, and there is no provision for stump removal. Council could set up a Tree Committee. similar to the Oakville Tree Committee, a body on which a variety of citizens serve, who have jurisdiction over all city trees. Conclusion These remarks are only the ideas of one citizen. col- lected in the short period of time I have been interested in the city tree problem. I am convinced that a project involving citizens in an active role would produce many solutions to both the financial and aesthetic difficulties in a downtown area, and Waterloo could develop a fine tree program. This year, I didn't have a home form. No present. But I got a pleasant surprise. Last class I had with my four-year Grade ll, a group I would have considered least likely to do it. they kicked through. Due to the low budget priority of trees, no inventory and little first aid surgery has been attempted. It has been left to the residents to report ailing trees, and a fear of financial liability on the part of both the city and the residents has undoubtedly led to some unnecessary tree removal. By sponsoring Arbour Day, Council could encourage school children to appreciate and respect city trees. Kit- chener plans to involve thirty school groups in Arbour Day planting in 1973. " others are not, so that over the years many trees have began mutilated, making them easy prey for disease. handsomely-wrapped gif t How residents could be involved An educational program could be undertaken to explain contemporary tree theories to both residents and Council. They really do love me a little r,..-,,,,,,,,), F-) ur"... -.'- f: .11 - - However the thought was there, and they yelled at me that I could take II back Unfortunately, it would- n't work when I tried It, Typically. Marlene had tried It thoroughly before wrap- ping it. so thoroughly that she'd used all the fuel She tried to get It going for me. and was greeted with boots of derision when she could- tt't Over the years. lie been the recipient of dozens 0 golf balls. a bottle of goal wine. a smart desk set. a lawn chair. and shelves full of fancy shaving lotion and exotic talc and stuff I never Then I opened the other package. It contained an eternal match. This is a fancy type of cigarette light- er. You pull a sort of stick out of a little round barrel. it strikes a flint, and you have a long match-like light. sin 'smb‘nc'ME