OpEd 'I'm Sorry' (John Denver 1975)

After reading several articles regarding the apology that Councillor Wilson was required to publicly make, I had several thoughts, but my late wife's words were foremost: 'Apologies are very powerful things'. First, I believe Councillor Wilson apologized, but with gritted teeth. In her initial comments, she reached out and tried to be kind: 'You are always blaming someone else for your problems – I get it… I’m so sorry for your wife’s health struggles. If you need help to pay a parking pass reach out.'

The complainant, someone we've become more familiar with since the start of the last election, didn't reply in a civil, polite manner, like: 'Thank you for your kind, considerate words.' Nope, nope, nope. All he saw was,

'You are always blaming someone else for your problems...'. Perceiving that he had been slighted/ besmirched/insulted, he doubled down and got very personal with his ill-considered response: 'Wow. You are very childish for an old person.' And then let fly with what, to him must have been the most damning condemnation of all - forbidding her to talk to him again. He forbade her! As in, 'I'm the adult, you're the child and I will tell you what you can and cannot do.

"GLADLY!', was likely her first thought when she read that.

This was a long way from the type of nasty remarks that he has been in the habit of using, mostly from the remoteness and safety of social media, but it does make one thing very clear: when one heavy tree that had been taken down by the weight of ice secretion. It’s likely that we will bear witness to some of these fallen trees for several more weeks, since some property owners are better equipped for yard cleanup than others. Falling trees invariably take power lines down with them, of course, which is where most people felt the greatest impact from the storm. Power outages were so widespread that crews from Hydro Toronto and other utility companies drove down to lend a hand. Their help will not be forgotten.

Utility companies from different areas coming together in a time of need is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the kindness and generosity that this storm brought out in so many people. Power outages and torrential rains don’t mix. Countless residents’ basements flooded or were at risk of flooding. The number of locals offering to lend a spare sump pump or a spare generator to their neighbour was truly amazing. This is so much more than knocking on a neighbour’s door and asking to borrow a cup of sugar. These are expensive, finnicky pieces of equipment being lent to strangers in many cases, for no other reason than the propagation of human kindness. Maybe its because neighbours in North Grenville are never really “strangers”.

The kindness did not stop with offers to lend generators and pumps. Residents who had power or backup power were offering the use of their homes as a place to warm up, take a shower, and cook a meal. The Municipality also opened up the Municipal Centre for this purpose in the days after the storm, showing once again that we take care of our own.

Yet another acknowledgement is needed for the fire department and the OPP, who responded quickly to calls of trees blocking roads, and emergencies involving downed power lines so that these areas could be blocked off pending repair. It would seem that in a time of tragedy, everyone came together like a well oiled machine, some fulfilling their duties honourably, and others providing help that they were in no way dutybound to provide. Hydro workers have already been mentioned, but they deserve another shout out – thank you. Their job is dangerous on a normal day, but the hard work and dedication that went into restoring power for hundreds of thousands of customers – much of it happening during a gruelling storm, I might add – will not be forgotten.

What have we learned from the “Ice Storm of 2023”? Dare I say… nothing? By this I mean that the storm simply showed us what we already know – the people of North Grenville take care of each other. The small community feel of our beloved Municipality is here to stay, and is not something we should ever take for granted. In times of need, we selflessly make sure that everyone has the necessities and comforts of life. Move aside, cup of sugar. North Grenville means business.

Melissa Ottenhof marketing@ngtimes.ca

613 329 0209

David Shanahan wrote his op/ed and said that the Complainant was 'unfit to serve', I know that he chose his words carefully. He also chose them well. Thankfully council did choose Deb Wilson to fill the vacancy. She deserves it. This council did the right thing in its selection process. Ms. Wilson works very hard for the community that she has been part of, all of her life. Most importantly, she has shown that she can work with others. Can you imagine the direction council would have taken if they had picked the other person attempting to get on council, having had such a small number of votes? The people had made their choice and it was a smart one.

Now, some have been heard to opine, 'ANY individual who is thin-skinned

- vituperative - vindicitive - coarse - contumelious - unforgiving - vengeful - abusive should never be elected/selected to any public office.' (Really? There are people who talk like that?) Those people had best be wary: the litigious Complainant would love nothing more than to sue the backsides off of any and all who demean him in any way. Lacking funds, in this case, he tried the 'Go Fund Me' route, but no one or too few took the bait.

Question: Where and when did the attitude come from that anyone who has the gall to disagree with you is not only wrong but evil--and revenge must be taken?

She cautioned him, “If you are thinking about running for any elected position..be careful”. I would caution the elec- torate: If he is thinking of running for any elected position (and he will be back, rest assured), WE need to be careful.

Embittered after not being selected to sit on the council, he got away with saying anything and everything that he wanted. Next, he lodged a complaint. Why? To exact some revenge? I cannot be certain beyond a doubt, but what I suspect is that he is a vindictive person. Walking away, or biting his tongue may not be a part of his character.

I too lost my wife to illness...cancer. In my 5-plus years of grief, I have tried to keep this quote in mind: 'When those you love die, the best you can do is to honour their spirit for as long as you live. You make a commitment that you're going to take whatever lesson that person was trying to teach you, and you make it true in your own life. (Patrick Swayze) My wife's lesson was to be positive and not waste energy being negative and angry. Also, never miss an opportunity to say, 'I'm Sorry' when you know that you are in the wrong.

If the Complainant’s wife is in his head, the way mine continues to be in mine, and if she was the type of good person that my wife was, (and I am assured that she was), then she is likely urging him to 'take the high road', and 'choose to be positive' and 'don't waste your energy being angry all the time.' Congratulations Councillor Wilson. Your family, friends, and colleagues must be very proud of you.

As am I.

Peter Johnson Upper Oxford Mills