INBOX
FROM
OUR READERS
A Light Read With a Heavy Impact
Why do Developers Control Southern Georgian Bay?
Editor’s Note
The Escarpment: a good place for new development?
would result in the destruction of over 1,100 mature trees. Citizens’ efforts to express their serious concerns have fallen on deaf ears. However, as Edward Burtynsky says, we live in one of the most naturally beautiful places on earth. It’s worth protecting, but how do we do this when municipalities are ignoring their own bylaws in support of developers? Christina Eaton Long-term resident
How’s This for a “Quick Response”?
I am appalled at the proliferation of QR codes everywhere, and now even in the pages of On The Bay magazine. Are these things not forcing people to spend even more waking hours on
Letters to the editor have long been recognized as a venue for ideas and opinions as part of healthy public debate. Letters are also an opportunity for readers to provide journalists and publishers with feedback. Often, environmental issues are among the top concerns of residents from several community groups actively participating in ongoing planning and political processes around Southern Georgian Bay. Please consider that letters are often short and have narrow perspectives on complex issues. We encourage you to do your own research. Letters can also do more than lay a critical eye on issues. Words of encouragement or inspiration that recognize the good work of citizens are always welcome. Thank you to everyone who submitted letters. We reserve the right to edit for style, content and space considerations. Please send your letter to readermail@onthebaymagazine.com. 24
SUMMER 2022 ON THE BAY
Photo: Roger Klein
their phones? How can anyone go out and enjoy our area and the energy there, when they are being forced more and more onto phones? Whoever is selling these QR codes is pushing really hard—they are sprouting up like the addictive, bad weeds that they are. Get rid of these nuisances and get control over your time!
Christine Huy
Gloria Thompson Wasaga Beach
Thank you for your feedback, Gloria. QR codes are a great subject to talk about. The digital squiggles are nothing new but they really caught on during the pandemic for everything from restaurant menus to government surveillance systems on our personal activities (which we find very creepy). That being said, it’s obvious that you noticed that OTB has been incorporating QR codes as a footnote to some of our articles. In doing so, we’ve discovered that people actually use them, to learn more about a subject or to find specific references. We think that’s a good thing because the internet has become vast. Cool stuff can be hard to track down. We also believe that knowledge is power. We promise not to use them frivolously.—Editor
Cru ise ships: a picture of eco-responsibility?
Thank you for your letter, Christine. You make a fair point. When it comes to travel, we often overlook the environmental impact of our adventures. Everything we do has some sort of effect on the planet, from driving our cars to the local park, to flying off to exotic locations around the world. It’s something to keep in mind while making travel plans. Perhaps we should ask more questions about the places we go? How sustainable is our favourite all-inclusive resort? Is there a benefit to the local population? Sustainability is a
Photo: Cindy Caines
“We want to be good custodians of this pretty special place,” says Edward Burtynsky (“Documenting the Human Epoch,” Winter 2022). Yet, in the same issue of On The Bay, I read about the sale of the Talisman lands in Grey Highlands and how “the municipality has failed to comply with certain provisions of the Municipal Act and its own policy concerning the sale of surplus lands.” It’s alleged that the council went ahead with the conditional sale, without even waiting to hear the results of a consultation study it had commissioned to obtain the citizens’ views for the future of the Beaver Valley. Indeed, developers appear to be in control of what happens in Southern Georgian Bay, and the citizens’ views don’t seem to matter. Similarly, in Thornbury, a town known for its character and charm, a developer has been terrorizing the waterfront community by proposing a high-density infill development adjacent to the harbour. In addition to being completely out of character with the longestablished neighbourhood, it
I normally have a really good time reading On The Bay. But this time I’m angry, angry indeed, that your article about cruises (“Welcome Back Aboard,” Spring 2022), never mentioned that these boats are not at all sustainable. Judy Ross should have included this in her article. She only wrote positive things about these boats and never spoke about pollution. That’s not fair. You should recognize that these cruise ships are absolutely not a recommended way to travel if you want to protect the earth.
