Bala Falls Dambusters - Hydro Project part 2

It appears as if there is great concern over the proposed provincial project: a damn across Bala Falls. Those opposed are quite busy with posters all over town. The next meeting on September 14th, at the Community Centre, will include three speeches from those against the project. After my last post I have been unblocked from playing on the Save the Bala Falls Facebook site. That said, I continue to feel alone in asking questions. Those at the meeting are clearly against it. Their Facebook site states under one photo that no one is for it! I am still in the middle of this discussion, while other have climbed over the fence er...dam. Anyone in favour, or in the middle, like myself, cannot possibly participate in this process due to the vitriolic comments, misinformation and negativity. Discourse is healthy in a democracy but feared by some. The press continue to print opinions uncountered by facts or interviews with Swift River ( Aug. 20, Aug. 13 & July 16 ).

Claims have been made in the flyer that have been handed out door-to-door. It says, "All are welcome", but I can see no point in attending as minds have been made up.

Bala has several issues that the dambusters claim will be exacerbated by the damnbuilding.

1. Traffic delays - likely, but its pretty slow going through town as it is!
   
2. Loss of revenue to business owners - it is a fragile economy.
   
3. No guarantee that the water will continue to flow -which defeats the purpose of the dam.
   
4. Loss of use of the Shield Parking Lot - huge parking problem in town.
   
5. Visual impact of the damn - not sure that in this millennium we can accept this.
   

The flyer mixes up its concerns. Many concerns are labeled "potential", which seem like a fairly knee-jerk reaction. Concerns are divided into four categories: economic issues, recreation issues, environmental & water control, and safety issues. They are a bit mysterious, with complaints that the mixed-use of Bala Falls will stop or be restricted in areas that the plan does not pertain, i.e., The Mill Stream.

Economic Issues

There are three groups who will be directly impacted: business owners, residents and tourists.
These concerns must be dealt with, yet the number of businesses in Bala are diminishing annually. Tourism was down by 30%, I have been told. Most shops are closed from Monday to Wednesday after tourist season. Some of the shops that remain open are failing to find a niche and keep business going, yet others have managed to keep up with market needs and have a well-maintained client base.

It is up to businesses and the Chamber of Commerce, to adapt to the economy, develop a business plan, and figure out the barriers to success in this town. Many businesses have succeeded despite gas prices, and the weather that drives tourists away.

Parking is a huge issue. With the parking lot across from the bakery for sale this issue could be compounded. With reduced parking in the LCBO we are further reduced to hedge out into speeding traffic and squeak out way onto the highway. Any history of Bala indicates the high number of businesses that have changed and evolved in the technological advances of this area. We no longer rely on steamships and long trips from Toronto. Tourists nip into town at breakneck speed for the weekend and disappear for the week.

Traffic continues to be of concern to all those shopping, working, visiting or passing through town. The most recent death opposite The Kee, and the number of those speeding around town gie rise to seperate issues of traffic concerns. The Post Office is the worst place to park!


Recreation Issues
I think the town, and business owners, must come up with a business plan. Do we want Bala to draw those who

• swim & picnic (how does this add to our economy?)
• attend our Farmer's Market & Cranfest (Mondays and one October weekend)
• go to The Kee (lots of drinking, driving, security issues and partying)
• disrespect fellow cottagers(Fireworks)
• practice unsafe boating (YouTube)
  
• practice careless driving(blog)?

Or do we want a constant flow of tourists, as much as a constant flow of clean, fresh, clear water. These issues will be impacted on a short term basis during construction, but, after the one-week closure of one lane, and the one-night Bailey Bridge construction, traffic will flow as it has for the past number of years since the 1995 installation of the water and sewer system. Now THAT construction had an impact. The Cranberry Festival organizers do a phenomenal job bringing folks to town, providing them with a great fall fair, supporting crafts people, local business, as well as making donations to local causes. But this does not sustain the town.

The marketing of places like Ball's Falls (don't laugh!) is something than can draw tourists. The old, dilapidated signs that speak of historical sites in Bala need refurbishing or upgrading. A dam could spawn (forgive the pun) an outlook point that provides information about the benefits that re-usable energy have for our province.

