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Now is the time!

 

Cedar Lake - By Doug Tennant

Originally published in the North Renfrew Times - October 14, 2020 

OK, get in, sit down, put your seatbelt on and let’s go. This may cause some to get their knickers in a knot, but if there ever was a time to consider the following, it is now, thanks to the pandemic. Many things are being reviewed and re-jigged these days. Indeed, things are being done that some folks would never have considered doing before the pandemic. The pandemic is offering countless opportunities to seek out new ways of doing almost everything in our society.

In many respects we have put our individual and community-based lives on hold since the debut of Covid-19. And now is the time, while so much is changing and being considered, to ask that our local elected officials come together for a deep and wide exploration of how to break down any arbitrary geo-political barriers to help build up our community of North Renfrew.


Isle of Skye  By Jeannie Tilson

Can this be done? Well for sure! There are many examples of local folks and organisations participating to build up North Renfrew such as the local hospital board, the Lions Club, the Rotary Club, the School House Museum, the Community Foundation and the many and varied clubs and sporting groups. What is missing from the list is our local elected officials.


Our local elected officials from Head, Clara & Maria, Laurentian Hills and Deep River must set aside any lingering parochial mistrust and unfounded resistance to collaborate on our behalf, to work together and enhance our wonderful community. Let me clarify that they must head in the right direction and dig deep to collaborate to chalk up some new and wonderful wins for us, the residents of North Renfrew.

We have been hunkered down for almost eight months. If ever there was a time, it is now, to acknowledge that new ways and means must prevail to ensure North Renfrew remains a vibrant, progressive and healthy community for everyone, all the while improving our communal prosperity.


Rosehall Farm By Doug Tennant

Our elected officials must leave the past behind, come together and lead us forward into a new era of cooperation and mutual societal benefit. They must do this for us, for our community vitality and health and our big and small businesses. Now is not the time for excuses and maintaining the status quo. Now is the time for our municipal councillors to use this opportunity for the benefit of North Renfrew. This opportunity for fresh and new ways of moving forward together must not be squandered by our local politicians. Now is not the time to wait and see how things will fare for North Renfrew. Now is the time to show your collective selves as the leaders you are. Now is the time!

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