Roger Varley has been in the news business almost 40 years with The Canadian Press/Broadcast News, Uxbnridge Times-Journal, Richmond Hill Liberal and Uxbridge Cosmos. Co-winner with two others of CCNA national feature writing award. In Scout movement over 30 years, almost 25 as a leader. Took Uxbridge youths to World Jamboree in Holland. Involved in community theatre for 20 years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager etc. Born in England, came to Canada at 16, lived most of life north and east of Toronto with a five-year period in B.C.
Time to make use of our assets
At the end of each of my columns, I always ask readers to tell me if I am wrong. It's likely quite a few might tell me I am wrong after this column. That's because I am going to offer some suggestions to the soon-to-be-formed Uxbridge Economic Development Advisory Committee and, since I have no expertise in that area, it might be that I'm talking through my hat. Nevertheless, here goes.
The main focus of the 11-person committee will be to advise council in developing and implementing short-term and long-term overall economic development strategies and how to attract investment and promote local business opportunities.
I believe the committee should look much further ahead than 20 years when examining long-term goals. Huge changes are looming, not just here but globally, that will affect the way we live our day-to-day lives, and we have to be prepared. We have certain assets in the township that I think could be exploited for the long-term good of the community, in terms of attracting investment and jobs and tourists.
To start with, our farmlands. Even now, we are aware of the looming food crisis, with prices predicted to skyrocket. Add to that the population explosion – the planet now has seven billion inhabitants and experts are predicting that could rise by another two billion in the next few decades – and the food problem will get worse. Farm land will be under threat from development, pollution will increase exponentially, health costs will soar and on and on.
Given that a major cause of escalating food prices is ever-increasing transportation costs, shouldn't we be examining whether more of our local farmers should be encouraged to turn to growing fruits and vegetables? I know there are some farms doing this already, but are there enough and are they producing in great enough quantities? I imagine there would be a ready market in the region for locally grown produce whose price is less affected by higher fuel costs.
We also have worked-out gravel pits and it seems to me there are more ways to make them pay than by trucking in fill. Wyndance golf course in Goodwood is a prime example of how an old pit can be turned into a first-rate golf course. Why not more? And would it be feasible to turn one into a water park and another into a well-designed BMX course? None of these should pose any threat to the aquifer and could pull in large numbers of visitors.
For a community that is officially recognized as the Trail Capital of Canada, should we be doing more to capitalize on that? With over 200 kilometres of trails in the township, couldn't we become a mecca for cross-country skiers? There's terrain enough to challenge advanced skiers as well as accommodating the novices. With the right kind of marketing, that could lead to entrepreneurs offering package deals, opening ski stores, etc. And in the summer, do the same for mountain bike riders. We already have two young men in town who promote mountain bike races from time to time and hundreds turn out for them.
Then, of course, there's Lucy Maud Montgomery. Although the LMM Society has done amazing work at the manse and the old church in Leaskdale, little has really been done to cash in on the potential for attracting large numbers of visitors. Why aren't we doing more to encourage tea rooms, gift shops, bed-and-breakfasts, annual pageants and the like? Stratford-upon-Avon has a plethora of B&Bs and gift shops cashing in on William Shakespeare and the town is still a delight. It seems to me there is an underlying feeling that cashing in on Lucy Maud would somehow diminish her or show a lack of respect. I don't imagine that’s the case on Prince Edward Island.
And if all these came to pass, how would you attract people into downtown Uxbridge? Well, since we already attract many people with our annual studio tours, Celebration of the Arts, Art in the Park and the like, how about cashing in on the arts with an Uxbridge Arts Walk of Fame? We have the names to draw people: Lucy Maud, of course, but also world-renowned pianist Glenn Gould, internationally known artist Davis B. Milne, Academy Award nominee Graham Green, internationally known actors Kenneth Welsh and Haydon Christensen, Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Chapman, award-winning author and radio and television personality Ted Barris, sculptors Ron and Linda Baird and Wynn Walters, nationally known political cartoonist Duncan MacPherson. That's just to name a few who have Uxbridge connections. We could have the walk extending from the train station to the Music Hall, right through the downtown shopping core.
And if all these things pan out, combined with the annual Highland Games, fall fair and numerous hockey, baseball, soccer and figure skating tournaments and various arts events bringing people to town and a strong case could be made for a hotel and motels and more B&Bs.
All of these things could also lead to higher local employment opportunities and investment.
I once wrote that anyone running for council should offer up ideas, even if, on the face of it, they might appear to be cockamamie ideas. My reasoning was that even cockamamie ideas can be a starting point for discussion. It seems to me that one or two of the suggestions I've made, cockamamie or otherwise, could be worth at least consideration.
Tell me, am I wrong?
