"Although this level of government has the greatest impact on citizens’ daily lives, it is weak, ineffectual, rudderless and dominated by special interests," writes Garth Turner.
Over the last five centuries, says Frank Lloyd Wright, what humanity has called architecture has been "phony": "It was not innate, it wasn’t organic and it didn’t have the character of nature.”
More than 40 years after the debut of this British farce on the Shaw Festival stage, "One for the Pot" returns with excellent performances that contain the elements needed to make this for-the-masses comedy a laugh riot, writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"As a pretentious British boss of mine said many years ago ... 'I have found that around the world, one can get on with two languages: English, and loud English,'" writes Ross Robinson.
"I provided you with an opportunity to do the right thing, which you have obviously declined to do. Please be advised that I intend to pursue this in the appropriate forum(s)," writes Derek Collins.
"Understanding the recently regularly mentioned notwithstanding clause had never been a priority in my life," writes Ross Robinson. "It's pretty dry stuff."
"This council marches to its own drummer — to hell with their constituents' opinions, which oftimes have been supported by professional, well-documented solutions," writes Samuel Young.
"Even now, when we cross the pond, we often find in other countries, along paths and beaches, equipment painted in joyous colours that invite fun," writes Kathy Belicki.
"This is the Old Town’s new signature gateway project. And some people wonder what the heck went wrong with our planning process. How did we turn into Mississauga?" writes Garth Turner.
"As citizens, we have only two formal venues through which we can express our opinion. The first is our vote, once every four years. The second is through our voice," writes Brian Marshall.
"These days, China is imitating what worked in the West for success in business and science by instituting major changes to its political and managerial system to create the right combination of atmosphere, encouragement and support to develop science within China," writes Dr. William Brown.
"When the festival’s plans come to fruition, a phony wall will stand in the place of the Royal George’s existing façade, and the streetscape of both Victoria and Queen streets will, in my view, be negatively changed," writes Terry Davis.
"Charlie was exercising his First Amendment right: the right to free speech, while his cowardly killer will most likely die exercising his Second Amendment right: the right to bear arms," writes Samuel Young.
"In my opinion, the current attempt by Mr. Marotta to impose his will on others regardless is just another example of his well-known attitude toward the residents of NOTL," writes Derek Collins.
"As a community that prides itself on our farms and vineyards, we should show that same pride by standing alongside the workers who make it possible and by defending their right to dignity, safety and fairness without exception," writes Alissa O'Halloran.
"Charlotte Street highway: a shortcut into town. Drive as fast as you can. Nobody cares; the town certainly doesn’t, they are too busy catering to the tourists," writes Tom King.
"If you own any foreign property you’re considering selling, you may want to eavesdrop on my advice to Maggie," writes Steve McGuinness, sharing some insight into the various taxes sellers of foreign property have to look forward to — namely, Canadians with a home south of the border.
"Increasingly, awards are evolving and while the Nobel Prizes remain at the top for now, the number of high-calibre competing awards by other institutions is increasing," writes Dr. William Brown.
"Maybe our esteemed deputy lord mayor should get his facts clarified before wading into the weeds defending his administration and planning staff," writes Bob Bader.
"This council has exacerbated a situation where the residents of NOTL are probably going to experience significant property tax increases in future years to fund infrastructure improvements," writes Gienek Ksiazkiewicz.
"If taxation is to be equitable, Niagara Region needs to adopt a new model that does not penalize residents who happen to live in a low-crime community where their home has appreciated in value over the past decade or two," writes Kevin MacLean.
"Life in our small town was great, and the Terry Fox participants and volunteers were sharing the love. Raising the money to 'Finish It,'" writes Ross Robinson.
"Bluntly, the solutions here are many and varied — all a matter of sympathetic architectural design with delicate treatment of form, massing, scale and materiality, focused on blending in versus standing out," writes Brian Marshall.
"I have concluded that the design principle underlying all of them is to frustrate customers so thoroughly that we hang up, abandoning all service attempts, forever and ever, amen," writes Steve McGuiness.
"Niagara-on-the-Lake residents deserve the truth. The most effective way to protect our community’s interests is exactly what is happening now," writes Erwin Wiens.
