BUY CANADIAN
Pave heritage and put up a parking lot?
By Mike Williscraft NewsNow
There are several firsts in the case of 7 Patton St, and Grimsby council made a rare decision to step aside from heritage conservation and allow “progress” to take over.
In this case, the first home
built on one of Grimsby’s first streets faces demolition after its owner, John Read, formally requested the property be taken off the Town’s heritage registry so it could be sold with the intention of levelling the site and putting a parking lot in to support a busi-
ness adjacent to the lot. Council wrestled with the unique circumstance of this property and its owner - compounded by the current owner already having bought another home to move to based on his belief 7 Patton would be removed from the registry.
Further fogging of the horizon came from Grimsby Heritage Advisory Committee (GHAC) which, for the first time, failed to provide a recommendation to council on a heritage project.
The house, which was built in 1882, is tied to the
first Irish Catholic family to move to town, Garrett France-Wyllie, a Town of Grimsby heritage planner, told GHAC at its May 13 meeting.
The original St. Joseph’s church - at 16 Patton Street was built in 1866 for the
Dinner is served
Maricel Kingston serves Janet Buck some slaw and salad while volunteering at the Silverdale Community Hall’s annual spring barbecue on Friday night. For more event coverage, please turn to Page 16. Loree - Photo
New trailer on land speeds rescuers on the water
A new device will help speed the volunteers of South Shore Search And Rescue (SSSR) to the scene of marine emergencies while keeping them safe and preserving the organization’s precious resources.
Hint: the new device isn’t a boat.
A new enclosed trailer, obtained with generous grants from the Niagara Community Foundation, including from the David S. Howes Fund, will house the volunteers’ precious personal protective equipment. Gear like helmets, life jackets and floater suits will now be steps from the group’s rescue boat at the Fifty Point Marina.
Keeping the equipment safe, dry and easily accessible will help reduce crews’ response time to emergency calls during the boating season.
The new trailer, which can also be used as a mobile command centre for extensive search ac-
tivities away from the group’s base, will protect the expensive equipment from damage from mold, mildew and abrasion suffered when the gear is jammed into poor storage boxes or car trunks after missions.
Excellent ventilation and proper lighting means the equipment will be dry, protected and quickly available any time of day, said SSSR leader Ben Upper.
“The generosity of the Niagara Community Foundation has enabled a sea change in how we deploy on rescue missions,” Upper said.
“We can be called out any hour of the day or night and the first step for crews heading to a rescue mission is to don their essential personal protective equipment. Having helmets, life jackets and other gear clean, dry and steps from the rescue boat saves crucial time when time really matters.”
During the 2024 boating season, SSSR volunteers were called out to 31 rescue missions. Their average response time was just over 14 minutes.
Replacing equipment damaged from the mold and mildew that attacks gear stored when wet is a regular — and avoidable — expense for the volunteers, Upper added.
Having a clean, dry, ventilated storage site is expected to reduce the annual cost of replacing damaged gear like expensive life jackets and floater suits.
“The bonus is not having to struggle into cold, wet, smelly floater suits in the middle of the night,” Upper concludes.
South Shore Search And Rescue is a community-based volunteer emergency service that responds to rescue calls in western Lake Ontario, serving the communities along the south shore from a base in Fifty Point.
VINELAND NURSERIES
Grimsby native earns Canadian Screen Award
Former Grimsby Secondary School student, Gillian Parker won Best Direction in the television category of Lifestyle and Information from the Canadian Screen Awards.
The annual Awards celebrate achievements in Canadian film and television, highlighting the best talent in the industry.
choice of a career in television production began long before that.
Mohawk College and was hired as a production assistant at CHCH.
Parker has received previous nominations in Best Direction, for a special on Canadian music performer Jann Arden and for a Bell Let’s Talk episode dedicated to mental health in Canada. This was her first win.
Gillian graduated in 1998, with foreshadowing, winning the GSS Media award. But her
In her acceptance speech at the ceremony, she gave a special shoutout to her stepmother, Deborah (Walker) Parker who took her to CHCH TV when she was only 12.
“She brought me to her work and I knew this was the direction I was going to go in and I never looked back. Her opening my eyes to Live TV was a complete game-changer,” said Gillian.
