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The Observer | Saturday, March 22, 2008
Young karate students prepare for Elora tournament............................... »19 Naturopath sets up shop in Wellesley
»12 VOLUME 13, ISSUE 12
SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2008
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PRICELESS
» HIP HOP HOORAY
HOPPING FOR HOPE Marlee Fraser, 4 (right) and her friend, Paige Tucker, 4, lead their Wellesley Preschool group in the annual Hop for Muscular Dystrophy Canada Wednesday morning. The toddlers hopped as many times as they PHOTO | VANESSA MOSS could in a two-minute period to raise about $450 for the cause and they also spent time learning about physical disabilities.
Wellesley says no to troop decals on fire trucks In split decision, councillors opt to stay out of the political landmine that is the war in Afghanistan MARC MIQUEL HELSEN There will be no “support the troops” decals placed on Wellesley Fire Department vehicles, nor will they be sporting Canadian flags any time soon. Debating these issues at a meeting in Crosshill Tuesday night, councillors weighed in on a number of requests that originated at the department’s Wellesley station. Among those requests was one suggesting that decals supporting Canadian troops be affixed to township fire trucks. Councillors eventually voted against the idea in a 3-2 decision. “Where do you start, where do you end?
Right now we’re in a war, what happens in five years? … do we keep putting these decals on ad infinitum?” asked Coun. Herb Neher in opposing the request. “It’s got nothing to do with [whether] I am anti-patriotic, but I really have a concern … I’m not for these decals,” he explained, noting that changes in the country’s foreign policies would likely affect the number of decals being installed or removed. In his report to council, fire chief Dave Geil noted that while supporting Canadian troops may be a worthy cause, it should remain a personal decision. Councillors Paul Hergott and Shelley Wagner also voted against the idea, the latter suggesting that a projected time limit on the Canadian effort in Af-
ghanistan was a factor. Last July, the Region of Waterloo – which usually adheres to a policy of prohibiting public support of any group – sanctioned the practice. Polled by regional Chair Ken Seiling, Mayor Ross Kelterborn and his Woolwich counterpart Bill Strauss were among the councillors who supported the motion. The issue had proved divisive in other municipalities, including Toronto, where arguments centered on whether the ribbons are an endorsement of the war or simply a symbol of solidarity with Canadian soldiers. Also up for debate at the council meeting last week was a request that Canadian flags be installed on township emergency vehicles.
The request appears to have been inspired by one firefighter’s trip to New York City. “He saw these fire trucks flying the American flag on the back and he thought we should do the same thing here,” Geil explained to council, noting that a number of township trucks already carry a decal of the Canadian flag. “Everything we buy we try to put a Canadian decal on it to make it Canadian, but, this request, it’s about the second time I’ve had it, so I thought I’d bring it to council,” he said. Determining that a freestanding flag might actually prove to be a fire hazard or at least cumbersome in certain circumstances, councillors opted instead to supply trucks with flag decals.