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A new management strategy for complex
Signs of the times For the next three weeks, ditches, curbs and lawns in our little part of the world will be resplendent with vivid colours. And we are not talking about dandelions. We are referring to the political posters and signs that pop up seemingly everywhere whenever an election campaign is held. It is hard to believe, but, despite the abundance of shiny, sophisticated, high-tech modes of communications, the old-fashioned two-dimensional campaign placard still have a place in modern-day propaganda. In the lead-up to the Ontario election June 12, the parties will be using every means imaginable to win over the hearts, minds and votes of electors in Glengarry-Prescott- Russell. In spite of our reliance on, and in some cases, obsession with, social media and allur- ing apps, it seems that the traditional practice of planting signs in public places remains effective. The goal is to build up name recognition for the candidates, based on the old in-sight, in-mind philosophy. Some believe that each sign can represent as many as six to ten votes for the candidate. Apparently, many voters out there have no idea who is seek- ing their support. But as they drive along a highway, and they notice a small sign in the ditch, their brains automatically kick into aware elector mode, and they are reminded that there is an election campaign going on. Evidently, signs do indeed help increase voter turnout. On the other hand, certain strategists contend that the whole sign ex- ercise is a waste of time and money. For the silent masses, however, placing a placard at a home or business is a simple way of showing support for a preferred contender. Everyone is busy, and the playoffs are on. So, at the end of a hard day, few people are actually going to drag their tired bodies out, in the midst of angry hordes of black flies, to go door-to-door for their favourite candidate. But anyone with any personal space to share can contribute to the propagation of their political faith by sticking up a poster. While the secret ballot is a tenet of our democracy, sign posters tell their little corner of the world for whom they are casting their votes. This open display of partisanship can have its downside, obviously. Tension may arise in the neighbourhood or along the concession when neighbours advertise their con- flicting allegiances. If a business posts a poster for a candidate, does it alienate custom- ers who do not support the choice of that enterprise? Stationery signs of support can stir emotions, obviously. During every campaign, there are reports of signs being stolen or trashed. Governments, of course, have all sorts of rules governing roadside displays. You may have noticed placards that have been erected on private land along County Road 17 between Alfred and Plantagenet to express opposition to a proposed asphalt plant. This may just be a coincidence, but after the series of signs had been put up, people at the United counties of Prescott-Russell became concerned that a plethora of roadside markers was detracting from the beauty of the region. So, earlier this year, our regional government approved a new by-law dealing with non-directional highway signage along county roads. The goal of the edict is to regulate that prime tenet of real estate – location. The aim of the bylaw is not to ban all highway signage but to restrict where roadside signs can go. A business or a group will require permission to put up a sign within the road allowance along county roads. Anyway, although our world is rapidly evolving, there is graphic evidence that tradi- tional forms of communications are here to stay. For the next few weeks, the landscape will be alive with political colours. We can look forward to more of the same in the Fall, when municipal council and school boards elections are held.
“Invest in the complex. Make it better, make it a place people are proud of and a focal point of the Town of Hawkesbury. This is where memories are made...game-winning goals, teammates for life, first dance, first time off a diving board. People remember and cherish these things.” If rink number 2 closes, there will not be enough ice available to meet the demands of hockey teams and the figure skating club, said Henderson. “Some, if not all, of us will be forced to find ice in other towns at other facilities,” he continued. The Hawks will rent 20 to 25 hours of ice elsewhere. The town will lose hockey schools. That will result in a loss of spin-off benefits, Henderson cautioned.“Do the math, every little bit counts,” said Hen- derson. “I believe there are a few avenues in which to look at this and come up with solu- tions. I suggest a lease for a minimum of 10 years to my group and in return we would manage the Complex with the expecta- tion that we will start to reduce costs after year two. Hard work, yes. But I truly believe this is the solution, not walking away and reducing the services to the townspeople. The Hawks run a hockey business. We run camps, group functions and a team. We have HST that runs programs, training and leagues. We would increase these and the availability of same to the townspeople.” He continued: “ We would change how the ice is purchased. Make last-minute ice available on-line to increase revenue, just like the City of Ottawa. Create more tourna- ments, and events with Hawkesbury Minor hockey, the Gryphons and the Wild, meet with figure skating to help create competi- tions. Use the hall more effectively,” he said. In addition to offering more programs, he suggested a canteen be open every day. “If people know there is a canteen they will use it, you’ve forced them to go elsewhere. Bring people in, not push them away. You asked for solutions and here they are. The solution is a proac- tive group that works hard to create a business out of this complex that keeps it open and running with the help of the town, in order to keep and create a posi- tive vibe, not a negative one.”
