WATERLOO CHRONICLE | The Waterloo Chronicle ty published evers Wednesday by The Fairway Group, a division of southern Ontariu Community Newspapers Inc.. a division of Southam Publications, a Can West Company Jhe views of our columists are their own and do not necessarily represent thuse of the newspaper Ken Bosveld _ Deborah Crandall Associate Publisher . Editor, Ext. 215 FEâ€"mail: wehronicie« sentex.net Dwayne Weidendort . Gerry Mattice Group Sales Direcâ€" . Retail Sales Man tor ager, Ext. 230 Andrea Bailey Bob Vrbanac Reporter, Ext. 227. Sports Editor, Ext. 229 75 King St. South, Suite 201 Waterloo, Ontario N2J IP2 Publisher: Cal Bosveld B86â€"2830 Fax: B86â€"9383 The Waterloo Chronicle welcomes letters to the Editor. They should be signed with name, address and phone number and will be verified for accuracy. No unsigned letters will be published. Submnissions may be edited for length, so please be brief Copyright in letters and other mateâ€" rials submitted to the Publisher and accepted for publication remains with the author, but the publisher and its licensees may freely reproâ€" duce them in print, electronic or other forms. Our mailing address is 75 King St. S.. Suite 201. Waterloo N2J 1P2, our eâ€"mail address is mhmnk&afln,ml_ and our fax number is 886â€"9383 Circulation Circulation Manager, Ext. 225 Assistant canaiian Publs ations Mail Sales Product Agreement Number 136374 nternanonal Standand Serial Number ISSN 0832. 34 10 Audited crculation: 26,056 Deb Dufficld Norma (yca Letters Policy 1ynn Bartol Manager Sales, 623â€"6617 Cal Bosveld Publisher Melissa Hounslow Laurie Ridgway Karen Dwyer Circulation Leashâ€"free dog park is a safe alternative _ The creators of these signs believe that the chilâ€" dren at the local school will have less field trips, the wildlife will leave, etc. When a leashâ€"free park was proposed several years ago, I would have agreed whole heartedly with these signs. I‘m sure that all of us have walked through a park or schoolyard at one time or anothâ€" er and had a dog that is not leashed race up and jump on us, and this is what I based this opinion on. However, based on personal experience with a new Beagle, and awareness about the design of such a park, 1 have changed my opinion. Eighteenâ€"yearâ€"old David Cournoyer wrote the following letter to the editor after visiting The War Amps National Headguarters. Tuday as I drove my son to school, I read several signs along Bridge Street protesting the proâ€" posed leashâ€"free park for Bechtel Park. During our dog‘s last "escape" adventure, he ran to Bechtel Park. This means that he raced through backyards, ran across a busy street, and I would also assume that he would have chased any wildlife he came across, and wanted to play with dogs and people in his path. War Amps visit was a rewarding experience The next day, we decided that we would try takâ€" ing him to the leashâ€"free park at the Humane Sociâ€" ety since daily walks and running in our backyard did not seem to be enough. It was then, that I learned my perception of this type of park was wrong. Since it is fenced in with a double gate, it is impossible to be on a leisurely stroll and be bothâ€" ered by dogs, or have my children bitten, or have the dogs chasing the wildlife. We were all amazed at the speed of this animal. After an hour, he was tired. This was a workout he would never have gotâ€" ten on a leash. While in the park, the dogs run and play with each other, and, after several visits, I would have to say that I don‘t remember hearing any dogs bark. The dog owners I have met take "stooping and scooping" very seriously. I truly think that if the design of such a park is similar to the existing one, it does give a safe alterâ€" native. Those who want to use the playground or walk can do so without being bothered by a dog and the dogs also have a place where they can run. Sue Grande, Waterloo On May 2, while on a private visit to Eastern Canada, 1 had the opportunity to visit the head office of The War Amps. Anyone who has this privilege would have to come away with strong feelings of pride in the work these people do. I was shown many photos of CHAMP families, for example. Firstly, there has been the preconception that The War Amps is a charity. Although they do much charitable work, their emphasis is on providing service to motorists. As well, Mr. Cliff Chadderton, the CEO, spent a good three hours with me, explaining the main points of his submission to the Alberta Legislature. Secondly, I saw no evidence of fundraising as we might envision it (mail outs, special pleas for funds, etc.). Quite to the contrary, this organization obviously spends its surplus funds (it has no reserves built up) on young and older amputees and on widows. Also, the dedication was quite evident. In addiâ€" tion, Mr. Chadderton, who obviously has the qualiâ€" fications which might be expected of a CEO in a large commercial operation, is well past retirement age. He is proud of the fact that he goes to work everyday and spends a number of evenings at his completely equipped