Losing symbols of history
Re: History collides with cost at historic church (Editorial, May 31)
The sad situation Holy Trinity Anglican Church finds itself in is not unique. Congregations all across the province struggle to maintain their churches.
From a strictly utilitarian perspective, it’s not worth pouring money into old buildings that seemingly have lost their purpose. But from almost every other perspective, many of these old churches have an incalculable value.
I’m not a spiritual person. I’m an atheist. But I want to see Holy Trinity and other vintage churches maintained.
Many are beautiful architectural gems. We will never see the like built again. They were raised in the hope of a better future by people who left difficult circumstances in other places and other countries.
Many bear plaques dedicated to the Manitobans who lost their lives in overseas wars. Many have fine examples of carved wood and stone. Many have stunning stained-glass windows.
These buildings link us to the past and remind us of the people who bequeathed this province (good and bad) to us. They were the bedrock of society at one time. Many churches were associated with universities and other places of learning. They maintained and passed on our culture, our music and our literature.
Yes, it’s difficult to justify the huge expense of repairing and maintaining these buildings. If the congregations can’t pay, who will? And why should others who don’t share in their history or faith shoulder the cost through taxes? Isn’t it more important to fix potholes?
The answer is that the past is important. We are who we are today because of the decisions and actions of the people who came before us. We forget them at our peril.
France recognized this when it spent a fortune to rebuild Notre Dame Cathedral after fire destroyed most of it. Even the Taliban recognized the importance of historic architecture — they destroyed much of their country’s historic monuments to bury the past and cut off people in the present from a history and culture they didn’t like.
Many Winnipeggers regret the destruction of the old city hall. Some called it beautiful. Others said it was ugly. Either way, it was a connection to our past and now it’s gone. Thankfully we’ve preserved Lower Fort Garry. But history is more than forts and wars.
Perhaps, we can find a way to collectively recognize and preserve the jewels of our past. Perhaps, through a joint effort by all three levels of government we can spread the cost of maintaining our historic buildings. Perhaps we could even make money from them by tying them into our tourist strategy. To lose them would be a tragedy.
Rachel Morgan
Winnipeg
Small dogs need parks too
Re: Pup park problems (Letters, May 30)
I take exception to Randy Clinch’s letter. He suggests that small dog owners knowingly put their pets in harm’s way when they take them to one of the city’s dog parks and that we should just take them to another park. If only it were that easy!
There is only one dog park in Winnipeg that is designated for small dogs and it is located in Transcona. Those of us who live in south, central or west Winnipeg have a very long drive to give our beloved pooches a chance to safely socialize with other dogs. Safely socializing is something all dogs need no matter their size. Most owners of small dogs avoid the city’s dog parks precisely because large dogs roaming free pose a threat to our tiny companions.
My dog Henry is seven pounds of energy and attitude and he deserves a safe place to play and make canine friends. Come on, Parks and Rec, or whoever is responsible for dog parks in our city! Build a few fences to enclose a hockey rink sized area in our existing dog parks. Or let us use hockey rinks which are unused in warm weather and are currently signed to keep dogs away.
At the very least quit putting roadblocks in the way of Jordena Kraut. She is a long-term advocate for small dog safety and has worked hard to establish a safe spot for dogs in our city. Please fix this problem!
Jill Fox
Winnipeg
Those who fought on D-Day
Re: Important to recognize all behind Second World War victory, including Russia: Trudeau (May 30)
Justin Trudeau is right that “all countries that were involved in the Second World War victory must be recognized.”
But it’s an ambiguous statement — ‘victory’ on D-Day, or in the war itself?
If you’re specifically remembering D-Day, this certainly does not include Russia.
There were no Russian armed forces, Russian equipment or Russian participation in the planning and execution.
They had their hands full with their epic war against Germany on the far side of Europe in 1944.
Should the D-Day ceremonies include the New Zealanders, South Africans and Brazilians, and many other allies?
They all fought for freedom but also weren’t in Normandy in June 1944 — it was a world war, after all.
I suspect from his statement that he has only the vaguest idea of what he’s commemorating.
Allan Robertson
Winnipeg
A deal to save libraries
Re: New lease on life for West K library? (May 30)
In my opinion there is a simple solution that would not involve using taxpayer dollars. If we all agree libraries are an important resource and must be saved, then we need to look at some fresh new ideas.
For years, large corporations or industries have paid large sums of money for the naming rights to various events, sports stadiums, etc. Why would they not also pay to have their name attached to libraries that promote reading and the local community?
Maybe add in a tax credit as incentive. Some people might be taken aback to see “The Tim Hortons West Kildonan Library” but isn’t the point to keep libraries open and expand them where appropriate?
Michael Pigden
Winnipeg
South of city has facilities
Re: City votes to take on $23M in debt as rec project costs soar (May 30)
I feel the need to take issue with an observation made by Coun. Janice Lukes in regard to the city-owned recreational centre proposed for the Waverley West suburb. In comments made to Joyanne Pursaga, she observed that the area has “I think it’s up to 65,000 people. We have not one pool, not one gym. I’m focused on that …”
Really? By my counting the suburb does have a perfectly good pool and gym at the Altea complex in the heart of Waverley West, and at least one other within easy driving distance at the Margaret Grant Pool in West Fort Richmond. As for gyms, in addition to the Altea complex there’s at least one other in the immediate area and more than half a dozen gyms in the surrounding area. All of them, admittedly, privately owned, with the exception of Margaret Grant pool.
Indeed, the city actually knows this because it has a report from its previous director of recreation stating that south end Winnipeg has more private recreation facilities than any other part of the city.
So I would argue that Ms. Luke’s observation is far from accurate and needs to be corrected, especially when there are inner-city pools, like the one in St. Boniface, that are being closed down, which could be kept open at a small fraction of the $93-million cost that will be shelled out to build the South Winnipeg Recreation Campus in Waverley West.
Erna Buffie
Winnipeg