Gillian then attended
After two years she moved to Toronto, taking on parttime work, later helping launch ET Canada and became its assistant director, worked on the launch of Global’s three-hour morning news program becoming its first director and developed Global’s noon news, too. Moving to CTV, Gillian developed more news programs and - when the network looked for the latest news, trends and top-
ics that mattered to Canadians - The Social was born with Gillian’s help. She has been The Social’s director and co-producer for 12 seasons.
Gillian’s father, Greg, remembers that she was very quiet as a young student.
That changed, however, when she was the coxswain of the GSS senior men’s rowing crew that won both Canadian and U.S. championships.
“She had to raise her voice a lot, to bark instructions to those guys and drive them to respond. Obviously, that worked,” said Greg.
Gillian, her husband and two sons now reside in Oakville.
This Saturday!
Car thieves nabbed
An investigation which started into the theft of a Lincoln in Niagaraon-the-Lake in April ended up netting police members of a GTA organized auto theft ring.
The Lincoln was stolen April 20 and subsequently recovered.
Further investigation by detectives determined that suspects were using electronic devices to track, locate, and steal primarily Lexus and Toyota vehicles from residential areas. These stolen vehicles were then transported out of Niagara to the Hamilton area. The factory installed tracking devices were disabled by the suspects.
Detectives discovered that the vehicles were taken to a location in Hamilton, loaded onto a transport truck, and moved to Montreal. There, the vehicles were placed in shipping containers, loaded onto cargo ships, and transported to a major seaport in Iraq.
Over the course of the investigation, 2 District detectives re-
ceived assistance from several NRPS units, including 8 District (Grimsby/Lincoln/ West Lincoln) as well as Hamilton Police Service, Halton Regional Police Service, Service de police de la Ville de Montréal and Canada Border Services Agency
As a result, three individuals who are believed to be connected to the theft of approximately 50 vehicles across Niagara and the Greater Toronto Area have been charged.
Last Friday, investigators executed five search warrants in the Hamilton area, finding:
• 20 Stolen Vehicles
• $53,000 in currency
• Airsoft Pistol
• Offence related property
“This investigation highlights the reach and sophistication of organized crime networks operating in our Region, the Province of Ontario, and beyond. To our citizens – we remain committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners,” said Niagara Police Chief Bill Fordy.
Special Spa Pairings
Bungalow with workshop, nestled on scenic Ridge Road West, abutting the trails and breathtaking views of Beamers Conservation Area. Country living only 5 minutes
Chris Sisson moonlights as a carver and wood turner. Here, he is demonstrating his skills at a woodworking show at The Wood Shed’s second annual event in Smithville on Saturday morning. Loree - Photo
From Page 1 Irish Catholics and one of the earliest Irish Catholic families to come into the town were the Dorans.
“The sons of the Dorans were the ones who built 7 Patton Street and the parents of the Dorans were the first family to be buried at St. Joseph’s (church) at the north end of the street,” noted France-Wyllie.
Including 7 Patton, there are only two remaining Doran-built homes in Grimsby and Doran Avenue is named for the family.
Another notable Grimsby resident, Albert Hawke, called 7 Patton his childhood home. Hawke was a long-time businessman who operated Grimsby’s largest general store for nearly 40 years.
Despite the long list of heritage ties the home has with the community GHAC and eventually council could not get over the situation of the current owner who pleaded with council to remove his home from the registry.
Read challenged the content of the staff report and its recommendation to designate the property, noting claiming none of the windows in the home are original and that he added pillars on the porch. He also claimed there was substantial mould “after every large rain event.”
“How can we trust a report that is riddled with vague interpretations and some flat out falsehoods,” Read said at GHAC.
At GHAC and at council, Town intermediate heritage planner Bianca Verrecchia suggested many of the problems in the home had relatively simple, not costly remedies which could provide “a path forward”.
The staff on-site visit to the home showed the sandstone foundation to be in good shape, noting cracks are common in homes this old but none could be found.
“Generally, it’s in really good shape,” said Verrecchia.
She noted some of the window sills were failing but there were “remedies available, adding grants are available and the Town also now provides a program for assistance with heritage designated homes
As an example of a similar situation, Verrecchia cited 2 5th Street in Grimsby Beach where the owner also wanted to sell and sought a demolition permit, which gave the Town 60 days to choose a direction.
