As we tenaciously grind our way through the last weeks of a very long and cold winter, I have been reflecting, ruminating, on how change is inevitable.
It wasn’t that long ago that NOTLers were in a complete tizzy trying to stop several nationally known purveyors of fast foods from opening here. Has it really been twenty five years? It sort of snuck up on us, but now we have four Tim Hortons locations, all “part of the landscape.” They all seem to be good citizens, and good corporate neighbours. And two McD’s.
Remember the angst? The Niagara Advance newspaper and town council meetings were dominated by citizens expressing reasons why we should keep “them” out of “our” town. Often factually, and often emotionally.
In the end, town councillors were convinced that if a proposed business fulfilled the previously agreed upon criteria, they had the right to open and try their luck right here.
While the proposed McDonalds across from the old high school took most of the flak, an application to open the Mary/Mississauga Tim Hortons sort of slipped by, mostly under the radar. Since then, three more Tim’s franchises have set up shop in NOTL.
In years past, I had been a very interested spectator to the same emotional processes while living in Huntsville and Banfuhfuh. Yes, not just people who proudly call Niagara home are fiercely and sometimes overly emotional. The way it used to be should be the way it should always be, and all that.
The owners of our four Tim Hortons franchises all understand that in the future, additional Tims locations might open. Perhaps one might be on the Niagara Parkway corner where the currently unused Kurtz Market was located for so long? And how about in Queenston, on the site of the old Yellow Jersey Ice Cream Shop? Next to the very unique Land Rover collection.
Having written this rambling Ross’s Ramblings, without prejudice and just for fun, to encourage readers to reflect and ruminate, I think back to my high school history teacher in the 1960’s at Sir Winston Churchill S.S. in nearby St. Catharines.
Mr. Wadsdorth was strict and by the book, and taught us all life lessons too. At least those of us who were not too smart or cocky to learn. By studying history, one can often predict the future.
So let us accept that change is coming to Niagara-on-the-Lake. So be it. But let us work in good faith, together and respectfully, to get the best possible results for the most people possible.
I do not purport to have answers. But I know for certain that we are fortunate to have many intelligent citizens in town, who want the best for our futures.
Listen to one another, be open minded and respectful, and look toward a changed future.
Rambling out west now, when the railways were being built across our vast Canada in the 19th century. Much land needed to be expropriated from Indigenous peoples. Some First Nations leaders understood that change was inevitable, and negotiated in good faith. They did everything in their power to get the best deal possible for their people.
Other leaders refused to accept change, and so sadly ended up with essentially nothing. Unfair and tragic.
They didn’t understand the golden rule. “Them that’s got the gold makes the rules.”
I am really rambling, way out of my lane, so it’s best if I bid y’all adieu.
Please be kind.