Environment & Water Control

The pamphlet claims that water will be dried up, or that there will be fluctuating water levels and I do not understand which it is. In order for a dam to operate it must be a constant flow, with a regular lake level to ensue. Their concerns about water levels, they claim, will be based on 'rate of return" on investors investment. It seems to me that it behooves dam operators to ensure smooth operation and constant and consistent levels. The first dam was built many years ago to create higher and more consistent water levels for cottagers. This seems a moot point.

The evnironmental impact looked like it addressed these concerns. There are the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act requirements. The project is also subject to provincial authority under Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act (O.Reg. 116/01). Every little bit that we can add to the grid helps all of us. It is dangerous to depend upon one source. The 30-hour power outage from 2003 was a big warning sign to all of us. We must change the way we get power and how we use it in our homes, cottages and businesses.

Safety Issues

Should we allow our young people to swim, canoe, powerboat, bridge jump(see Steve jump), play in the falls( Steve again), and again: Steve bridge jumps, and practice diving above and below the falls? This is dangerous mixed-use and requires careful consideration. Drownings are down in the province, but have increased in Central and Northern Ontario. It seems that signs warning of the dangers of swimming above and below dams go unheeded(death in Bracebridge dam).

For other posts see: Bala Falls (part 3) & Bala Hydro Project -( part 1)!

Editorialising vs. Reporting

Editorialising vs. Reporting in the new millennium
It seems as if news has become roadkill on the information highway. No longer do we have a reporter simply informing us of events, but interpreting what s/he sees, hears, and thinks not necessarily based on any expertise. I miss the news reporting of the past in which we were informed of facts. Reporters used to leave editorializing to editorial pages. With the great amount of information instantly available to us, we must sift through it to ensure that we are gathering data, and engaging in discourse based on information, not opinions.

This morning one CBC sportscaster decided to weigh in on a decision to put his two-cents worth on one story. They were discussing the paralympic wheelchair event in which a Canadian woman won gold, but due to one person’s crashing and destroying chances of 4 racers, they chose to redo the event. What surprises me is the arrogance, and disrespect reporters demonstrate for those who make these decisions. In this case the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) made a decision questioned by said reporter, who may or may not have background and experience in such things. Now, while we are aware of corruption and doping issues in sports, the IPC made a decision to rerun the race in a spirit of fairness. I have no idea if this decision is based on rules or morals or values. I find it insulting to be told what I should think.

Not only do reporters interpret news, but they create it, as well. As if direct experience were more valuable than speaking to people involved, the Globe and Mail had a reporter act as a maid in order to play with investigative journalism in a bid to dig deep into a story. The family, whose identifying information caused them embarrassment amongst friends, tried to sue them for charter rights violations.

This is a parallel with embedded reporting in which journalists live and travel with soldiers. Is this news? Are we jeopardizing the safety of both journalists and soldiers in a bid to find truth? Can you be more or less objective in such a situation? I wonder. Christie Blatchford’s book, Fifteen Days (2007), provides an interesting point of view of a soldier’s life, but she, too, seemed to cross boundaries. In this book she concludes, from the soldiers she interviewed, that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is of minimal concern to our Canadian Military personnel. Recent reports from CBC through Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) state that PTSD has tripled since Afghanistan and affects 63% of returning soldiers. (VAC fact sheet on PTSD) The affect on these families and their children is profound. Any military base teacher I have spoken to will echo this concern.

I put out a call to editors to rein in reporters. Granted, there is much injustice in the world. It demands discussion. Let us ensure that we place facts in the fact column and opinions in the editorial columns. We do a disservice to the people who have a right to know when we are being offered truths or well-researched facts. In the Information Age we must draw lines between the two.

Muskoka sunset

History of Muskoka

The history of the development of our area is quite an interesting one. I have found several sources, including books specifically about Muskoka. Wahta Mohawks in Bala, (originally the Gibson reserve, 1881) published a book based on the memories of Protestant aboriginal people sent away from Oka & Kanesetake communities in Quebec: "A History of the Wahta Mohawk Community" It is a difficult story of Catholic/Protestant conflict over land. There were no roads between the reservation and the town, and getting supplies was difficult.

