Letter to the Editor
Dear Editor,
For the past five years I’ve spent a great deal of time visiting family in Meaford and listened in on many conversations regarding Meaford’s future. As someone who has lived in a few small to medium Ontario towns and visited many small communities throughout Canada, the U.S., and Europe, I’ve seen some good and not so great situations.
Small towns everywhere struggle with loss of industry, their youth looking elsewhere, etc. Some get by if they are close to a large city or perhaps have a university. Most struggle and need to redefine themselves. The default seems to be to attract tourists and retirees.
My favourite towns have the following going for them, in no particular order: waterfront, proximity to walking and cycling trails, farmers’ markets, boutique hotels and well-run B & Bs, good cafes and small restaurants, shops that promote local artists and craftspeople, book stores and/or a good library, and finally, are simply aesthetically pleasing.
You have a beautiful town and it’s close to other towns that are currently very successful in attracting tourists and retirees – build on that. And, along the way, accept any development plan – with the proviso that it keeps the integrity of what you have going for you.
Val Dolegowski, Toronto
