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Waterioo has seen some positive changes t was the annual IUplnwn Night at city council Monday night, and although everything isn‘t rosy in Waterloa‘s core, it‘s a lot healthrer than it‘s been in a long time. Volunteer efforts are indispensable From the Perimeter Institute to the Centre for International Governance Innovation, there is an education renaissance going on in the uptown thanks to the vision of local philanthropists Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie of Research in Motion They have positioned Waterloo as a leader in the new economy. and firmly planted that flag in i‘s been my great pleasure to be Iliving in Waterloo since 1997. I could not imagine going back to Toronto for anything more than a short visit. Like the big city. Waterloo has experienced unprecedented growth during this time. o Over the last seven years, I have watched our western horizon change, like every sunset beyond it. Where once we saw the Oak Forâ€" est stretch up to the sky, we now see rooftops as far as the eve can see and I wonder, where wil it end? Twentyâ€"five years ago, Hallman Road was the edge of town. The everâ€"changing legacy of the Grand Valley has become much more than Joseph Brandt‘s consolaâ€" tion prize, following the American War of Independence. Could anyone ever have imagâ€" ined the network of community associations that have sprung up on the west side of Waterloao? Trusting our ‘stars‘ leads to disaster vend Robinson is a victim of Sour twisted belief that the rich and famous are somehow a notch above Jack and Jill, walking on something other than clay feet. Look at the Queen and her offâ€" spring to see a crew who, despite their kingly bloodline, batched up royally, making a mockery of marâ€" riage and giving the tabloids a field day. When our stars go out, we rush to learn the details, spending over a year glued io the tube to see 0) dangle at the end of a rope until the jury set him free despite enough evidence to convict a ream of accused. Our fascinanon, in part grew out of a dewibish delight at see ing the high and inighiv broughi Iow. while confinming am goodness golh. soeid neuest do amathing hke golhyv. wee that Back in the ‘70s, when the city the Lt is that there are in pees The Barrel Warehouses on the former Seagram site are also fully redevelâ€" oped â€" just one example of former properties reclaimed to provide housing in Warterloo‘s core. the heart of the city‘s core on the site of the former Waterloo Memorial Arena and the former Seagram Museum. And the core seems to be a popular destination for people who like to live in walking distance of most of the major ameniâ€" ties the city has to offer. Even Waterloo‘s tired old uptown mall, the Waterloo Town Square, is getting spruced up courâ€" LETTERS TO THE CHRO: CHRO was planning the Beechwood subâ€" divisions, west of Hallman Road, they continued to think it would be a great idea to incorporate these developments into selfâ€"contained associations. Sadly, these plans proved to be somewhat imperfect. Now we find ourselves a generation down the road. We find that these 30â€"yearâ€"old incorporated associations have problems that are difficult to address in a city developed under nonâ€"compatible planning philosoâ€" phies. As these associations have manâ€" aged to maintain their own faciliâ€" ties, through a network of volunâ€" teers and fee collection, the city has chosen to spend the recreation dolâ€" lars miles away, fostering an enviâ€" ronment of territorial differences. So we turn to our neighbours for support, There are many volunteers whose efforts are indispensable, ple on the planet immune to disâ€" ease, who don‘t breathe the air we breathe, or who don‘t put their pants on one leg at a time. So desâ€" perate are we to worship a higher being that we elevate those like us to mystical proportions above the humdrum of everyday life. We susâ€" pend our lives to watch them plant rubber in a net or put a small white sphere in a cup; heady stulf, but not the stuff of which gods are made. By investing too much trust in out "stars," we leave ourselves open to disaster. as with George W. Bush, who has involved the globe in a bloodbath. It must be right to invade Iraq. we thought. for the strongest man in the world says it is We should have realized that Gentgeas like overy other George. susceptible to anger eniy and a cleat leaning towards revenge dur ing the worst moments. To believe COMMENT tesy of the First Gulf Development Corporaâ€" tion. Although those plans aren‘t as ambitious as the $230â€"million redevelopâ€" ment sketch the company first unveiled in 1999, First Gulf, now called WCI Holding Inc., is doing some work to dress up the eyesore the mall has become. And while the compaâ€" ny wouldn‘t confirm its longâ€"term plans for the site, other than the work they‘ve already done along King Street and in the north part of the mall, there is still potential to make it a destination shopping place with a IOUHET NICL] across the region. However, it seems that many good men and woman who used do these things are now too busy with modern life. This provides opportunity to the youth of our community to step up and help carry our mission forward, and in the process, exercise their own vision. As the sun rises and sets like secâ€" onds on a Swiss watch, we move forward into our future, irregardless of any efforts by the community. The progress will be carried on the backs of generous, and in some cases, extraordinary citizens. To paraphrase an old quotation, all that needs doing must be done by those able to do it. â€" â€" I take this opportunity to ask fathers and sons, mothers and daughters to step forward into the ranks of public service. that