James Bartleman's Raisin Wine describes the hardship of living on this land in his Port Carling chronicle. These lands were prime locations for aboriginal peoples, the original land settlers: Algonquin and Hurons. They learned to settle and grew the three sisters (corn, squash & beans), and could cut a decent life out of the woods. Once white settlers arrived, however, and began to worm them out of their previous territory, things began to go wrong. It describes the poverty, racism, living and working conditions, and living off the land in winter.

Overseas, you see, there were those that encouraged immigration to Canada. The Free Grants and Homestead Act of 1868 promised 100 - 200 acres if settlers cleared the land and farmed. This story is well-told in the DVD about Susannah Moodie and Catherine Parr, Sisters of the Wilderness, by CBC. Ontario territory, formerly loved by many Native bands, welcomed these ignorant white settlers and prevented them from starving in the harsh winters. Unfortunately this land, with its bogs and shallow soils on Precambrian Shield, were less than adequate for such types of farming. Before the railway transportation was a difficult issue. Steamships brought tourists for the summer. With only seasonal employment life was difficult as white people encroached on their territory.

Eventually, the lumber industry and the raping of the huge pines off the land, meant more work. Local residents learned to exploit and create a living by meeting the needs of summer visitors, many of whom remained oblivious to the dignity of the full-timers. The very rich bought and sold land and made a profit exploiting prospective new and current land owners, desperate to seek solace in the peace, quiet and tranquility of Muskoka. They built large resorts, many of which burned down and had to be rebuilt. With their arrival, however, they reinforced racism, intolerance of Catholics, Jews, the poor, and the economic differences between 'locals', as we are so often named, and summer residents.

The quiet of the land, disrupted by transportation technology: motor boats evolved from the canoe, to the sleek, mahogony Ditchburn boats, boats with disappearing propellors (Dippies),
and now the incredibly large, powerful, noisy boats and PWCs of the new millenium.

WebCams in Muskoka

WebCams in Muskoka

Bala Falls Hydro Project -part 1

A new project, Bala Falls Hydro Dam, has spawned much excitement in our quiet town. Those posting on the "Save the Bala Falls " site, in poorly written text, often in the wee hours of the morning, with the odd swear word, claim no benefits to the community. If they want to play with the movers and shakers in Toronto, they have to get organized and clean up their act! 

They post contact information for politicians and do not understand the levels of government with whom they must entertain discourse. This is a provincial initiative, with strict standards and an approval process that depends up several government standards. There are the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act requirements. The project is also subject to provincial authority under Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act (O.Reg. 116/01).  

Another humorous point is that those citing Environmental Hazards continue to use motorboats on our lakes, damaging air, and water, while purporting to care for our precious shorelines. Purk's rents motorboats to tourists who do not necessarily understand marine laws. They claim there is little information, yet the website and the information sessions have been well-attended and the newspaper coverage consistent. (Consistently biased, I might add!) 

Many cottagers do not read the local papers, many more are renting out their cottages and these renters have little compassion for the rest of the Muskoka population, seasonal or otherwise. The supposedly "National" papers, as well as other media, are Toronto-centric. Weather forecasts are a simple indicator. While many travel north to cottage country, they do not understand local issues, nor do they seem able to consider 'locals', as they call us. We are simply a highway, with a beer store and LCBO for convenience. Our weekend visitors need to take the initiative and become more involved. 

Cottage owners need to understand the 24/7 infrastructure that must be in place. What is in the best interests of this town, not just 3-season cottagers? This town is slowly dying with many stores either remain unopened in high season, abandoned, or for for sale. There are issues around a store, Purk's, on leased MNR land, as discussed in the local paper. A store that sells water sports supplies, bait & tackle, etc., and will be closed once the construction takes place after Cranberry season. 

