Since 1997 I've ever written several letters to the St. Catharines Standard dealing specifically with our quality of life."
§. These were my published letters.
Webpage Info for: Letters to the (Standard) Editor Re: Quality of Life
In mid-1996 I realized that our future regional prosperity and standards of living depended on societal change. The following assorted letters published mostly by the St. Catharines Standard pertain generally to issues affecting our quality of life in and around the Niagara Region.
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We mustn't settle for the status quo Published March 21, 2003
I agree with Cam Leach's comments about the status quo (We mustn't settle for status quo, The Standard, March 14).
Our Niagara forefathers didn't build the canal so we might watch the ships pass us by, or better yet, that we might attract outside tourists to do it for us.
We shouldn't feel all warm and fuzzy inside that our generation challenged the status quo long enough to build casinos to fill up our coffers.
The bright side of complacency is some people sit on their laurels and watch a world of opportunities pass them by.
Granted, they have to exert a little energy to get up out of their chairs to hug and kiss their children goodbye as the kids leave for more risk-taking communities offering them endless opportunities to help them change their status quo.
The complacent get to bide their time and let other communities play about with trial and error efforts to redefine themselves.
Then, at the last moment of need, they simply pick and choose what best seems to suit their needs. Meanwhile, if their mindless jobs serving the endless stream of tourists pouring into the area don't put butter on their bread, they can always drop by the casino to try to pick up a few thousand.
Bernie Slepkov St. Paul Street, St. Catharines
Letters to the (Standard) Editor Re: Quality of Life [Continued]
No longer poor? Published Globe and Mail Nov. 28, 2002
A single mother of three children, earning $41,000 from a new job while having to pay child care and attend to a $60,000 student loan is a far cry from being considered "no longer poor" (Mother And Girls Enjoy Better Times -- Nov. 26). At the very least, she and her children would have to be considered at risk.
Bernie Slepkov St. Catharines
Original article excerpt Andrea Wareham and her daughters have escaped poverty, leaving four years of threadbare clothes, cramped quarters and child-care-fee arrears in the painful past.Since landing a job last year working with disabled students on the Simon Fraser University campus that pays $41,000 a year, the 35-year-old single mother of three can afford new shoes and school trips that were unimaginable frills during the four years the family scraped by on meagre student loans and then welfare cheques. ~ Mother And Girls Enjoy Better Times
Let your readers know more about private member's bill Published July 10, 2000
Regardless of Canada's proud UN rating of being the best country in the world in which to live, there are serious concerns regarding our future well-being.
The increasing exposure given to matters of environment, socio- economic gaps, and displays of stress-related violence are such indicators.
I am writing this letter to encourage The Standard to provide coverage of "The 7th-Generation Initiative" and its efforts to have passed by Parliament its "Canada Well-Being Measurement Act." This private member's bill is the result of a collaboration between two Leeds-Grenville riding candidates following the 1997 Federal Elections: Joe Jordan of the Liberal party (now MP for Leeds) and the Green Party's candidate, Dr. Peter Bevan-Baker.
It would serve our country's future sustainability well for our paper to do its part in assuring that our regional communities become informed about the existence of this important piece of legislature.
The signatures of 100 MPs would remove it from the public "lottery system" and increase Bill C-469's chances of being passed into law. Provide us with a few feature stories on the Measuring Well-Being Act and its impact on all Canadians. Let us know our local MPs' thoughts on this Act. Inform the public as to why the Gross Domestic Product as a measure of economic impact fails miserably as an acceptable benchmark of our well-being.
Bernie Slepkov St. Paul Street, St. Catharines
Restorative justice is a good idea Published February 4, 1999
Saturday's Viewpoint article ("Restorative justice gives communities hope," The Standard, Jan. 30) by Catherine Ford presented a powerful piece of the true common-sense revolution making itself apparent in North America.
Restorative Justice is just one such shining example of a dispassionate institution reinvented that will play an important role in returning us to the roots of our humanity, rewarding our wisdom a hundredfold for embracing it in our communities.