RICHARD MAHONEY RICHARD.MAHONEY@EAP.ON.CA
HAWKESBURY | The town of Hawkesbury ought to expand rather than reduce ac- tivities at the Robert Hartley Sports Com- plex, and explore new funding sources, such as selling the naming rights to the facilities. That is the strategy suggested by Hawkesbury Hawks junior A hockey team general manager Ian Henderson. Like all of those who addressed a special meeting last
Ian Henderson
week, Henderson contends that the closure of one of the two rinks at the complex is a mistake. Henderson said that he is ready to form a management company “that would come up with programs and services that would, over time, increase the revenue, keep eve- rything open and reduce the debt to the complex.” He implored town council to keep both rinks in operation and to can- cel plans to close the swimming pool for four months. “Don’t reduce your workload, increase it. Work harder. Fight through and show you are trying to add, not reduce. Try to bring in other business, not make it more difficult to survive, not make it more diffi- cult for a large number of your local busi- nesses to survive,” he told town officials.
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Le contribuable typique de la Ville de Hawkesbury paie à peu près 48$ de plus en taxes foncières cette année, comparativement à 2013. Même si le taux de taxation a dimi- nué de 1,54 % cette année, pour plusieurs, les factures finales ont augmenté à cause des évaluations plus élevées. Cette année, le propriétaire d’une maison moyenne, éva- luée à 157 459$, paiera 2786,87$ en taxes. L’an dernier, le propriétaire d’une maison moyenne, évaluée à 152 313$ a payé 2738,09$, selon les chiffes fournis par la muni- cipalité. Les taxes sur une maison en ville ont augmenté de 1 180$ depuis 2006, alors que la facture pour une maison de 141 027$ était de 2603,84$. (RM) Hausse de 48$ en taxes Précision Une lettre intitulée «Qu’est-ce qui se passe sur le corridor de la Rouge?», signée par Diane Monette, a été publiée dans la Tribune-Express du 16 mai. Cette lettre questionnait, entreautres, lamotivationde JacquelineRicher, bénévoledansGrenville- sur-la-Rouge, dans le projet de transformation du chemin de la Rivière Rouge en parc régional. Mme Monette suggérait, notamment, que Mme Richer était membre de la «Société du Parc de la Rivière Rouge» et posait la question suivante : «Est-ce que cette société utilise nos fonds publics pour faire avancer un projet «personnel»?». Notons que Mme Richer n’est pas membre de ladite Société et qu’elle n’a aucun intérêt pécuniaire dans le développement du corridor de la rivière Rouge.
Bertrand Castonguay , President, bertrand@eap.on.ca Roger Duplantie , D.G. / G.M., roger@eap.on.ca François Bélair , Sales & Development, fbelair@eap.on.ca François Legault , Directeur de l’information/News Editor, francois.legault@eap.on.ca Yvan Joly , Sales director (Hawkesbury), yvan@eap.on.ca François Leblanc , Directeur (Lachute), francois.leblanc@eap.on.ca Gilles Normand , Production & Distribution Mgr., gilles.normand@eap.on.ca Julien Boisvenue , Layout & Prepress Mgr., julien.boisvenue@eap.on.ca
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