SIR: I have now lived in Chatham and the area for more than 44 years. The people we’ve put in power to look after our interests have certainly not shown very good business practice as to how they spend our money. I ask myself just where is their good common sense.
I was brought up to live by good common sense, to think about a task from every angle before making a decision. If something did not make sense, I was to discard it.
Since I’ve been here, they’ve torn down some of Chatham’s best historical past, to build a non-working mall. The way it started out, any good thinking person could have told you it would never work. To have a grocery store where you could not take your grocery cart to you car; you had to bring your car to your groceries. Crazy!
The whole thing got started off on the wrong foot, with a lack of good common sense.
They built an ethanol plant so they could learn which way the prevailing winds would blow across our city.
Our government invested millions of our working dollars into a non-working theatre when other cities could not make it work.
They put our money into a convention centre with the hope it might put Chatham on the map. They’re still hoping.
The Kinsman Auditorium was the greatest gathering place for Chatham that the community ever had for activities. Dog shows, craft shows, children’s programs, flea markets, and seniors’ programs – the list goes on. Chatham had a place that most communities long for; a place where the people were really enjoying themselves in so many ways.
We had a place that certainly could have helped to bring people to Chatham, only they couldn’t see fit to put money into improving the best all-around building we had.
We lost far more then just a building; we lost the whole friendly atmosphere of the place.
Such decisions that are made by so few, but hurt so many.
Can the city bounce back? Sure it can. We just need some people in power who have a better understanding of our spending dollars. With more insight of what Chatham really needs. Chatham is a nice size city, easy to get around in, has great shopping, and places to get just about anything fixed or repaired, right here.
We also have something that most Cities in Canada can’t offer – our weather. Here we sit in the lower part of Ontario with some the best weather that our country has to offer.
I have been to Elliot Lake where they developed a retirement city for seniors in some of the worst winter climate one could ask for, yet they did it. How? Why? Because they advertised their city and pushed for things that a retired person could and would want to enjoy in their later years.
I have been to the new Windsor arena and have seen the programs they run for the retirees. These places are booked solid. Some programs have a waiting list.
Let’s blow our own horn. If we don’t, who will? Somebody just has to push, and understand what retired people want.
Yes, Chatham-Kent just needs to advertise the benefits, and push the things for the retirees to enjoy. We’re close to Highway 401, have a number of golf courses, are close to the Great Lakes, offer a variety of recreational activities.
I know it is too late for what we have lost, which should never have happened. Most retirees want to stay active, not to sit in a rocking chair. Remember, all retirees don’t retire with a bundle to spend. They need things that can be affordable. Most everyone will spend on something they enjoy, within their budget. We just need to sell our city and what we can offer them.
Also, remember, this is an election year.
Harvey Nicholson
Chatham