Verrecchia noted council chose to designate and staff worked with the homeowner and its real estate agent even so far as to fine tune wording for the listing.
On-site walkabouts followed to review potential and the owner ended up getting within $19,000 of their asking price.
“Now, the home is about to be fully restored by the new owner,” said Verrecchia, who noted an additional rental unit for added income to offset some of the cost of restoration and initial work has exposed some hidden treasures in the walls.
“This will be a legacy property in town,” she told council.
NO DECISION AT GHAC
The wheels seemed to come off the process at GHAC despite chair Sara Nixon asking for a mover or seconder for a motion repeatedly.
Nixon had to go so far as to reiterate for the committee that their job was to deal solely with the heritage
aspect of a property as legislation dictates - meaning the story or circumstance around the property is not to be a factor.
“Heritage is not meant to be a punishment. It is meant to be a celebration. The law is meant to commemorate and preserve for future generations,” Nixon told GHAC members, commending Read for his work on the home to get it to where it is today.
“Your (Read’s) comments have a lot of validity and that is something council should be hearing. We’re purely technical here. We’re not political here. We see a report that has come through. We have heritage professionals on staff that have given their professional opinion.”
“All we can do is recommend or not recommend. That’s the purpose of the committee.”
Coun. Nick DiFlavio, who sits on GHAC, agreed with Nixon’s overview.
“We’re not here to hear individual stories,” said DiFlavio.
“We need to consider the merits.”
But that is as far as any GHAC member would go and nobody would move or second a motion to get a heritage designation on the floor.
“So, it looks like we are recommending not to designate 7 Patton Street,” said Nixon.
That set off a flurry of discussion as a property which had gotten so far as a staff recommendation has never been rejected by GHAC.
Eventually, Walter Basic, Grimsby’s assistant director of planning, told the committee they had three options: approve 7 Patton for designation; recommend it not be designated, or; re-
main silent.
“It is always best to have a resolution recommending one way or the other,” Basic added.
In the end, at GHAC, a resolution was passed to receive the staff report, noting the committee had been consulted as per legislation.
The lack of direction did not sit well with Coun.. Reg Freake.
“I was disappointed to hear that the heritage committee, who we rely on for advice - and they are the legitimate advice for us in terms of heritage - did not make a decision. That really bothers me. We would probably not be having a lot of these conversations here tonight if they did,” Freake told council.
By leaving the decision to council, GHAC took a nonpolitical situation and made it political as several council members noted the circumstance of Read, the owner, made it difficult to designate the site.
“There are a lot of issues that make it more grey. So, I’m not going to support it,” said Coun. Veronica Charrois.
“There is some value with heritage buildings, but we don’t necessarily have to keep them all. Because some guy made the first XYZ plow, we’ve got to keep his house because he lived there. I’m not there. It’s value for intensification is probably more valuable to the Town than its history,” said Coun. Lianne Vardy.
Verrecchia told council that 7 Patton being on the Town’s heritage designation roster was no shock to anyone since it has been on there since it was established in 1990 by when it was put on the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee Architec-
tural Inventory List.
Town planner Harold Madi noted that even with the home being sold it may not go the way the buyer may want in terms or rezoning.
“There is a sale that is occurring, but that sale is occurring under the assumption that the strip commercial is in fact the future for the street and that continues to march up Patton Street,” said Madi, adding, “There is a decisive line – of residential character.”
I would suggest strongly that that isn’t the future... To think that this might be a consolidation with the strip commercial to the south is not what I would suggest is the direction in which we want to go.”
Mayor Jeff Jordan boiled it right down.
“We either designate and save a house and get oneto-three units or we get rid of a unit and, I don’t know if it’s hearsay or if it’s true but they want to add parking for the existing building that’s adjoining,” said Jordan.
“So, we’ll add houses or build a parking lot. That’s our option.”
Council voted 6-3 against the recommended designation with Jordan and councillors Don Howe and Delight Davoli voting in favour and councillors DiFlavio, Vardy, Freake, Charrois, Jacob Baradziej and Jennifer Korstanje opposing.
Then a motion “suggesting” photo documentation, a plaque be erected, adaptive reuse be considered and that viable materials be salvaged should demolition occur was approved 8-1 with Jordan being the only vote opposing.
