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Elmira, Ontario, Canada | observerxtra.com | Volume 26 | Issue 42
Council opts for no action on integrity commissioner’s findings Steve Kannon Observer Staff
The Hamilton-based Clear Eyes Collective painted the first-ever mural at the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market.
Justine Fraser
School board insists it’s not cancelling Halloween A petition with 3,800 signatures calls for reversal of boards’ stance on holiday Justine Fraser Observer Staff
EVEN AS THE WATERLOO REGION District School Board insists it’s not cancelling Halloween, an online petition is calling for the board to reverse its restrictive measures. The board has advised schools to discourage the wearing of costumes, decorations, handing out candy and just about anything related to Halloween other than permitting the wearing of orange and black clothing.
“The board is not ‘cancelling’ Halloween. The guidance pertains specifically to costumes, schools actively decorating common areas, sharing of treats and/or engaging in activities such as parades. Sharing of traditions and class-based learning activities are fine. School wide practices including alternative ways to mark the day such as Black and Orange Day is fine,” the board said in a statement, declining to comment on the controversy.
While the school board dithers, others like this Wellesley homeowner embrace the Halloween spirit. Justine Fraser
A petition on Change. org currently has more than 3,800 signatures calling for the board to reverse
its stance. “Life is too short not to be enjoyed. Is dressing up in a Halloween costume
at the expense of others? Or is it a longstanding, fun tradition that is not aimed at hurting others who do not observe it?” wrote petition organizer Linzi Schmidt. “For kids, especially, it is meant as a way to celebrate their favourite TV or movie character, a magical animal, a hero or, yes, even a ghoul or ghost.” Thus far, the board has no intention of backing down, as the director of education made clear at Monday night’s meeting of trustees “We’re not planning → HALLOWEEN 5
FACING COMPLAINTS ABOUT INACTION OVER integrity commissioner reports into the conduct of Coun. Murray Martin, his colleagues this week opted to stay the course. In a 3-1 vote at Tuesday night’s meeting, councillors avoided calling on Martin to recuse himself from future deliberations over a proposed Maryhill gravel pit. Woolwich’s integrity commissioner recommended council censure Martin for violating the township’s code of conduct in relation to the Capital Paving application. An investigation was launched when complaints were filed following a July 13 committee meeting chaired by Martin. Bonnie Bryant of the Hopewell Creek Ratepayers Association alleged Martin had cut her off during a scheduled presentation and subsequently made an untrue statement related to her comments. Another resident, Susan B. Campbell, alleged Martin was in violation of the code → INTEGRITY 5
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