Tony Blair acted only out of a personal conviction that Saddam posed a threat to world security is to give him too much credit, for selfâ€" interest surely played a major role. He knew that coming alongside would reap immeasurable benefits for the Isles. To parade Svend Robinson through the streets serves no purâ€" pose beyond selling newspapers, as if we should be surprised at his act â€" shoplifting is an epidemic; thouâ€" sands are nabbed daily from coast to coast. Was it that he betraved our trust in him as a public servant. for we see political scandals raging north and south of the 49th; as if this man is perfect ( l)l\dt‘l“l\dll()l\ rxists (\I\l\ in a soerety iwithout mirrors Most will still reserve judgement on that plan until they see a shovel go into the ground, but at least the developer is sigâ€" nalling that more will be done. ce nbination of retail and residential development. And it‘s a far cry from the situation Waterloo‘s core found itself in during the early 1990s when most of the heavy indusâ€" try vacated the core along with Seagrams, Canbar and Labatt‘s. Since then, nearly 70 per cent of the 24 actes left vacant have been redeveloped. Waterloo should sing about its sucâ€" cess from the rooftops. Robert Tudor Waterioo lim Newton Vew Dunder l ast week‘s column on the need for a water pipeline to the wreat Lakes generated a "Nood" of eâ€"mail. Some in favour, some opposed, and some ambivalent. Regardless of one‘s views on the need for a water pipeline, was quite encouraged by the level of interest and knowledge that many people in our community have on this important topic. Water pipeline route and plans are already available? "I don‘t wish to argue, here, the meritsidetriments of a Great Lakes water pipeline (e.g. a "limitless" water supply could take the heat off everyone â€" politicians and consumers alike ~insofar as conservation of water quality and quantity is concerned, and release one of the "brakes" on unfettered development in the region}. "However, don‘t forget that the province purchased the former Gueiph to Goderich CPR rail corridor in the midâ€"1990s. The corâ€" ridor (which passes through the north part of the regi0n) WAS ACGUITCA 1N | poppoppapopng part to secure a potential route for a . \Wieeee JHEC \ water pipeline from Lake Huron to the _\ STRICKLA | Wateriooâ€"Weilington area. Insofar as 1 WMSYUYIRVCINICN know, that corridor still remains in the ‘\ “ public domain (administered by the “ es % J Ontario Realty Corporation) and | § :C ' awaits use as a route for a possible | g f water pipeline. This would necessitate | hm stt TB relatively little additional land acquiâ€" ‘ h i * %. C % sition for a pipeline. | ol > â€"Here is a sample of some of the views expressed to me via eâ€" mail. Unfortunately, due to space limitations, not all eâ€"mails could be reprinted, and those that appear have been edited. "Meanwhile, parts of the corridor now provide access for recreational trails, especially between Goderich and Auburn and between Milibank and Guelph." D.R. Waterloo Thanks to D.R for sharing this |[ " _ __â€" _2 _ ___| information about the existence of the rail corridor from Goderich to Guelph. What an excellent idea! During my six years on regional council, I do not recall any disâ€" cussion on our longâ€"term water strategy where the possibility of using this rail corridor was raised. If the corridor is still availâ€" able, local taxpayers will save large amounts of money on land acquisition for the pipeline. "It‘s too bad our politicians didn‘t make a move on this a long time ago. When I got out of school in 1950, one of my bosses ran the water commission at that time, and in conjunction with a locat consulting engineer, had a completed plan for a pipeline from Lake Huron, but it was never acted on." B.M., Waterloo Municipal politicians and community leaders have been discussing and reviewing the need for a water pipeline for a long time. According to one reader, plans for a pipeline go back as far as 1950. "Reference your article regarding our shortage of water, and wonder about the choice of Erie or Huron. If I recall correctly, an earlier article suggested that since we are not in the watershed that drains into Huron, the likelihood of getting approval from the Great Lakes commission for a pipeline from that lake was doubtful. Do you have any information on that? As far as I know, the legislation governing water taking perâ€" mits from the Great Lakes is open to some interpretation (surâ€" prise, surprise}. One interpretation is that, yes, there is a stipuâ€" lation that you must return the water to the Great Lake from which you obtained the water. In this case, we would have to take the water from Lake Erie since, as B.M. points out, when we are finished using the water, our system returns it to the Grand River, which flows into Lake Erie. Another interpretation is that you can take water from a Great Lake as long as you return the water to a Great Lake, so that there is no net loss on the entire great lake system. This latter interpretation would give Waterloo the most flexibility in choosing a lake for the pipeline. Water pipeline would mean 1oo much growth? I must confess that 1 did expect a few eâ€"mails from people who ate justifiably concerned that a water pipeline would open the "Aoodgates" on development. It is fair to suggest that a water pipeline would increase our local water supply signifi cantly and therefore put pressure on our community to allow more farmland to be consumed for houses and factonies. In next week‘s column. 1 will share some of these concerns. Please _ email _ your sean@seanstrickland.com. Pipeline column causes flood t"ll[’\llfln\ inmments Bc i SPEAKING | â€"F . | Nt mifiie | | STRICKLAND | tia