Lots of biased press articles ( Aug. 20, Aug. 13 & July 16 ) , aforementioned owner's letter-to-the-editor is in the paper, and extensive interviews do not provide a balanced discourse, required for such a project. The only people interviewed and quoted in the paper (from the public) who are those pissed off, both of the affected store owners had their fair say. The "Antique Store" in this spot is in a lovely old church and has only been owned for a year or so and has goods

I would question as antiques. Perhaps it could be moved. There are lots of places with better parking in other places in town where both of these businesses could locate. Many were afraid to speak out at the Aug. 13th meeting, the information is posted on their website, and none were approached by media in attendance except those already registering their objections. Some asked Swift Energy good questions, which were duly answered. There were some interesting discussions around the poster displays, rather than rants. Some, like myself, had an open mind. Of course people like me did not draw press attention! They want screaming, irate, irrational people for press quotes!

My concern remains around our phenomenal EMS crews who continue to provide us with incredible service. This would be the impact for those of us who live and work here full-time. It would be great if traffic in Bala would slow down. Traffic will have to be carefully managed, I worry for my safety on this road much of the time. On our regular walks we are threatened by either speeding cars, those who ignore traffic safety while on vacation (signaling, doing the speed limit), or snowmobiles. I am prepared for some pain for environmental gains. A watched river will be a healthy river.

The Bracebridge dam is an incredible sight, with many tourists visting. Surely the gas discharge into the lake from power boats, aging septic systems, garbage from tourists, those who pollute air, land and water and citiots who fail to understand our environment, are doing more damage than the impact of this dam. Many abuse our roads and waterways, as well as neighbours who seek peace and quiet and to embrace nature. Those of us who live and work in Muskoka must have a voice. Bridge repairs are important to protect us. Our voices are diminished by shrill objectors who rant about failing businesses and ineffectual politicians. Our politicians have been hired to fulfill their mandates and do what is best for residents, cottagers, township, and the environment.


There are those who perceive small Muskoka towns as a bit of collateral damage on highways, and an intrusion on their route further north. They speed through towns and never stop. They impatiently drive around those waiting to make a turn. We need to slow traffic down and have them appreciate the beauty of this town. Many businesses are for sale, parking is difficult, and we need to develop some character to attract those who will help us invest in the town.

We have cottaged here since 1960 and have seen tremendous changes. Those who rent or cottage short-term do not understand this town. We need sustainability, jobs, a strong infrastructure, and good people who live, work and love this town. When we visited Niagara, we went to Ball's Falls - a great, natural site that draw visitors and environmentalists and provides information and a resource centre. This appears to be a well-researched project, with many plans, preparations and a positive response to local concerns, and Ontario will learn from it. It is exciting to see the possibilities of the future. Many environmentalists are coming up with clever ways to save our planet.

One Blogger runs his car on used cooking oil and his house is heated on a water-source heat pump from well water. I have great hopes that these types of initiatives bode well for the future. Every little bit of clean energy helps our grandchildren. For subsequent posts see: Dambusters (post #2) & Bala Hydro Project -part 3

Writing a book

The first thing a writer needs to do is to read a lot, and write more.

Then, begin by organizing your thoughts. I write my blog (there are guidelines here) to help focus and give me structure! I am mindful of plagiarism and copyright laws, too.

Oprah offers some advice on writing a memoir. The important thing is to write every day. The use of autobiography is a well-documented means by which a person can find healing. After my gr. 6/7/8 students lived through Ice Storm '98, we wrote about it. I have read several good books about writing, but Natalie Goldberg's work continues to be my favourite.

I learned a lot about teaching writing to my gr. 7/8 students from her work. It is hobby or work that requires discipline and it is simply a craft one must practice. For me it has been a hobby. One that has provided much in the way of personal reflection and healing. Once you have created a story, you need to read it, leave it for a time, and reread it. Have a friend read it. Find a creative writing group with which to share it. Mostly, however, read other authors who have written in a similar genre.

The trick to writing a book is to find a story to tell. Most writers begin with what they know. They draw from people they know and create characters from this repertoire. In my case I wrote a memoir. I read all the books I could find that were autobiographies, especially related to cancer. Then, I simply began writing and wrote every day.