Council still has to approve the minutes from the meeting before the decision is final.
HAPPENING IN GRIMSBY
Tunes & treats all part of Happening fun
Summer cannot be far behind when plans roll out for the annual Happening in Grimsby festivities, which will
overtake downtown from June 12-14.
The fun will kick off next Thursday with the Grimsby Farmers Market
from 3-7 p.m. and a concert in Coronation Park by Music on The Forty, who will close out the evening - Groove
Miller will perform from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Friday, the Lunch on The Lawn at Coronation Park is always a popular event. That starts at 11:30 a.m.
Main Street will be busy from 5:30 p.m. on with the Main Stage being taken over by a Grimsby
Idol competition; Stone House Road at 7 p.m., and; Teh Blackstones closing out the night starting at 9 p.m.
All that sets the stage for a very busy Saturday which will include a host of activities from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. - before more great music takes to teh Main Stage in the evening.
The Vendor Alley on Main, between See HAPPENING Page 14
THURSDAY, JUNE 12TH
3pm Main Street
Grimsby Farmers’ Market
FRIDAY, JUNE 13TH
11:30am Coronation Park
Lunch on the Lawn
MAIN STAGE
5:30pm Grimsby Idol
7pm Stone House Road 9pm The Blackstones
SATURDAY, JUNE 14TH
10am - 4pm Coronation Park
Family Entertainment including Pete & Anna, Calvin the Magician, Crash! and Inflatables
10am - 5pm Vendor Alley
Local makers and businesses
11am - 11pm Main Stage
BANDS 3pm Melody Minds
Tragically Trip
The Postmen 9pm Jonesy
Live entertainment from WNSS Jazz Band, WNSS Drumline, WNSS Jazz Combo, Studio Forte and Kinetic Elements Dance
JUNE 12-14
SHUTTLE SCHEDULE
Running every 30 minutes
@happeningingrimsby
www.happeningingrimsby.ca
Pick-Up/Drop-off Points: Mountainview Church GBF Hub
Blessed Trinity
First pick up on Friday at BT: 5pm
First pick up on Saturday at BT: 12pm
Last stop at midnight Friday & Saturday
Where Community Comes to Life
HAPPENING IN GRIMSBY
~ June 12 - 14 ~ Downtown Grimsby
HAPPENING
From Page 1
Christie and Patton is always a big draw, running from 10-5 p.m.
Coronation Park will have entertainment throughout the day from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., including Pete & Anna, Calvin The
Magician and Crash. A host of inflatables will also be out for some bouncy fun.
The Main Stage will include: West Niagara Secondary School Jazz Band, WNSS Drumline, WNSS Jazz Combo, Studio Forte and Kinetic Elements
Dance.
To close out the event, the roster will be: 3 p.m., Melody Minds; 5 p.m. Tragically Trip; 7 p.m. The Postmen and; 9 p.m. Jonesy.
A shuttle will run every 30 minutes starting at 5 p.m. Friday and Noon on
Saturday between Mountainview Christian Reformed Church, GBF Hub and Blessed Trinity. Last stop Friday and Saturday will be at midnight.
Main Street will be closed from Thursday, June 12 at 1 p.m. to Sunday, June 16 at 6 a.m.
sam.oosterhoffco@pc.ola.org
Blitz sees nearly 30% of vehicles pulled off road
Nearly 30 per cent of vehicles inspected during a May 21 enforement blitz were taken off the road.
Niagara Regional Policein a joint effort with Town of Lincoln and the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO), conducted the joint commercial motor vehicle enforcement initiative in and around Lincoln.
The ongoing program is in response to community concerns about increased commercial vehicle traffic in the Lincoln and Vineland areas.
The focus was on identifying commercial motor vehicles
intentionally bypassing the Town of Lincoln Inspection Station on the QEW. Officers conducted in-depth vehicle inspections to ensure compliance with Ontario’s legislated road safety standards.
A total of 31 vehicles were thoroughly inspected. As a result, nine vehicles (29 per cent) were removed from service due to significant safety concerns.
Three sets of licence plates were also seized. A total of 15 charges were laid, including charges for improper tires, failure to comply with administrative requirements such as
daily inspections and registration, insecure loads, and improper use of licence plates.
