Harry Stemp was born in Uxbridge in 1934. He started his career with the Uxbridge Times-Journal as an apprentice typesetter at age 14. He soon began writing sports for the Times-Journal and eventually owned 10 community newspapers in central Ontario including the Times-Journal. He started writing his award-winning Stemp’s Stew in 1965. The column came to an end shortly after he sold his newspaper chain in 1989, but was rejuvenated in 2006 when Harry became a regular contributor to The Cosmos.
The positive side
The world, for a lot of people, was turned upside-down when economies tanked, businesses failed, jobs were lost and prices skyrocketed. It was a tough time for many people and, even though Canada was not hit as hard as other countries, the world is small and we all suffered hearing how it affected so many people.
Having spent most of the winter in Florida, the devastation caused by the collapse is all around us. House prices have dropped, and the number of people made homeless through foreclosures is in the thousands. Daily news reports are full of sad stories re the jobless situation and businesses closing their doors.
The saddest story, in my opinion, happened last week when I heard the results of a 911 call not far from where I lived. An elderly man called 911 to report that he had just shot and killed his wife and wanted to turn himself in. When the dispatcher had determined that the wife was dead and did not require medical help, she questioned the man about what had happened.
“My wife is very ill,” he said. “I could no longer stand to see her suffer. I have no money to buy her the pills needed to kill her pain. I have no money to put gas in the car and they are coming today to evict us from our home.”
The dispatcher, obviously distraught, said she would send someone when the man made a further request. “Please do me a favour. I have emptied the gun and placed it on the veranda. I am not a threat and I will wait to be arrested. Please ask the police to come to our house quietly without sirens blaring. That would be so embarrassing.”
Wow! When listening to this it was hard to keep a dry eye. The sadness which came through from this man who, in my mind, was not a criminal but probably someone who had worked hard to provide for his family and now found himself in a hopeless situation. With no support system he took what he felt was his only way out.
This is one of the more severe stories but, it seems to me, this entire winter season the papers, TV and radio have been filled with similar stories. It has been a tough time for a lot of people who, through no fault of their own, have seen their world crash. On the positive side, it is amazing how large numbers of kind-thinking people rally together and support the many food banks and other charitable organizations which are so necessary during these hard times.
Forecasters continually tell us that the end is in sight. And the economy is on the rise. We can only hope they are right.
--------------------------
Always lots to do in our community and it was good to see the Foster Memorial Concert Series is on again this year. Although I have yet to attend, for one reason or another, I always hear good things about these music nights in the “Foster”.
Last week's Cosmos carried the complete program schedule which starts in May and goes right through until November. The series opens with Poor Tom - a Celtic duo - on May 4th and each concert goes for an hour - 7.30 to 8.30. The price is always the same: a donation at the door when you enter.
It also gives one a chance to view this amazing structure that the former Toronto Mayor, the late Thomas Foster, brought to the community of Scott Township where he was born. All the funds raised through efforts like the Concert Series go to help maintain the structure and the grounds.
Hope to see you there this year.
----------------------------
Have to wonder why the Canadian government does not classify Air Canada as an essential service. Seems to me the charade surrounding Air Canada whenever one of their several unions decides to go on strike does nothing to make either party look good.
You know the routine. Union leaders head to the bargaining table and when management does not come on side, a strike is threatened. Swords are rattled on both sides until the union calls a strike. Bingo, in steps the government and orders them back to work because the interruption would cause major problems for travellers and the economy as a whole. Recently it was the pilots and the same game was played.
With only one national airline, the inconvenience to the travelling public is horrendous. The workers accuse the government of being anti-labour and the public accuses the government of taking no action. It is a no-win situation all the way around so why not just bite the bullet, declare Air Canada an essential service, and labour disputes would immediately go to arbitration with no inconvenience to employees or the travelling public? Makes sense to me. --------------------------
Very disappointed to learn that members of Durham Region Council chose to hold a public election for the position of Regional Chairman. A question that was on the ballot last election and, even though it passed, the voter turnout was so low it was decided by a minority. The horse won't get any more dead if you keep hitting it with a stick, so will only say that I'm positive that we have seen the end to the three smaller northern municipalities ever seeing one of theirs in the Regional Chairman position.
Sad, because in my view, having the important position move around the Region with every municipality eligible was the fair and proper way.
But kudos to the representatives from the three northern municipalities who put up a good fight. It remains to be seen whether the taxpayers of the Region will be better served under the new system. In this case I hope time will eventually prove me wrong.