It is just this kind of program that will empower communities to deal effectively with downloading.
If our community leaders, politicians and policy makers are earnestly seeking new directions for socio-economic reform, this is but one example that will enrich the very soul of our culture.
Bernie Slepkov Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines
Opening a community's eyes to complications faced in wheelchairs Published July 13, 1998
The recent parade of area politicians who took a tour from the St. Catharines Golf and Country Club to the Pen Centre on motorized scooters was accomplished through the drive of Sally Barton, co- founder and president of Ontario Wheels for Legs Successability (OWLS). Accolades go out to all the participants, and boos go out to the TV media, who for whatever the reason, failed to cover the momentous event.
To say these politicians just took the opportunity to gain some positive press would be missing the point. OWLS message should be of concern to everyone. Our city is inaccessible to the physically challenged. Our population is aging, and there is need to address these growing concerns now.
Anyone can suddenly find themselves confined to a wheelchair. Adjusting to such a lifestyle must not be further complicated by being made to feel like a second-class citizen in any town. No one should have to suffer pain from constant jolts of poorly designed sidewalks and cut-aways, not designed with wheelchairs or scooters in mind. No one should suffer indignities trying to integrate into a normal lifestyle such as enjoyed by the physically abled.
This parade was as much intended for the public as for decision makers, who by the way took matters very seriously and are listening. This event, adequately covered by the media, could have raised a strong voice for community accessibility presenting our region in a very positive light. Such a lost opportunity.
For those involved I extend hardy a thank-you to all who took the trouble to open their eyes, hearts and heads.
Bernie Slepkov Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines
Media helps create the community's complacency Published April 9, 1998
I applaud The Standard's efforts in trying to generate positive input into matters that concern the future of our communities. I regret that the tax forum co-sponsored by CHSC turned into the attack-and-defend session that it did.
The poor showing of attendees is in my mind an obvious indication of the general state-of-mind of the public. It might be concluded that the public's trust level has reached such a point that hope and faith for any real solutions being found and acted upon is at an extreme low.
What was to be an idea generation event failed mainly because it was carried out in a conventional manner not at all conducive to generating positive ideas.
With regards to the current state-of-mind of the public, I ask that The Standard consider the likelihood that your reporters' slant on certain events tends to lean towards the negative rather than the positive.
Doug Herod's column is a perfect example of a writing style (as good as it is) that is out of touch with readers' desire for more positive reporting. His column contributes to a complacency, mistrust and cynicism that we as a society need to get away from. It eats away at the little hope many of us do have.
I wish to contribute some positive input to help your important cause: For your next public idea generation event, and I hope there will be another soon, I suggest the use of a facilitator. Also, a daily column could provide a possible vehicle for idea generation and reporting best practices creating success elsewhere.
The time has come for the print media to lead an effort for creating socially-conscious reporting. The benefit to the community would be the reduction of complacency and lost hope in our communities.
Bernie Slepkov Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines
Misconceptions, entrepreneurs Published May 5, 1998
I wish to enlighten James Gerrie (Entrepreneurs have more to do more than get into the public sector; Letters, Feb. 27) regarding misconceptions of privatization and entrepreneurs.
A real entrepreneur would not want the responsibility of "such mundane stuff as public administration", as James puts it. This is the misconception between true entrepreneurship and enterprise. A true entrepreneur would love to find a need and fill it; to conceive a solution to a problem and see that solution become reality, then, depending upon the entrepreneur, move on to the next
It is in fact the others, those who are not real entrepreneurs, who would be interested in the more mundane stuff.
The reality is, governments are running businesses. This city's legal entity is The Corporation of the City of St. Catharines. These corporations have been in a state of bankruptcy, and they are ineffective mainly because of their size. As taxpayers (or customers), we have every right to expect quality of service and value for our money, neither of which we are getting. Otherwise we would not be suffering from rising poverty rates, youth unemployment, high taxation... need I go on?
Institutions do not exist to provide work but to serve customers in some way, and should serve them well. Few existing institutions do so!
