In elections, the general consensus is if you don’t vote, you can’t complain afterwards about the result.
The democratic process, and participation in it, is an integral part of Canadian society.
Residents of North Perth have been offered two public forums so far to learn about the four options for a proposed new recreation complex. The third and final public forum is tonight, Wednesday, Feb. 1, at Wallace Public School in Gowanstown.
Doors open at 6 p.m. with an open house format featuring big boards of design and details on Option A, B, C and D – the four models up for debate.
At 7 p.m. there will be a presentation about 30 minutes in length on the business plan for the quartet of options.
Fred Galloway of F.J. Galloway Associates Inc. will conduct the presentation. He wrote the business plan for the North Perth Recreation Complex Committee.
The key part of this public forum process, the whole point actually, is to collect feedback from you.
Comment cards will be handed out with an area to rank the options in order of preference, and a spot to register comments on the project.
The two previous public forums were held in the Listowel and Elma wards, and the third one tonight is in the Wallace ward to get an equal representation from the municipality.
Keep in mind, though, you don’t have to be a Wallace ward resident to take part in tonight’s forum. Everyone from North Perth is welcome, regardless if you live in Monkton, Newry, Atwood, Listowel or in a rural area within the municipality’s borders.
Also, if you are unable to attend tonight, the presentation, business plan and comment cards are all available on the municipal website at www.northperth.ca.
There are two ways to participate before this public input procedure is over. It’s a big decision that will impact local residents for years to come.
If you don’t take part in this process, your concerns after the fact might fall on deaf ears.
T.J.B.