Communication is something so simple and difficult that we can never put it into simple words. T.S. Mathews. A few ideas and thoughts this week about Bell Canada, always highly respected from one end of the world to the other. We will hand out bouquets first and ask questions later. The "widows friend" as the Bell is so often called and a "friend" to many others. Thousands of us own Bell shares always safe and secure, ever producing and the dividends bring happy, satisfied smiles to many faces. Co-operative, friendly, respectful and well spoken staff are synonymous with Bell employees. This has always been so, and much appreciated by the general public. Even though standards have fallen in many cases over the past few years Bell has pretty well maintained their high standards. As stated in Bell's annual report, "the basic philo- sophy of the company remains constant and clear - it provides a service of high quality at reasonable prices, consistent with fair treatment of our em- ployees and an adequate return to our investors." "To utilize our human, technological and finan- cial resources in Canada and abroad in ways that will contribute to the social and economic progress of our country and its people. To develop and put to use new technologies, delivery systems and organi- zational arrangements to ensure the future prosper- ity of our business." So there it is in a nutshell, a diversified company, active in research and development and specialized in communications. Bell Canada's own expertise is now recognized around the world to the point that its consulting services are in demand around the world. Most of us are Bell subscribers and many have been for well over 50 years, over a half a century. My long distance calls are dreadful and over the years amount to a considerable amount. When Ajax-beëame a toll free calling area to Toronto many of us hoped Whitby would follow in due course. Not so. We know there is a lot of expert- THE CORPORATION OF . THETOWNOFWHITBY PLANNING DEPARTMENT NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING Re: DundaslThickson Sub-Central Area Planning Study A Public Meeting of the Administrative Committee wili be held at 7:45 P.M. on Monday March 15, 1982, in the Meeting Hall of the Whitby Municipal Building, 575 Rossland Road East, Whitby, On- tarlo. I mm L 3 Applewood Ate. STUDY AREA The purpose of the Public Meeting is to present to the Administrative Committee a Development Plan report for the Study Area and a draft amend- ment to the Whitby Officiai Plan to implement the study. For further information on thie above study inter- ested persons may contact the Town of Whitby Planning Department, Mr. Larry Cavanagh, or the undersigned at 575 Rossland Road East, Whitby. (416) 668-5803. ROBERT B. SHORT Director of Planning Corporation of the Towno0f Whlitby ise and expense involved, no one would deny that. Bell is a progressive company and some of their ex- pertise should be directed in our direction. Contiguous is the key word. If we were contiguous to Toronto we would be allowed to have free dialing. Is or was Ajax contiguous to Toronto? No, by no stretch of the imagination. The word contiguous means adjoining or adjacent to. This no doubt was quite a mistake on Bell's part. In the past few years we hÃave had many thousan- ds of newcomers to our town. A great number have come from Toronto. Young mothers and all the others, of course, have families in the city, husban- ds who work there and their friends and often busi- ness contacts. To have to drive to Ajax to make a free call is'simply ridiculous. Expenses are going up in every direction no doubt to stay there or even rise higher. Will the end ever be in sight? Many people are becoming anxious and upset maybe for good reason; for people in Whitby to be able to call their moms and dads and friends in the city to reassure them or comfort them without it costing an arm or a leg would be good. Sounds a bit silly but it isn't, often a simple thing like this helps hold the parts together. Whitby is trying to encourage.industry and commerce. I'm very sure business, commerce and industry would be very supportive of toll free calls to Toronto. An incentive to locate here. While Bell Canada has appeared to remain inflex- ible in regard to their exchange area boundaries, local municipalities have seen fit to change their boundaries to accommodate changing populations. While it has been suggested many times to Bell Canada that they should establish their boundaries in line with municipal ones, they say they cannot. WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1982, PAGE Why? No doubt a mistake many years ago but mistakes can be and should be rectified. Nothing stands still so flexibility should be the order of the L rar day. The overall cost must be looked at with a view to counter balance. A precedent has been set with Ajax and subsequently it appears the rule has been sieekÉ changed. These are my thoughts and are held by many others. I think it is time that very serious consi- deration be given to the changing population situa- tion as is happening in this area. One Which should be and must be given due con- sideration is an immediate solution to the Whitby- If you have a i Oshawa boundary line, east of Thickson Road, hours free and wo which is considered to be in the Oshawa exchange like to be of real asa and we have Oshawa numbers, much to our regret. ance in your cor This has caused great confusion. Only recently nity, give the Whi have we had our numbers in the Whitby part of the Public Library a cal directory. I have had many business calls and calls The library ne from friends who have forgotten or lost my number; volunteers to help co in the past they were told I had an Oshawa number. their Commurnty In, Confusion and wonderment - how could. this be mation Desk. It is because theyall knew I lived in Whitby. teresting work in pl We on the east side of Thickson Roà d are resi- sant surroundings dents and taxpayers of Whitby. Why may we not you will neyer get a i share with the other residents of Whitby the dis- ter opportunity to i counts, lower rates of service and lower long dis- out the wealth of s tance rates from which they benefit? vices Whitby bas to It would be to Bell's benefit to give this immediate fer. consideration. We know there are many facets to . Plus'you will be h this problem. My husband and' I are curtailing our rng fehlow.citizens calls to Toronto·and so are many others. If inflation their community beti keep son an upspiral many may stop all together. Typing is essential Mayor Bob Attersley and Council, please join us in For more informai ourplea to Bell. caîl 668-6531 or 668-l Historical society report Vice-president Sybil Stirling qntertained the members of the Whitby Historical Society at its regular general meeting held recently. She said that history does not repeat itself. It is people who repeat things. She showed a selec- tion of the historical slides of Whitby beginn- ing with the log home carved out of .the prim- evil forest and the trail- like road. As she showed some of the for- mer homes of Whitby, now demolished, she said it is too bad that such lovely homes were destroyed. Stirling told the group some organizations in the Durham Region-are interested in having the loan of the Whitby Historical slides. The slides are being made available to schools For further informa- tion call either Stirling at 576-3876, or president Douglas Anderson at 668-5040. DY few uld Sist- mu- tby 1.. eds ver for- in- lea- and bet- find ser- of- elp- use ter. 1. tion 41. j * E IM -ô11In 218 H'ikTR\PsI AE]INS. AJAX :SOPPIG LwAZ TEEHN 6316 Wer proud to be Canadian A nation of broad horizons and unlimited potential, a country filled with promise -the Canada we love. We're proud to be a partner in this unique Confederation, rich in diverse cultures, now renewed in common bonds. Our new constitution is one more step in the building of a brighter future. Govemment of the Province of Ontario William G. Davis, Premier Thomas L. Wells, Minister