PROVEN LEADERSHIP And a principled, local voice for Kitchener-Conestoga www.HaroldAlbrecht.ca
HAROLD
ALBRECHT Kitchener-Conestoga
Authorized by the Official Agent for Harold Albrecht
10 | 01 | 2015 VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 40
BEN COTTRILL’S MUSIC IS FINDING AN AUDIENCE LIVING HERE PAGE 28
COMMENT PAGE 8
WOOLWICH STONEWALLS ON FORMER PALESHI SITE
Council says no to plan for school in Breslau park
BEING FESTIVE
After months of public debate, residents’ plea to preserve parkland wins over councillors in split vote STEVE KANNON PERHAPS HEEDING THE ADAGE that you don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone, Woolwich council this week opted out of a proposal that would have swapped township land for a new school and improvements to Breslau Memorial Park. While it may not have been paradise at risk of being paved over, residents out at Tuesday night’s meeting were adamant the park was worth saving in its current configuration. In a 3-2 vote, councillors agreed. The proposal floated by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board was for the township to sell it a portion of land in the park. The $1.75-million deal would allow for upgrades to the park and community centre, as well as community access to new facilities, including a 5,000-square-foot library operated by the Region of Waterloo. The plan also envisioned the construction of a new
building that would provide washrooms, a concession stand and house the mechanical plant for a community-built splash pad. The plan to sell parkland to the school board has been a divisive issue since it was first made public earlier this year. Even after township efforts to get the word out, the community remains divided. Informal canvassing of households in Breslau by a community taskforce appointed by Woolwich netted 312 responses. Of those, 36.5 per cent were in favour, 34.6 per cent opposed and 21.5 per cent undecided. The remaining 7.4 per cent didn’t answer or register an opinion. Though a community taskforce found Breslau residents split in equal measures – yes, no, indifferent – opponents were the most vocal throughout the process. This week’s council meeting was no exception, BRESLAU | 2
There was plenty of blue sky and sunshine for the 40th annual Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival on Sept. 26. Clockwise, Daniel Carr sells Wellesley’s infamous apple cider, Brook and Adison Martin stop for a photo op, and Brett and Kathy Bowman core some apples for a tasty treat. [WHITNEY NEILSON / THE OBSERVER]
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
IN WELLESLEY