Merry Christmas, and I am sorry for this very late urgent request I just received.
For those who don't don't know me I have been paddling for almost 50 years and am a former Sprint and White water National Champion. (70's and early 80's)
I am presently the Conservation chair for the Wilderness canoe Assoc. but still an active paddler.
This club could really use a written show of support on the major benefits of community based organizations.
Especially the more remote communities like blind river.
Thanks in advance for any support and please feel free to pass the information on.
Jeff McColl
Link to issue
Just got this message:
Hi all,
I don’t know whether you have heard, but the Algoma Paddlers have trouble with Town Council in Blind River and they could use our IMMEDIATE support.
Without consultation and with two weeks notice, they are being thrown out of the building where all their equipment is stored so that the Town can store two trucks. The building belongs to the Town; however, it was in bad shape before the Algoma Paddlers fixed it up at their own expense (reinforcing and fixing walls and doors, adding a sump pump, painting, etc.). They have to be out by December 24th and have no where else to store all their equipment! By the way, there is room for the trucks and the paddling equipment....but that wasn’t offered as an option by the Town.
I’ve written the attached letter and perhaps you would consider adding your voice in support before Monday evening’s Council meeting. Spread the word....
to provide support to email sue.jensen@blindriver.ca. She is Mayor
Sample letter (if you are not a member of the canoe club, tweek it)
December 12, 2015
Mayor and Council of the Town of Blind River
11 Hudson Street, P.O. Box 640
Blind River, ON
P0R 1B0
OPEN LETTER TO MAYOR AND COUNCIL – WITHOUT PREJUDICE
We are writing to express our dismay at the news that your Council has passed a resolution asking the Algoma Paddlers, with no consultation and at very short notice, to remove themselves and their equipment from a building which they refurbished at no expense to the Town.
Over the past two years, this group of your citizens have donated their time and materials to increase the value of this building to house three historically-significant Montreal canoes, plus trailers, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards etc.; more than $150,000 worth of equipment that supports Algoma Paddlers programming in your area.
The Algoma Paddlers (AP) has put Blind River on the map in the paddling community. They are well-associated with commercial outfitters and other paddling clubs across Ontario. This club has strong ties to the Barrie Canoe & Kayak Club. My husband and I are members of both Clubs. Because the Algoma Paddlers make their home in Blind River, paddlers like us visit, provision our trips in your stores, stay at your motels and support your restaurants. We come to participate in trips, voyageur re-enactments, community paddling events and to take instruction from provincially-qualified instructors.
The AP has built partnerships with First Nations communities on the North Shore by offering instruction to youth and re-enacting traditional journeys. This creates an opportunity for the Town to highlight the history of this beautiful area, and to build collaboration and partnerships with indigenous neighbours in keeping with provincial direction.
Your website says: Established in 1906, Blind River is an outdoor recreation hotspot on Lake Huron's North Channel at the mouth of the Blind River and the Mighty Mississauga River. Explore the many opportunities for fishing, hunting, boating and water sports, or the full range of winter and summer festivals that have put Blind River on the map as one of the "Top 50 Ontario Festivals". Supporting this club with a water-front facility, a place to store their equipment and run their programming (e.g., see Town website for summer youth camp opportunities) can only benefit the Town of Blind River. Their presence is an opportunity for you.
It is our hope that you will reconsider your decision to kick them out on Christmas Eve and take a more thoughtful, farsighted and collaborative approach. We understand there is enough room in this building for both AP equipment and Town equipment. Wouldn’t that be a more cooperative approach to protecting community assets?
Respectfully,