LETTERS TO THE EDITOR SHARE YOUR VIEWS
Tecumseh Transit a successful model
Re: Time to regionalize Transit Windsor, by Melanie Paul Tanovich, Sept. 29.
The Town of Tecumseh thanks residents for their input on our transit system and congratulates LaSalle on their new public transit service. Decisions on municipal transit are complex and include a thorough understanding of needs, benefits, connections and final destinations.
Tecumseh has not simply talked about the need and benefits of public transit — it has offered service to our residents for eight years with feedback resulting in service improvements.
Tecumseh Transit operates six days a week and is accessible to 65 per cent of the population along a 30-kilometre route that connects with Transit Windsor at Tecumseh Mall and includes a stop in Lakeshore at the Sobeys store.
More than 182,000 riders have used Tecumseh Transit, with annual ridership now of approximately 30,000 users. Of note, Tecumseh Transit accepts valid Transit Windsor transfer tickets.
My council colleagues and I see merit in a regional transit solution. However, we also have an obligation to our residents to make smart financial decisions.
We have not yet received a proposal that would support this. Tecumseh Transit currently costs taxpayers approximately $175,000 per year, which includes the operational costs and replacement costs.
Tecumseh’s transit service is eligible for provincial government grants. These and fares offset annual operating costs.
Published costs for LaSalle’s service are around $400,000 with annual fares unknown.
Further, by outsourcing transit to another municipality like Windsor, we lose transit grants.
We do not see the value in changing our service at this time.
Thanks to eight successful years of operation, we understand costs in relation to service levels.
This data will help lead us in future regional transit discussions and measured against alternative service models.
Until there is a regional transit proposal that is practical and financially feasible for our residents, we will continue with our successful model already in place.
Our local heroes should be honoured
Re: Thefts force removal of plaques for war dead, by Trevor Wilhelm, Oct. 11. As I was unable to attend the ceremony which took place this past Saturday honouring 61 individuals with flags and plaques in Assumption Park, it warmed my heart to hear about a plaque that was put up in sponsorship by the Southern Ontario Military Muster in dedication to my former University of Windsor classmate, James (Jay) Frederick Forbes.
Upon discovering that the plaques were taken down as a result of thefts, I was infuriated that I did not get to go down and say, “Hello, Jay” in person.
While I admired the flags in the cold, rainy and windy Wednesday weather, I was sick to my stomach picturing an individual disrespecting this beautiful site of remembrance.
To Terri Davis-Fitzpatrick, I am terribly sorry you were forced to remove every plaque.
Jay passed away in my third year of university. We history majors lost a family member that day.
Jay was responsible for the naming of the Highway of Heroes, a stretch of the 401 which is the route for funeral processions of fallen Canadian soldiers, as he initiated the original petition.
He was the most passionate person I have ever met and because of him, I want to dedicate my life to helping others as a first-responder. Jay motivated me to complete the history program and pursue emergency telecommunications at Fanshawe College, changing my career path completely.
My ancestors have fought in both World Wars. My grandfather is a retired police officer.
Our military and firstresponders, past and present, deserve the utmost respect and their memory should never be desecrated.
Local heroes such as Cpl. Andrew Grenon should be honoured for all to see. It frustrates me that there are still individuals in our own community who still need to learn this very important lesson.
Inspire girls for jobs of the future
Re: Inspiring young girls to take hold of their dreams, by Kelly Steele, Oct. 12. While I commend the Build a Dream organizers for their work encouraging young girls to consider careers in nontraditional spheres, it would have been far more inspiring to see a sign which read: “My dream is to be working at exploring alternative energy solutions” rather than the pictured sign: “My dream is to be working in oil and gas.”
My personal dream is that by the time nine-year-old Aletha Nsiah-Nelson is ready to choose a career, work in the oil industry will no longer be considered a preferable career choice.
Heart defects ride enjoyed a great run
On Sept. 17, the Heart Defects Society of Windsor and Essex County held their eighth and final Christine Sorrell Memorial “Pooker” Ride through beautiful Essex County.
As had become the norm, the day started with the morning sun greeting us and providing perfect weather to accompany almost 100 motorcycles on their county tour.
While we are sad to see the annual event come to an end, I would like to concentrate on the highlights that the group of riders was able to achieve.
Over the last eight years, the ride has raised almost $200,000 to help support families in our area that need to travel to London and Toronto, often for extended periods of time, for treatment of congenital heart defects.
The ride has help to bolster the community’s awareness of the organization and helped families in our area find help when they most needed it.
As an organization, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks first to Warren and Genevieve Hayes who worked incredibly hard every year to ensure the ride was both a success and a fitting tribute to Genevieve’s late daughter.
Of course, we had significant support from the Hayes’ family and friends offering volunteer support and fantastic fundraising.
In particular, their friends at their summertime retreat, the Ravine Cottages in Harrow, spent the summer fundraising and would always line the roadway as the tour went by showing their support.
Julie, owner of the Colchester Bar and Grill in Harrow, spent her summer promoting the ride and provided a great lunchtime stop with a live band and great food.
Finally, I would like to thank Unifor locals 200 and 444 for supporting us through their social justice fund.
Thank you to our sponsors and those who joined us over the years. It was a great run.
Don’t turn trolley into a food truck
Like most Essex County residents, I applaud the purchase and restoration of the trolley. But please, don’t spend the taxpayers’ money, then sell french fries or ice cream from it.
Why not restore it and use it as a teaching tool to tell Windsor’s story in the 1920s and 1930s.
Perhaps costume photos could be taken using the skyline as a backdrop.
Food trucks are a dime a dozen and could still be used but at a safe distance from this hidden gem. Send letters to the editor by email only to letters@windsorstar.com. (Don’t send them as attachments; put them in the body of the emails.) Letters must include your full name, address and phone number. (We will only publish your name and the municipality where you live.) Letters must be fewer than 300 words. The Star reserves the right to edit, condense and reject letters.