computer workshop at home. PS. While in the office, 1 was able to see the war record of my late grandfather, Laurence Bradley, who was himself an amputee. ) THE CHRONICLE || VIEWPOINT vopee! Fresh from forecasting a Wl';ig boom is near, I can still hear the snickers from the skeptics, but they‘d better think again. A happy melange of low interest rates, risâ€" ing energy prices and a reviving global econâ€" omy is mostly the thrust behind Canada‘s strong showing. And pipe this: An international survey has indicated that this fair Dominion is poised to rack up the strongest growth in the Group of Seven industrialized countries not only this year, but again in 2003. More indicators could be cited, but even these few should convince the doomâ€"sayers. Of course, not all entrepreneurs are gloomy. Take the business who reported, "Business is so good I haven‘t had time to go to the bank to borrow money to pay my rent." Fly It High! Fresh from a Celsiusâ€"impaired Victoria Day, we are now pointed to a warmerâ€" byâ€"far Canada Day. One thing will be certain: There‘ll be a retord number of flags flying. It‘s amazing how the display of flags has grown. As one who has been showing the flag for years, I can remember when it was a lonely symbol. Bit by bit, year by year, there were more flags flying. Then it got a big boost on 9/11 when homes aplenty displayed the national banner. So this first | 5p4 Canada Day since should make L ONCI for an even better showing. | Honest! Flying the flag makes you feel good and makes your home look better. It‘ll bring a smile to your face. That‘s in conâ€" trast to most household chores which leave the householder lookâ€" ing like a vegetarian on his way to a barbecue. Mark It Flop: 1 don‘t want to rain on anyone‘s parade, but the plans for a new Kitchener market sure encourage moisture aplenty. The market is going to be hyperâ€" modern and costly. Its prospects? Its hope of taking significant patronage from the St. Jacobs market (the one above Waterloo) ranges from negligible to none. That market has everythingâ€"lots of parking, more than enough stuff on sale, a wide range of attractions, and space aplenty. It offers more entertainment than a fall fair, and, as proof, you can check out the charter buses on the lot. That‘s what the Kitchener market will conâ€" front. And market going is largely a matter of habit. I doubt that what Kitchener offers will cause market goers to change destinations. Why did Kitchener come up with the marâ€" ket project? Well, I suppose that is because the city historically has had a market and at one time it was a hugely successful one. Drunken sailors spend their own money HRONICLE | TH° COun yas So, natch, it would be again! Oh? Anyhow, Kitchener counciliors in remaking the core are spending money like drunken sailors. Except for one thing. Drunken sailors spend their own money. Hi Octane: Gasoline prices go up, gasoline prices go down, but they never return to what they used to be. So we can expect a highâ€"priced summer at the petrol pumps. You never expect Canada to be listed among the major petroleum producers, and that‘s why a recent tabulation in Time magaâ€" zine was intriging. It listed the major sources of American imports of gasoline and there in first place was Canada, accounting for nine per cent. Trailing were Arab states. So the thought hastens to mind: Why are our prices so high when we‘re pumping nine per cent of U.S. needs? But, of course, getting some of that nine per cent would be a neat trick indeed. Still, it‘s nice to know that gas station owners haven‘t lost their sense of humor. I drove into one station, pointed at my car and said, "Fill ‘er up!" The owner pointed at his cash register and said, "You first!" Squeeze Play: Canadians have been proud of what their service people have done _ in Afghanistan, but they are anyâ€" 22. 1 thing but proud of the withdrawal )UMN ofa key unit. L Fact is, Canada‘s military was D stretched before it put troops into Afghanistan, so it should not be a surprise that it is calling the troops home. But it still appears that Canada is pulling out and leaving Uncle Sam in the lurch. It‘s timeâ€"the time is long overdueâ€"when Canada recruited and equipped the size of forces appropriate to a country which wants to play a significant role in the world. Incidentally, our forces have way too many brasshats. What we should do is rid ourselves of what we in the navy used to call the "highâ€" priced help" as a first step in reorganization. There‘s only one good point in the current situation: With all the heavyweight bombs and missiles, we won‘t ever have to worry about waking up and hearing that war has been If you wake up, it hasn‘t. It seems as if we are quitting with the job scarcely begun, but it‘s probably true Canada has no option. We just haven‘t the troops to permit multiple deployments. That brings up the real point: For many years. our forces have been woefully short of people and equipment. At the same time, Canada, by reflex almost, has responded to almost every request for military aid.