Out-of-service defects can include such issues as failure to have an annual inspection, improper brake adjustments and insecure loads.
The NRPS remains committed to enhancing road safety, as outlined in its 2022–25 Strategic Plan.
Members of the public wishing to report traffic complaints are encouraged to contact the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) by telephone at 905-688-4111, option 3, ext. 1025555.
Annual Silverdale barbecue does not disappoint
One of Niagara West’s rites of spring is the annual Silverdale Community Hall’s barbecue. Last Friday’s event did not disappoint, with great weather giving neighbours a chance to get out and catch up.
Photos By Evan Loree
Baby Annie Sonneveld mom Robyn and three year old sister Beverly enjoy their neighbours’ cooking at the spring cookout.
Kimberley Little and grandson Cooper Little, 6, drop their tickets in the penny sale offerings at the Silverdale community barbecue.
Robert Brinkert has been flipping burgers at the Silverdale Community spring barbecue for more than 10 years.
Wiesje Dobrucki, left, and Mary Kovacks chat up Tara Kramer, an event organizer, while waiting in line for food.
When: Tuesday, June 17, 2025, from 7 to 9 p.m.
NOTICE OF OPEN HOUSE MEETING
Fulton Rural Employment Land Use Plan Study & Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment
Where: Fulton Community Centre, 2905 South Grimsby Rd. 20
The Township of West Lincoln and its consultant WSP Canada is hosting a Public Open House to seek your input as it develops an Employment Land Use Plan for the new employment lands in Fulton. For more information, please contact: WSP Canada
Township of West Lincoln
Susan Smyth, Manager, Community Planning and Design (905) 957-3346 ext. 5133 or ssmyth@westlincoln.ca
Background
On July 18, 2022, West Lincoln Council approved Official Plan Amendment 62 (OPA 62) which added additional lands to the Hamlet of Fulton. These lands are intended to become a “Rural Employment Area” that supports a variety of businesses who can take advantage of the strategic location between Smithville and Hamilton.
Where are the lands?
The Study Area is comprised of approximately 36 hectares (89 acres) of lands bordered by South Grimsby Roads 18 and 19 to the east and west, Regional Road 20 to the south, and the Hydro One corridor to the north.
Kemal Kapetanovic, Senior Planner Urban and Community Planning (438) 944-7074 or Kemal.Kapetanovic@wsp.com
What will be developed?
In this first phase, the Township is seeking to establish an overall vision for the long-term development of these lands. This vision will be implemented through new policies in the Township’s Official Plan and new provisions in the Zoning By-Law.
The Public Open House is an opportunity for the local community to identify specific goals, objectives and principles for the future development of these lands.
An introductory presentation will be provided, followed by a dropin style event with opportunities for discussion with members of the project team. As this is an in-person drop-in event, no registration is required to participate.
Dear Editor, Canada needs Canada Post, but the form it takes for the future must be revamped.
As a taxpayer, I don’t want to see $1 billion in losses again. Sure, a cost for a national mail service is ok with me, but expanding, major losses, nope, no sir!
People who live in
southern Ontario andhave never travelled the country cannot fathom the expanse of the west and the north - and no, Parry Sound is not “north”.
Dropping home delivery and going purely to super boxes is the
quickest and simplest remedy to ensure consistent delivery with huge cost reductions and that is the road we are headed down if the posties don’t come to their senses.
As you noted in the past, Mr. Editor, management has made mistakes, too, but not to the scale that could
A great chance for children to earn their own money and learn how to manage it!
Are you an avid reader who would like to help out in the midst of the current Canada Post strike?
NewsNow is looking for carriers in Grimsby, Beamsville/Vineland and Smithville
Call Catherine at the office 289-235-9500 or call her cell 289-442-0352 • Email: catherine@wn3.ca
save the Titanic from hitting the iceberg.
In this tale, Jack (carriers) can get on the door, too, and float until the corporation resets its future course or they can choose to stay in the water and slowly, painfully, expire.
Stephen Owen Grimsby
ARKINSON, Gloria Esther
(nee Belfy)
April 14, 1925May 27, 2025
Passed away at Deer Park Villa, on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at the age of 100.
Beloved wife of the late Robert Arkinson (2007). Loved mother of Taylor Arkinson (Pam) and Marnie Dixon (Glenn). Cherished grandmother of Andrew, Janine, Ryan, Brandon and the late Joel and of seven great-grandchildren.
