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w at er lo oc hr on ic le .c a W at er lo o C hr on ic le | T hu rs da y, A ug us t 25 ,2 02 2 | 8 ABOUT US This newspaper, published every Thursday, is a division of the Metroland Media Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The Metroland family of newspapers is comprised of more than 70 community publications across Ontario. This newspaper is a member of the National NewsMedia Council. Complainants are urged to bring their concerns to the attention of the news- paper and, if not satisfied, write The National NewsMedia Council, Suite 200, 890 Yonge St., Toronto, ON M4W 2H2. Phone: 416-340-1981 Web: www.mediacouncil.ca editorial@waterloochronicle.ca facebook.com/waterloochronicle @wlchronicle WHO WE ARE Publisher and Chief Executive Officer Neil Oliver Vice President, Content, Community and Operations Dana Robbins Director of Content Lee Ann Waterman Regional General Manager Nelson Parreira Regional Director of Media Heather Dunbar Advertising Representatives Fran Hendry, Katrina Anderson, Jan Bodanka, Matt Miller, Lisa Humphreys, Cassandra Dellow, Zaid Shahabuddin, Managing Editor Robyn Wilkinson Online Editor Loraine Centeno News Editor Ned Bekavac Reporter Bill Jackson Director Creative Services Katherine Porcheron CONTACT US Waterloo Chronicle 219 Labrador Dr. Suite 203, Waterloo, On., N2K 4M8 Phone: 519-886-2830 Web: www.waterloochronicle.ca Letters to the editor All letters must be fewer than 320 words and include your name and telephone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit, condense or reject letters. Published letters will appear in print and/or online at waterloochronicle.ca Delivery For all delivery inquiries, e-mail customerservice@metroland.com or call 519-894-3000. OPINION TO LEARN HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR OWN CONTENT VISIT WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA It's about trust. Our rela- tionship with our readers is built on transparency, hon- esty and integrity. As such, we have launched a trust initiative to tell you who we are and how and why we do what we do. This column is part of that project. The slow, hot days of summer are winding down and before we know it, mu- nicipal elections will be un- derway in communities across Ontario this fall. In Waterloo, Cambridge, New Hamburg and Guelph, our reporters will be busy preparing coverage to serve our audiences as best as possible and we're looking to engage with vot- ers directly. Who is our audience? It's you, the person reading this, and it's your neigh- bour, and their neighbour, and the person at the gro- cery store you've never met before. We want to partner with our audience to ensure we are covering the issues that matter to you as voters and put your top concerns at the centre of our coverage. It's our jobs as journal- ists to sift through the noise, and to focus on is- sues -- not arguments. As a trusted source of local news, our goal is to move the story and conversation forward. You, our readers, play a pivotal role in this process. You set the tone and help frame the cover- age. As we tackle municipal election issues, among oth- ers, we want to include many voices and perspec- tives in our news reporting. And that's where a great partnership with the public is developed. We want our election coverage to be inclusive. We want our election cover- age to centre on you. So, what issues should candi- dates be focused on? What do you want candidates to be talking about? After all, this is your community and your voice matters. Tell us about your con- cerns and submit your questions for candidates vying for your support. We'll compile your submis- sions and do our best to pose as many of your ques- tions to the candidates lead- ing up to the Oct. 24 vote. Please send an email to our newsrooms, and let us know if you would like to be contacted by a reporter for a followup interview that feature the opinion of vot- ers. Tell us your concerns and what you want candi- dates to address by email- ing our newsrooms. Please include the subject 'Munici- pal Election' in your email to the Waterloo newsroom at editorial@waterloo- chronicle.ca, New Ham- burg Independent at edito- rial@newhamburginde- pendent.ca, Cambridge Times at newsrom@cam- bridgetimes.ca, and Guelph at news- room@guelphmercu- ry.com. Robyn Wilkinson is the managing editor at Met- roland's community news- papers in Waterloo, Cam- bridge, Guelph and New Hamburg, and a member of Metroland's trust com- mittee. Reach her at rwil- kinson@metroland.com. We welcome your ques- tions and value your com- ments. Email our trust committee at trust@met- roland.com. IT'S YOUR VOICE AND VOTE WE WANT TO SERVE A DIVERSE SPECTRUM OF VOICES AND VOTERS IN OUR MUNICIPAL ELECTION COVERAGE, WRITES ROBYN WILKINSON ROBYN WILKINSON Column A headline on MSN caught my attention re- cently. A letter to the editor of some publication stated "Happy wife, happy life" is a myth. This particular writer preferred "Happy spouse, happy house." It was a mo- ment for reflection, for sure. The emphasis of the old- er version does seem a bit antiquated. To imply that a man had the responsibility to make his wife happy, or that a woman could only be happy if her man made her that way, clearly puts too much relationship "power" in the hands of the man. First, no one can make anyone else happy in any kind of permanent way; happiness is an internal job, and someone has to choose to be happy to make it any kind of ongoing men- tal state. Second, women are long past the notion that they need to rely on men for anything, much less happi- ness. Modern women are looking for true and equal partners, not those who will act in such a way as to grant or withhold happi- ness as if it's a bartering system. "Happy spouse, happy house" still implies that some responsibility lies in contributing to the happi- ness of your partner, but it goes both ways. If I were to apply a spe- cific quality to it, I'd say it suggests that both part- ners share a responsibility to make their home a hap- py place, for them as indi- viduals, for them as a cou- ple and for them as par- ents. A home has to be a safe place where each individu- al is unconditionally loved and accepted, and where each partner practises true empathy, understanding the feelings and needs of the other in anticipation of helping them meet the needs necessary for a rea- sonable level of happiness. No one makes anyone else happy, but everyone can certainly contribute. I recognize some of the male/female roles implied above do not adequately address gay couples, or that even implying some- one needs a partner does not adequately support single people and single parents. Considerate and happy partners can be any combi- nation of genders, and sin- gle people/parents can be as happy as individuals as any person in a relation- ship. Thus, "Happy spouse, happy house" has its own shortcomings in viewing the bigger picture. Perhaps it would make more sense to say, "Happy person, better person." It places the responsibility where it should -- on the individual who must find a network of supporters to their happiness. And it supports an outcome to which we should all aspire -- to be a better person. Because if we are the best versions of ourselves, then we will be the best partners in relationships and the best parents to our children. Our goal should always be to surround ourselves with those who will bring out the best in us while also serving as someone to bring out the best in others. It is our greatest opportu- nity to find and spread hap- piness. Graham Hookey is the author of "Parenting Is A Team Sport" and can be reached at ghookey@ya- hoo.com. HAPPY PERSON, BETTER PERSON SAYING SUPPORTS AN OUTCOME TO WHICH WE SHOULD ALL ASPIRE - TO BE A BETTER PERSON, WRITES GRAHAM HOOKEY GRAHAM HOOKEY Column