Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
I was very surprised and saddened to read your article regarding the IGA (now Foodland) closing. This is particularly distressing not only for the points raised in your article, but also for the community as a whole.
Aside from the loss of twenty jobs, I think also most worrisome is the loss to the many downtown residents and seniors who frequent the store and do not have the means or transportation to travel to other locations. When shopping in the store also I have noticed that many customers are seniors and/or rely on assistive devices to navigate the downtown.
What I would like to know is what our council is planning to do about this. Would a letter-writing campaign to Sobeys or the intervention of council in negotiating retention, stressing the importance of the store to Meaford be helpful? Failing this, are there any viable businesses which could be recruited to provide similar services? What is the current plan for business development and retention?
I am putting my direct question to council and would like to know what their plan of action is in dealing with this decision by Sobeys.
I don’t think this community can afford to lose twenty jobs nor the downtown afford another vacant business. I hope this will not be a case of resignation and rolling over and playing dead.
Regards,
Teressa Gibson, Meaford
