Cover Ad Crosses the Line
I have recently become a very small part of your community of advertisers and the experience to date has been wonderful, thanks to your staff’s friendly professionalism. However, I think allowing the Freed branding on the cover of your Winter 2024 issue is a mistake. I recognize the critically important financial dominance of the real estate industry in the survival and ongoing success of the magazine. But allowing Peter Freed, for whom I have great respect, to advertise on the front page threatens the independent integrity of the magazine, moving it toward a real estate brochure and away from being a wonderful magazine, which we read with great interest! The alternative of simply announcing an “exclusive interview with Peter Freed” seems more appropriate.
David Pitfield,
Lighthouse Inspections
Thanks so much for the feedback, David. We did indeed open up space on our front cover for an advertising position. The truth is that On The Bay is a free publication and advertising accounts for 97.5 percent of our revenue, so one of our key focuses is to continue to create premium value for advertisers. You will notice that on the cover of this issue we have further differentiated that ad position from the editorial cover lines, so we continue our tradition of a clear distinction between paid advertising and editorial.
—David Loopstra, Publisher
Curling Rocks on in Guelph Too
As a proud resident of Collingwood for 20 years and a very active and involved member of the curling club all that time, I loved your recent article (“Here, Curling Rocks,” Winter 2024).
Ten months ago, I moved to Guelph and am curling at a very active, 10-sheet club. I say this because your Collingwood article references Guelph as one of the places that closed their club. You are not wrong in your statement but also not quite right. For years Guelph had two curling clubs and in the last number of years each of the clubs was apparently struggling. So, one of the clubs closed, not that long ago, and the Guelph Curling Club welcomed all of their members, allowing Guelph to offer a very vibrant and busy experience. I joined the club and started curling in October 2023. I couldn’t have felt more welcome and am just loving it. Guelph is a very friendly community overall. I could go on and on!
I just couldn’t help myself to give some perspective to the reference of our city, just in case some other crazy curler might want to move here.many friends seemed to make your issues. Continue the amazing publication you produce!
Jeanne Hazell,
Guelph
Thanks for the clarification, Jeanne. The article correctly stated that a curling club had closed in Guelph—the Guelph Country Club shut down their curling rink in 2014. But yes, your club, Guelph Curling, is alive and thriving with over 750 members.—Editor
The Devil’s in the Details
Just a quick update on how things are going with Devil’s Glen Provincial Park and rock climbing. Currently, Ontario Parks is working with the Ontario Alliance of Climbers to modify the management plan at Devil’s Glen and Lion’s Head provincial parks to include rock climbing as an allowed activity.
My group of local landowners is being excluded from these meetings. We live within 120 meters of the affected area and are required to be involved in the planning or changes in plans at various stages. We should be included in the discussions.
We are very concerned as Ontario Parks seems to be ignoring their results from the recently completed values assessment. They also seem to show little regard for environmental integrity, which they are mandated to ensure.
It is Ontario Parks’ objective to change the classification of Lion’s Head from a nature reserve to a recreation park to appease the rock climbing community. It was established as a nature reserve to protect sensitive natural features and this was based on science. We feel the change is not following proper procedure and process. How many [petition] signatures can turn a scientifically identified sensitive area into suddenly being not sensitive?
The cliff face forest requires some protection. Involvement approaches must allow open and transparent access to information, clear communication of proposed direction and rationale behind decisions.
Adam Pearce,
Devil’s Glen
Make This Your Last Rodeo
For a long period of time I have enjoyed your beautiful, informative, interesting magazine. Unfortunately, I was totally shocked by your fall issue where it promoted rodeos (“Hot to Trot!” Fall/Holiday 2023).
Animals that are forced to perform in these deplorable “entertainments” suffer pain, injuries and death, normally without any veterinary care or help!
I am totally surprised and extremely disappointed that such an upmarket publication as On The Bay would support this terrible cruelty, as are all of my friends who cannot believe that you are doing this.
Please consider not featuring entertainments where defenceless creatures are injured, terrified and die for human entertainment.
Deirdre Stretton,
Markdale
Great-Great-Great Memories
My daughter in Canada found me a 2017 edition of your magazine, which gave me great excitement. The featured home in Craigleith (“Heritage Revival: A pioneer homestead preserved and updated,” Winter 2017) was built by my great-great-great-granduncle, George Chester Lunan.
George came from Scotland with my great-great-great-grandfather John Lunan and three of his siblings. The Lunans are said to be one of the first families to settle in the Collingwood Township. In the winter of 1842, George, Sarah and their family of six children relocated by sleigh to Craigleith, formerly Shalefield. George bought an additional 1,000 acres in various parcels on nearby Blue Mountain from United Empire Loyalists who were willing to sell their grants for one dollar an acre. The family moved inland to the mountain area, but later George and Sarah moved onto 150 acres of good farmland at Craigleith on Lots 23 and 24. In 1856, he built the substantial two-and-a-half-storey log house on Lot 24 that also served as an inn and licensed tavern. Sadly, George died two years later. Today it is regarded as the oldest surviving house in Craigleith.
Thank you for featuring this house in your magazine; otherwise, we may not have ever been able to find it.
Christine Lunan,
Australia
TC Stands for Too Costly
Many questions need answering about TC Energy’s (TCE) proposed pumped storage project on the Department of National Defence’s training base in Meaford (“The Megaproject on Georgian Bay,” Summer 2023). In particular, queries about the cost of the scheme and who is paying for it.
Costs have more than doubled from $2.2 billion in 2019 to $4.5 billion in just five years, and TCE recently agreed to cap the scheme at $7 billion!
Costs are clearly a concern to the Ford government. In a January 9 letter to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), Energy Minister Todd Smith suggested that TCE seek federal government assistance to reduce the costs, adding that he expects the provincial cabinet will want to see significant federal involvement in the cost-sharing of the project’s pre-construction expenses. It’s pretty clear, both levels of government expect to fund to some extent this inefficient and environmentally devastating behemoth with our tax dollars.
Why are overburdened taxpayers going to pay for any costs of this Alberta corporate giant’s project? TCE is the third-ranking energy company in Canada with a market capitalization of over $55 billion! Why should taxpayers subsidize a corporation that buys cheap off-peak electricity to sell back to them as expensive electricity at peak rates? Why is a corporation being allowed to make profits on taxpayer-funded DND lands? And why has the proposal never been subject to public competition?
Also, why is the energy minister not accepting the IESO’s assessment of the project? The IESO has concluded that the project does not compare favourably to other energy alternatives including battery storage or a number of other non-emitting resources, and “therefore is not able to provide net benefits to Ontario’s electricity system or ratepayers.”
Yet, once again, in his January letter, Minister Smith sent them back to the drawing board in what seems like an effort to rationalize the multi-billion-dollar scheme. He also instructed his ministry to work with TCE and other ministries to assess the broader societal and economic benefits of the project. Just how “independent” will this assessment be?
This project will cost us all and it threatens so much, including: the lives and properties of more than 300 nearby homeowners, farmers and cottagers; at least 15 species at risk and millions of fish; local aquifers, wells and stream water flows; the vital tourism industry; and the commercial and sport fishing sectors.
It’s time to stop this scheme!
Anne Boody Horwood,
Meaford
