> Salute to Niagara Region’s finest for Police Week, May 15-22 /Pgs 12-15 > 160 Carolinian trees sold Pg 3 > CCWN’s Every Bowl Full event sells out Pg 4 > Safety Day event planned for PKC Saturday, May 14 Pg 13 Thursday, May 12, 2022 Vol. 11 Issue 2
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‘Rapt’or attention
After a two-year hiatus, Raptorfest swooped into the Peach King Centre last Saturday to educate and entertain a crowd attending the popular Grimsby event. James Cowan of the Canadian Raptor
Circ: 28,066
Conservancy keeps a secure grip on 11-year-old Bruce the Bald Eagle during a demonstration of birds of prey. A show by Speaking of Wildlife was also a well-received part of the fun. McDonald – Photo
Grimsby council flips on Region speed cameras By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Despite no more information being brought forward after an initial ask, Grimsby council approved Niagara Region’s Vision Zero program last week. Council initially rejected the proposal - which required unanimous consent across Niagara Region to be implemented - after a presentation late last year. On Monday, although virtually all the same questions remained unanswered - budget, safety measure vs money grab, and effectiveness, among others - council voted 7-2 to implement the system. Councillors John Dunstall, Reg Freake, Dave Kadwell, Kevin Ritchie, Randy Vaine and Lianne Vardy as well as Mayor Jeff Jordan voted in favour. Councilllors Dorothy Bothwell and Dave Sharpe opposed the measure which will see
speed traps set up in some school zones and red light cameras at some regional road intersections. When initially brought to council, many on council put a series of questions to Region’s director of transportation, Carolyn Ryall. Coun. Sharpe put several questions to Ryall again last week but did not get any answers and noted her responses were evasive. Sharpe asked if the Vision Zero program which includes many elements - could be implemented leaving out only the speed cameras? “The automated speed enforcement is a complementary tool - working with Niagara Regional Police - to deal with the aspect of speeding...So there is benefit from the Region’s perspective in bringing that forward as a safety tool,” said Ryall. After another exchange, Sharpe said, “You’re not answering my question. I asked if Vision Zero
was more than just the automated speed enforcement.” The difference, Sharpe noted, was the speed cameras require unanimous consent among Niagara’s municipalities as it bring a change to the inter-municipal agreement. Sharpe maintained many other facets of the program would be effective to reducing speed and enhancing safety without bringing in speed cameras. Sharpe and Bothwell both still had questions - the same as those asked five months earlier, but no new information was provided. Bothwell’s area of concern was around the cost and financial impact of the program. “It’s not perfect, but it does slow down speeders and it does save lives and it does save accidents from happening, especially in school zones. I don’t know why anyone would vote against this thing,” said Coun. Reg Freake.