This letter was sent to Paul MacIntyre, vice-president of operations for Vintage Hotels. A copy was submitted to The Lake Report for publication.

Dear Mr. MacIntyre:

The purpose of this letter is to thank you, your staff, and contractors for the excellent work you have done to revitalize and repurpose the land across the street from the Pillar and Post Hotel. 

You have created a beautiful, almost magical park – Monet’s Giverny Gardens reimagined!

The land, of course, is the old C&C Yachts property, which was contaminated with asbestos and other nasty chemicals. 

We like that we live beside land that has been cleaned up and now offers an abundance of flowers and trees. So much healthier.

Thank you also for generously sharing the park with the NOTL community.  My mother and I walk there often.  I skate on the ice rink.

And, in an aging community, it’s nice to see so many kids enjoying themselves. We’ve noticed many folks from the NOTL community sitting by the little fire pits, drinking hot chocolate as they admire the beautiful Christmas tree – all toasty and warm even in the middle of winter. 

This is so important in the midst of the global COVID pandemic.  It’s our opportunity to meet up – outdoors – with friends and family instead of being locked down and isolated in our homes.

We are fully cognizant of the fact the land could have been developed into a multi-storey apartment building. Instead, we have a park full of ponds, flowers and trees.

In the summertime, we hope to enjoy the sights and sounds of many happy young people getting married, dancing and celebrating. We’ll enjoy the music right along with them.

On a practical note, your organization has increased all of our property values.  We are not moving anywhere – but we don’t mind an increase in real estate value, thank you very much

Lastly, we do realize that this abundance of beauty is not free. We realize Vintage Hotels needs to pay for the park and has obligations to employees, shareholders and guests. 

We know you need to pay your taxes. We do understand that the more weddings, and noise, and guests – “outsiders” – that Vintage Hotels hosts, the more sustainable your business will be. 

Your sustainability is in our best interest. You will find that our household will be very tolerant.

Wallace Wiens
Klara Wiens Knelsen
NOTL