I believe privatization is as needed as is Mr. Gerrie's tolerance for the use of the term. Like him, I am very concerned about the way privatization is instituted.
Bernie Slepkov Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines
Unions and governments should put their resources to better use Published December 15, 1997
The rash of strikes surrounding the key issues of job security should well be of major concern to everyone. Quoting a recent news item covering the postal strike: "They're cutting our jobs... What are my kids going to live on?" This brings to the forefront what appear to be legitimate reasons for fighting the inevitable. It is an easily used strategy by unions to rabble-rouse and gain public sympathy.
The Harris government's hidden agenda may well be to take power from the unions as quickly as possible. Ontario's socio-economic landscape is in ruins and demands solutions. Unions bear as much responsibility as anyone.
Were this government to attempt using anything but a battering- ram strategy, the unions would challange each change perceived to take the steaks off their plates. It could take an entire generation of frayed nerves and billions of dollars before Ontario could effectively participate in any new economy. By then, however, it would be too late!
Neither is there any "common sense" to this government's revolution. Common sense dictates that long-term visions be achieved by short-term objectives. One should not tighten his belt to the point of causing internal damage.
Industries change, markets change, technologies change. Unfortunately, jobs and families are affected. Keeping a workforce just for the sake of giving children something to live on, is not an answer. Neither is maintaining obsolete policies that hinder social and economic transitions.
Harris's battering-ram budget would have been better invested in effective retraining programs, as would have portions of the unions' strike funds.
What if unions negotiated with their employers for comprehensive retraining programs, or encouraged in-house education to upgrade skills? Then maybe children will live on their parents' ability to adapt to change.
Think of the valuable example the parents would be setting. Then maybe their children might learn to seek out solutions and adapt to change, instead of learning confrontation.
Bernie Slepkov Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines
Poor access was an eye-opener Published November 12, 1997
On Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, I had the pleasure to help videotape Sally Barton, Sandi Weibe, Joe Dinnely, and Domenic Gigliotti in their personal campaign to raise mayoralty and aldermanic candidates' awareness of the need for making our community "disabled friendly".
I shared in the sense of hope these organizers felt as eyes, heads and hearts were opened--not just to how inaccessible our city is, but how important this issue is likely to become given our aging population. Despite their mature age, Sally and Sandi have only been disabled these last two to three years. This due to the fact that "fate is a cruel master." Their misfortunes and anguish could befall any one of us or our loved ones without warning.
With that upper most in the participants' minds, it was discovered for example, how City Hall's newly renovated "accessible" public washrooms are quite the opposite. Some motorized scooters could not even get through the doors.
The results of these tours became living proof of severe inherent problems that occur when our social systems fail to address the needs of others. Either they do not fully comprehend the magnitude of the problems, fail to collect input from those "on the front lines", or simply don't think.
Bernie Slepkov Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines
We must all rebuild Niagara from within Published September 26, 1997
Let's all just get down to revitalizing the Niagara Region! We certainly have the resources with which to do it. If it were impossible, why have other communities succeeded before us?
We are tired of watching our quality of life threatened. We have reached our limits of listening to bureaucratic platitudes, debating, avoiding risks, creating mountains of amendments, reports, studies and proposals. We want something better for ourselves and our families. We want our children to have reasons for remaining close to home.
We are weary of feeling depressed, complacent, apathetic, frightened, waiting for someone else to bring about major change. We dream of renewed, productive communities in which we take pride, and are determined to create them with solid commitments, no matter what!
Our world is going through processes of chaos and change. Out of this, new trends and markets provide opportunities for rejuvenations. Our objectives are to exploit these opportunities through the formation of a unique, talented and determined referral and organizational model. Though we anticipate mistakes and miscalculations, we also expect successes to offset the risks. We envision a momentum that can only benefit Niagara Region.
We will pool local and remote resources in a united effort. We will initiate opportunities to fill our changing needs, and become healthier, wealthier and wiser. Everyone will benefit, rich and the poor alike. We will do so despite the establishment. We refuse to let anything hold us back.