It is important to write often. Oprah has a few ideas and writing prompts. The key is to keep on writing. Putting words to paper calls up a need to align various brain cells. We were not a reading/writing animal in the past. In humans this is a fairly recent development. We know that the brain is plastic (Doidge, 2007) and can learn new things at all ages. Writing improves your mind in cortical stimulation and calling up cognitive resources that allow us to go from concrete to abstract thought and concrete thought in a process that changes our thoughts (Wolf, 2007).

Brain research (Jilks, 2007) shows that the more we use our brains to think, write and reflect, the more facile it becomes. The more we talk about our work, better able we are to articulate it. This is why both book clubs and writer's clubs benefit the novice writer.

There is a difference, too, between writing a book and publishing a book. I found the former much easier than the latter!
I was once teaching writing to students in a Sp. Ed. gr. 3 -7 class. I was trying to have them use more adjectives. One little guy in gr. 3 said he could define the difference between a noun and an adjective. Nouns you can 'hold in your hand', but adjectives just 'fly off your pen'!

Since beginning to write my book I have been listening faithfully to Writers & Company (CBC.ca). I have learned much and listened to podcasts on shows about writers and writing quite faithfully. Ms.Wachtel asks great questions on Writers & Company, and I have had my eyes opened up to new books. The best was discovering Beauvoir's A Very Easy Death. Who knew someone else wrote about her mother's death?

The benefits of writing are deep and profound. Autobiography has been shown to assist those in coming to terms with events, with understanding their thoughts, and resolving conflicts. I urge you to sit down every day and put pen to paper. You will find it will help you.

Meals on Wheels

Jack Hutton, an legend in Bala, gives Brian his list for the day. Jack is the president of the Meals on Wheels Project in Bala. Sue Gurr is the coordinator who manages the list and divides up the 3 delivery days offered (M/W/F) between various religious groups, legions, senior's groups and other volunteers, who feel good about contributing their time and energy to the project.

Jack says, "Meals on Wheels was started in Bala about 23 years ago by Linda and a girl friend. They were concerned about an older friend who obviously needed that assistance and approached the appropriate government agencies."

A Google search found 1,950,000 English pages on this topic. What a wonderful community endeavour in which people help other people. Meals on Wheels is a program by which volunteers organize, plan and coordinate the delivery of meals to those who would benefit from hot meals delivered to their homes. Some groups, like the one here and in Nepean, ON, charge for meals as part of their requirements. The Ministry, which funds these groups, have obtuse rules about its governance!

MoW, as we call it at home, is reported to have begun in Great Britain during the 2nd World War, and spread to many places. Many small and large communities provide this service from right across Canada, and in the U.S. and other countries, such as Australia. Meals on Wheels in the GTA, is a highly organized system. The referral process is easy.

The purpose is to provide a hot meal to adults living alone, or who are unable to make a hot, nourishing meal on a regular basis for themselves or their spouses. The meals are made in a variety of places, and the programs are delivered in a variety of means for a variety of reasons. Frail seniors, adults with physical disabilities, or elderly people convalescing from surgery/illness, can qualify for this program. Unfortunately, from my research on my book, and personal conversations, it seems as if many are reluctant to participate in the program.

This is a popular program much eschewed by those who purport not to need it. My parents, both fighting cancer, or or should say my mother, refused the program. I recall seeing her stand at the counter and leaning heavily on it, her hands shook fiercely as she determinedly made a sandwich for my father. She was in very bad condition but refused our help, as well as that of others. This was in April, and she died in mid-May. I patiently (OK not so much!) explained that she needed to save her energy for healing. There is much that caregivers receive as they try to give back to society. It took me weeks to make my point - but I made it eventually. Family members have to be strong in demanding that our seniors avail themselves of these programs. One of the signs of dementia is an empty refrigerator. A great predictor of ill-health is an empty refrigerator (Lancet 2000). In this study 31% of those with empty refrigerators were admitted to hospital in four weeks, compared with 8% of those with filled refrigerators. Some seniors cannot be bothered cooking, and some husbands of my parent's generation have never learned to cook. There are many reasons to participate in this program!