Private cremation with burial at Queen’s Lawn Cemetery at a later date.
If desired, memorial contributions to West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation would be sincerely appreciated by the family.
DRIVEWAY SALE
Saturday, June 7
8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Something for everyone
81 Debora Drive Grimsby
Saturday, June 7 8 a.m. - 12 noon Garden decor, housewares, jewelry, antiques & collectibles, Disney VHS tapes & lots more 2 Kingsway Cres. GRIMSBY
Celebration of Life
ANDREW
COLIN
(FLIppER) FARNum June 21st, 2025 1:30 pm at the Beamsville Legion #612 5545 King St., Beamsville
Join us to pay a last homage to Andrew
HOME IMPROVEMENT
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MAster MAson: chimney repair, stucco, parging, brick restoration, stone, all cement finish work. Professional, reliable, excellent referrals. Estimates. Evan 905-921-5226
indePendent ProfessionAl gArdener. Licensed. Insured. Seasonal maintenance services: pruning, weeding, mulching, plant care, planting, tree trimming, garden design. Free estimates. Grimsby based. Call Chris. (289)407.2325
HOME IMPROVEMENT
Duna Handyman
Professional Painting flooring and a lot more. Removing popcorn ceiling and replacing with California knockdown or smooth ceiling. Most of your home needs. dunajozef6@gmail. com. 905-730-1387
wORkSHOP
sPring PlAnter worKsHoP Saturday, June 14th at the Erland Lee Museum, 552 Ridge Road, Stoney Creek 10 am - noon, cost $45.00. Register at 905-563-7274 or bstones@cogeco.ca
struggling witH Hurts, HAng-uPs or HAbits? “Celebrate Recovery (CR)” 12 step Christian Recovery for Healing, Help and Hope. ALL WELCOME! Wednesdays at 7 pm. Forestview Community Church, 132 Lake St, Grimsby. For info. or help, CR@forestviewcommunitychurch.ca 905-945-9529
SENIOR CARE
JACKi’s senior CAre. Offering Housekeeping, Haircuts Personal, and Respite Care. Call 226 938 -1457 for details
lArge senior suite
witH suPPort in a spacious comfortable living/bed with kitchenette and private bath, includes quality meals, cleaning and laundry. single $1595, couple $2,695 905-515-6755
Fonthill West. see yelllowpages.photos/365
tim 905-510-3658 - beamsville.
rubbisH & JunK reMoVAl. Call Ken 905-973-3235
ConCrete Regular Concrete, Colour Concrete, Stamped Concrete, Exposed Aggregate Driveways, Porches, Patios, Stairs, Sidewalks, Garage Floors, Leaky Basement. Repairs as well. Serving Niagara Area for over 30 years. lPJ ConCrete ContrACtor. Call 905-651-9462
CArs, truCKs, old farm machinery for scrap or repair. we pay cash. Flatbed service. 905-386-6181 or 289-686-5059.
Over 40 years of experience in painting, flooring, basic plumbing, landscaping, deck and fences. Certified home inspector. Free estimates 905-7416695, 905-730-1387 nickanthonyelia@gmail. com. www.nickelia renovations.com
We’re Ready!
Thanks to a great response over the last few weeks, NewsNow is ready to deliver for our community.
We are now having our carriers go door-to-door in Grimsby, Beamsville, Vineland, Jordan & Smithville.
There are still a handful of routes not filled, so if you happened to miss your copy - or if you live in an outlying rural area - we have planned a large list of helpful outlets to allow for quick and convenient pick ups.
Grimsby
Puddicombe Farms
Grimsby Gateway
Sobeys Grimsby
Grimsby Town Hall
NewsNow office
Shoppers Drug Mart
150 Main St. E. & 42 St. Andrews Ave.
West Lincoln
Twp. of West Lincoln Town Hall
Smithville Foodland
Wellandport Home Hardware
Beamsville
Sobeys Beamsville
Beamsville Relay Restaurant
Conversations Cafe
Ryan’s No Frills - Beamsville
Fleming Centre
Courtesy Counter
Beamsville Town Hall
Vineland
Grand Oak Culinary Market
Hopkins IDA
Vineland Foodland
Campden General Store
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When a right feels wrong, it hurts
iIt is noted in this week’s front page that there are a whole lot of firsts involved in the 7 Patton Street drama that rolled through a couple of Town meetings last month.