Niagara's time has come! We have everything we need right here. Let's work together, forget the old rules, set no limitations, envision a new, dynamic Niagara becoming a major 21st century player in the next four to five years, and let's rebuild. Let's show the rest of the North America how it's done.
Bernie Slepkov Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines
It's time for a reality check Published June 28, 1997
We hear a lot today about children at risk or families at risk.
The use of these phrases severely downplays the magnitude of the problems in our society.
They contribute to the general state of apathy and complacency by removing from us any responsibility or accountability for adding to the severity of our current social and economic climate.
Time for a reality check.
Eighty-five percent of new businesses fail within five years mostly due to obsolete taxes and governmental regulations.
Our systems of education continue to uphold rigid structures and teaching methods designed for the factory mentality of years gone by.
Survival hinges upon creativity, innovation and flexibility not properly practised nor adequately addressed by our major institutions.
Our world is changing so rapidly. We can't imagine what really lies ahead, other than we will have to rely solely upon our individual talents and intellectual capabilities.
Canada needs a vast, skilled workforce, yet we continue to lose more and more of our talent and bright minds to other countries.
Determined entrepreneurs, the backbone to any economic stability, go elsewhere to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.
We are crying out for jobs, jobs, jobs, when in essence we need businesses, businesses, businesses.
With 52-million laws in our country, one could well begin to wonder if we shouldn't just close off our borders and declare our country a penal state.
We expect perfection out of an imperfect world.
The financially strained and greedy seek to gain financial stability from the slightest opportunity to force blame on others, thus successfully escaping their own accountability.
The more we have, the more we take for granted. Therefore, unless we somehow remain vigilant, we can never comprehend how blessed many of us truly are.
As a result of years of arrogance, shortsightedness, and excellent advice gone unheeded, we have begun to look to feeding upon the weakness of others to offset out lost tax bases by legalizing and glorifying gambling.
We must stop distancing ourselves from problems that are shared by all and that will ultimately cause suffering to all.
It is not children nor families but society that is at risk!
And the higher the (actual) statistics climb, the higher the risk factors to each and every one of us. It has become quite apparent how interconnected everything is.
God help us because it appears that we can't help ourselves -- certainly not as long as we expect that someone else will do it for us.
Bernie Slepkov Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines
Organizing to look into the future Published May 12, 1997
How many times have we heard and read about our desperate need for better visions and better visionaries? Our future hinges upon gaining the insight of knowing what to do with them.
Coverage of Mike Harris' recent fundraiser in St. Catharines brings to the forefront, matters critical to essential `leadership.' First "he (Premier Harris) acknowledged the human toll of his mandate to balance the budget, cut taxes and attract investment." Second as Harris spoke, he and his supporters dined on beef tenderloin or filet of salmon. This is yet another example of our leaders trying to sell the public on the importance of their 21st- Century policies, attempting to invite our active support and participation while ignoring the sad realities of the real pain people are experiencing.
It is not surprising that Canadians are cynical of their politicians. None of them appear to adequately offer us the answers we either want or need in order to create a better community for ourselves and our children. We are -- and will continue to be -- paying dearly for it through high taxes, youth crime, and unemployment, reduced health care, and increased homelessness. It seems the only answers our leaders provide us is yet many years down the road, and still in the making - but that is not good enough! The time for action is now, before elections!
What this community -- and this country at large -- desperately needs is leaders that truly know how to combine fiscal responsibility with compassion -- not just use it as a platform absent of a plan of action; and leaders who know how to utilize the democratic process for the Canadian public at large, not just act like bulls in a china shop. These leaders must realize how times are changing and that with wise vision and directions, ordinary people can and will recognize that they too can impact upon future of their communities.
These ideas and more, are the foundations of a organization being founded to provide comprehensive vision, rooted in inspiring people helping people, through proactive planning and revitalization through diverse socio-economic initiatives, or small businesses started with a vision to create a pathway to a better future for the Niagara Region.
We believe we can help build a better vision for the people in Niagara by inviting people aboard to help move it into action.
Bernie Slepkov Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines
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