In Muskoka we have programs in Bala, and Bracebridge, but the Gravenhurst program had to stop due to the lack of volunteers in 2007. Many volunteers are suffering donor fatigue. It is said that 95% of the volunteering is undertaken by 5% of the population.

The risk to such programs, of course, is the rising cost of gas, and the fewer and fewer numbers of volunteers who can afford to spend the time, money and energy to look after these types of programs.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Photos printed with permission from happy participants in Meals on Wheels!)

man-in-the-street

It seems as if every media outlet is spending a lot of time interviewing the people around me.

No longer do we speak to those who have information, facts, ideas and a carefully crafted political, social, intellectual opinion. We have to listen to how people 'feel' about an issue, an event, traumatic events, and cannot explore the causes and how to prevent it.

I would like to speak to the journalists, the media barons, and my friends. Do not listen to these people. They do not necessarily speak truth! Everyone comes with a bias. It requires data and research to understand an issue. I do not want to hear a rant by someone whose bias is unclear. I want logical arguments, held by informed participants.

I loathe 'talk radio' for this reason.

Olympics debriefing

It is my feeling that CBC owes Canadian athletes a huge apology. From that horrid “Are you disappointed?” question to athletes who managed to finish in the top 4th, 5th or 6th of the world. It is said by the COC that our previous conversion factor of medal hopefuls to medals was 30% and in these games we converted 50%. If you examined the Sports Illustrated website they predicted medal winners in all the sport. They predicted 16 of our 18 medals. These were medal contenders who were in reach of a medal, proven through their hard work and effort. For a country whose big deal is hockey, and winter sports, we need to keep all this in perspective. We must specialize rather than do moderately well in everything.

It is a different point of view of achievement in Canada, or it should be. The Chinese wanted medals at all costs. They train children far from family and friends, in school built for this purpose. This is not the Canadian way. We want our athletes to learn to live while participating in their sports. So many who compete in their youth do not go on to achieve Olympic medals, but learn a lifetime message of hard work, dedication and learn not to excuse but to take responsibility for their education and their actions.

CBC needs to take responsibility for the downer it created, as well as other media perpetrators, supported by journalists who bemoaned out lack of medals early on the in the competition. The CBC coverage did a disservice to out athletes. Their ignorance of the sports they covered was revealed during the basketball as the Spanish player who plays for The Raptors was never mentioned. Those doing commentary, as well as those responsible for showing the men’s volleyball teams for hours, neglecting other sports of interest to amateurs, really need to rethink their programming standards. Not all comments and professional blogs were negative. Randy Starkman honoured the spirits of the athletes and parents and coaches. It is such a shame that those posting to media articles could not similarly honour this spirit.

We spent hours looking for our synchronized swim top ten team, as well as our rhythmic gymnastics, while surfing through hours of American track athletes, boxers and other events that were flooding airwaves. I saw way too many butt cheeks with those obviously uncomfortable outfits in beach volleyball and track. The wardrobe malfunction of one of the female athletes as she bounced her way through her exciting finish, was quite a shock. Many such surprises, like the Australian team coming into the lane of the Canadian 8's in the heats, were surprising.

With 10,000 participants and 287 medals some were bound to go home without the prize. Many more appreciated and defended themselves in sorry excuses for an interview, on camera in front of a national audience. How much better would it have been to take some of those Canadians who achieved in the top 20 or 10, and have them analyse their events as the top ten competed in finals. This happened in some sports, but we failed to exploit these top performances, broadcast them, support the personal bests that the swimmer achieved

If we invest in sport, as the media seems to demand, then these questions must be posed to politicians. A political campaign is no time to create policy, however. What will we cut if we increase Olympic funding? Who will benefit? A group of elite athletes and a Canadian public that can take some pride. Is this what Canada is all about? Is it worth investing $8, 16, and then 24 million a year in national pride?

I apologize to the parents and the coaches, as well as all of our athletes. How diminishing it must have been to read the negative comments. You did well. You improved your international performances and achieved a great deal. Good work.