Careful crafter
Jameson Van Soelen. 8, burns his name into a miniature carving of a hockey stick at The Wood Shed’s second annual woodworking show hosted on Saturday in Smithville. Loree - Photo
Before anything, it must be noted that Grimsby Heritage Advisory Committee chair Sara Nixon did an excellent job of keeping eye on the procedural ball during a lengthy debate and tried to aid her colleagues to do the same - but to zero effect.
The issue there was simply, nobody on the committee had the (insert appropriate word here, good reader) to make a motion to designate the property, which is what they should have done.
No, that does not mean I am saying 7 Patton should be designated as a heritage property, so cool your jets. What I am saying is Nixon hit the nail on the head when she stated and restated that GHAC’s responsibility is to assess properties based on the merits, no emotion, no personal stories and anecdotes - as per legislation.
Some of 7 Patton’s history is outlined on Page 10 of the front-page story, but there is a ton more.
Simply, on merit, the home should be designated and GHAC should have performed its sole purpose and made that recommendation. What that would have done is sent it on to the council table and council could have debated the item just as they did. Council
can include other matters surrounding a matter of this nature - like the extenuating circumstance of 7 Patton’s owner, John Read.
Read outlined a host of issues the home, built is 1866, has - and there are several. Compounding all, he bought another home to move to based on the in-process sale of 7 Patton, so there was a lot of emotion and stress at both the GHAC and council meetings.
Understandable.
The whole matter was set off when Read applied for a demolition permit for the site with the plan being added parking going on the lot to accommodate vehicles for the business adjacent to the site.
What it comes down to - and a majority of council ultimately went with heart over heritage - does a resident’s desire to sell and demolish override what could be preserved of the Town’s heritage?
We may never know what could have been for the home if some of the preservation measures which heri-
tage planners outlined as a “path forward” for the home had been worked through in recent years. There are many issues, but the fixes are there.
No doubt that takes time, effort and money, which Read clearly has no interest in pursuing at this point in his life.
I think that if the sole point of his purchasing of a new home already had not been put in motion, council would have sided with the designation. That choice would certainly have made sense given council’s track record and precedent of past heritage matters.
Staff cited a glowing example of a Grimsby Beach home set for demo but is now being full restored after council stuck to its heritage guns.
Then we have the Burgess House, or James Willison Grout Nelles House depending on your era, at the corner of Nelles Road and Main East, which was built in 1865 - one year before 7 Patton. That home was abandoned for years falling into a major state of disrepair - windows gone, holes in the roof - yet council pushed for that home.
Interestingly, the designation motion for Grout Nelles House came to Planning Committee in 2012 - chair of that committee was current Coun. Nick DiFlavio. What’s the difference? It seems the owner’s situation and 7 Patton being on a side street as opposed to along Main are key to the situation.
MIKE WILLISCRAFT
Postal carrier begs to differ on Canada Post issues
Dear Editor,
As a citizen of Grimsby and Canada Post letter carrier I am disgusted with your most recent article (May 22), regarding the Canada Post situation.
You present a very biased and ignorant understanding of the issues we face.
Perhaps you could get some information from our Canadian Union of Postal Workers (C.U.P.W. 548).
Ask to speak with our vice-president Terry Langley. It is not a second strike, it is a continuation of the strike the government paused in December.
They did not resolve it and hired the bumpkin Kaplan to present
a slanted and biased report for the government that is paying him.
The Canada Post Corporation spent over $4 billion over the past four years and calls it a loss when, in fact, it is an investment.
They put aside $15 million for bonuses to management, took pension vacations to the employees pension fund (something you can only do when the fund is healthy), then secured a $1 billion loan from the government.
They did not even mention a hint of a raise for over a year
when negotiations began until we said we would strike.
They have stalled and walked out of negotiations several times in bad faith.
They hope the government will step in and legislate rather than negotiate.
The least you could
do is some proper and unbiased journalism to explore the issues and educate people.
We do deliver your *!#@, but we don’t have to take your *!#@!
I will put your article where it belongs...in the trash bin!
Steven Hilton Grimsby
