Continuing to advocate for others
From 1940
A crash boat for the Royal Canadian Air Force had been built at a shipyard in Clare. Constructed in Meteghan, the vessel left the area en route for an Eastern Canadian port. Similar vessels were expected to be built in Meteghan in the near future, according to a local newspaper article.
*** Among the ways local residents were trying to support the war effort was with “old-fashioned” pie sales. A recent such initiative in the Bear River area by the home and school association there had raised over $20. The money was to go towards material for Christmas boxes to be sent to those serving overseas.
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A recent period of good weather had helped Digby- area farmers. Turnips in particular reportedly had made a good comeback after an issue with plant lice during the summer. Other crops – including beets, carrots, parsnip – were said to have been average. More fall plowing than usual reportedly was being done.
***
There were plans to have a Digby- area class on wireless telegraphy. The tuition was from the Radio College of Canada in Toronto and the idea was to form a local home study group.
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A community volunteer effort had helped create what was described as a “splendid” playground on the property of the Rossway school. The work included hauling stones to the site and grading.
From 1962
There was talk of an industrial development survey perhaps being done for the Digby and Clare region, an initiative led by local boards of trade. The survey would look at things like population, labour force, social conditions, climate and transportation facilities. Should the survey proceed, the plan was to make the results available to government agencies and business organizations. The rationale was “that in unity there is strength” and that economic growth in one part of the area would be good for the area as a whole.
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In what the captain of the Princess Helene said was a first for him, a Russian factory ship had been spotted in the Bay of Fundy, along with four trawlers. The sighting reportedly occurred during the ferry’s afternoon run from Digby to Saint John.
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It was a record- breaking turnout at the Digby Forum for the opening of the new season, with hundreds of people coming out for the first skating session of 1962- 63. Particularly notable was the number of young people, according to a media report.
From 1970
Ironworkers went on strike at the site of the new ferry terminal being built in Digby. The strikers were awaiting word from their union representative in Halifax. The strike in Digby was part of a larger job action involving hundreds of workers ( members of the same ironworkers union) throughout Nova Scotia. A meeting was expected to be held in Truro to see if union members would accept an offer from their employers.
***
The Digby Municipal School Board rescinded all previous motions regarding what students attending class should wear. One of those motions apparently had said female students should wear dresses to class and not slacks. Some girls reportedly had requested this rule be changed. The board’s position was that the issue of what students should wear would be up to supervisors.
Local MP Louis R. Comeau was slated to travel to New York as part of a delegation of Canadian MPs observing sessions of the United Nations. He also was scheduled to attend an annual seminar on Canada- U. S. relations.
We are quickly moving towards the season in which it is thought and hoped there will be peace and good will towards others.
Grandpa impressed on me that life in this world was fleeting. He said we are granted gifts that are not to be selfishly kept, but shared. He said it is in the giving that we grow, live and hopefully make the world a place that is better because we existed.
I am not so sure of my gifts at times. I do know that I am a tenacious advocate. I have some knowledge and I fight with words.
When Revenue Canada recently harassed less wealthy seniors – who spent three-fifths of their income here in N. S. on the road seeking medical care – with audit requests I responded. I helped the seniors collect documentation, sent the stuff off by Priority Post with a signature required, and I wrote a column.
When vital services like power, phone, cable etc. have ignored their responsibility with respect to safe or consistent service, I wrote a column. That’s what I do, I write columns. I am just one voice. Sure, I listen and I try to speak for others. However, I fear profit trumps ethics. If these entities had to respond to stakeholders in local areas and not to come-from-away shareholders, would they be more responsive? Profit, as I have said, is not a dirty word. However, profit before the needs of people is not acceptable. But this is not just about big com- panies. Our very own public services often behave in the same way.
Think about our ‘N.S. on the road, hurry up and wait’ N.S. health care. I have a person whose nurse practitioner has left N.S. for another province. The Digby clinic insists he is still their patient. Yet a WCB in another jurisdiction wants a current prescription for his necessary appliances. He is not sure of who he has as a practitioner as he has seen three since he was told his nurse practitioner was leaving.
Our elected officials would not say too bad, so sad if they actually really heard the people they are obligated represent – the people, ordinary citizens, are the ones who ensure their elected positions!
One could get cynical and angry but a couple days ago when I got my mail out of my box there was a Christmas present with a card. It says it is from a (person’s name) and they are part of a private Facebook group named “With Love and Light Learnings.”
The note also says that they started a Christmas tradition three years ago, where each member in the group passes out random gifts at this time of year. I cannot find them on Facebook.
With all the negativity that is going on in our world today, they chose this act of kindness to show that there is love and light still in our world and to keep the love and faith going in humanity.
The note said “From Their Family to Mine; Happy New Year,” which is my wish to them as well.
Thank you for the gift. I guess, with that message, I have no choice, I will continue to advocate for others.