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6 - The Canadien Champion, Tuesday, August 1,2000 <~ COMMENT Our town' s downtown FISH COUNTER.I. core can flourish, too It's time for Milton's downtown core to decide if it's going to sink or E3I~ swim. In recent years, competition from mails and big box retailers have -I made it tough for historic downtown centres such as Milton's Main Street to thrive. This issue will become even more critical with growth loomîng on the horizon. Fortunately, a burgeoning population doesn't have to ring a death knell for downtown centres. Diligent effort aided by a helpful proximity to Lake Ontario has allowed Oakville's Lakeshore strip to flourish despite rapid growth throughout the town. - In Milton, the spectacular Niagara Escarpment can similarly entice people into the downtown core. But to make it work, outstanding issues such as parking and streetscaping must be resolved. Recognizing the challenge ahead, the Town has hired a consultant to look at ways of shoring up Milton's commercial centre. That's good news, as saving Main Street can't happen after the fact. -~ Planning its rejuvenation now is.the right thing to do. ~ O UR READERS WRITE W. couldn't have dona it wî~ut ~ Monument's condition a disgrace for Canadians Deariltoro On b~ha1f of the Ladies Drive 4 Cancer Golf Tçornalnent Cçtonoitteei a - special thank you la estt4ttded to ail those who corttrib~tted to our Fifth We owe our succ~ss to many people. To 184 golfen, yotar conlinsaed enthusi- pnB tBltOstaivetOmskethis evegit mooeenjoyable cachycar. fl~e M)hon ara! sursroeinding cowu- nity again bas shown their support for omir cauge. A speelal thank you goca to ail our bote aid cart sponsors, siletst and penny auction contrlbutors and gift an4 cash donofs. Without your generosity we To Granite ~.idge and the Aibatroas reatatlrant. your expettiso ~nd effipleney job&BOBBlBeliOBSiCt To date we have raised more than $30.000 to support bresat cancer Thank you ail agate to evenyone and we Ioolc forward to your continued aup- portin200l. Ch.îylDavldson Ladies Drive 4 Cancer Golf Toumament Commlttee (Tue following letter was sent ta Halton MP Julian Reed and a copy wasflled wirh 111e Champion.) Dear Editor: I would refer you go two articles from The Globe & Mail relating go the rapidly deteriorating condition of the Vimy Ridge monument in France, and the fact that virtually nothing is being donc about it. The firat, dated May 13, 2000, caaries the title 'Canada's disgrace on Vimy Ridge -- Hallowed monu- ment is allowed go crumble" by Alan Freeman, European Bureau, Vimy Ridge, France and begins: 'It is Canadas moss important monument to the soldiers who fount and died in the First World War, but that doesn't mean the fed- eral govemment bas been willing to put up the cash go fox it." The content of Mr. Freeman's iocKong sf0 ueseuruxexg Box 248, 191 Main St. E., me Canadien Champion, pobliotred xxxiv Toesday and Priday at 191 snix.1e as au Main St. t., Millon, Ont., 15T 489 (Box 248), S 00~ 0f The Melroland when we cx Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 Prolog, Publishîng & Sisînlbuion LIa. group of suburban companies africfr includes: AîaidPicbenînn tdewo Adeertisen, Aflisine Heralillçourier Barrie bonours 66 (905' ~ Adoance, Barrys Ban This Wxxk, Bolxxn EnlxnpriSx, Bramplon Suardian, dunng this Burfînglon Pool. Baringlon 9fiopping News, Cilp Panent, Cily ot Yorb ment does e Guardian, Cofliegwood/Wasaga Conrecion, tasl York Mirror, t r Editorial Fax: 8784943 AdoocalefCoortrp Roules, tînlxicolxe Guardian, Plamboroogh Pool, Poreox Yxont Seorgeloxen ledepxrdertlAclOn Prex Preso. Huroria Beoinens Advertising Fax: 876-2364 rîmes,'icîngoîon mis week, Londoan Thio Week, Mankhan tcoeomist & Son MidfandlPenelaoaoisheee Mîreor, Mîlon Sfioppien Bexes, Misoisoaoaa Classified: 875-3300 Bos;neos limes, Mîssissooga News, Napanex Soide, Naosatawepa Nexes NewmarlxetlAsrora tra-Banner. Norllrumberlaed Bexes, Rami nom Mîrror I/f/AjSIIs.IiN Ian Oliver Publisher Safloif le Beaoer, Sakoîf le Shopping Newo, Oldtmers Hockey Nenas, Onillîx ~4Q( NTx~ Todan Sshawa/WfnlbylCfarlnglonlPonl Pnrrp Tlris Week, Swen Soond I Neil Oliver A.x.neooaîe Publisher Tribune. Pexenlionoogir Thîs Week, Picton Counly Suide. Ricfrmond Bih Be~ln General Manuager HifPTfioinhilfNasgflax Lilieraf, Scarborougir Mirnor, Slouflvîffelaxbnidge Cot4B TîSurre. Karen Snalth Edmnor Aduertision s occepled on 10e condition litaI, n tire event 0f a lypo- sAMt~IY' Steve Crnzier Circulaoiaomn Maxxager gnaphîcaf ernon, bal portion 0f Hie adoeitmsing space occupied Sp 10e erîn- Teri Casas Office Manager 00000 tam, logelher with a reaoonable xllnwance for sigoalure, wîll not be charged for, sot 150 balance of lite edonilitemenl nUl ire paîd for ai 111e applicable raie. Tire poblistixi roserons 15e riglit 10 categonion adoxitise- Tlm Colex Prenductoon Moanager mentI ni decline. nsider this monument ,655 lallen Canadians war and your govem- sotbing about it. Sheila Copps, heritage minioter, proclaim- ing Aprel 9 Vimy Day juat doesn't do it. The second article, dated May 20, 2000, is by Jack Granatstein, noted author and Canadien histori- an. He shows this very impreSaive and maasive monument. Mr. Grannatatein reports that the memor- jal is cnumbling and cracking and chunko of limestone are coming off in visitors' hands, that its statues have taken on blotches of green moos and black mould, and the names becoming ail but illegible. He writes, "That the Vimy Memorial itself is crumbling before our eyes is a national shame and it deserves correction." While writing this leSter, I'm reminded that my children attended John McCrae School in Guelpb, named in honour of Colonel John McCrae, who left us the gift of bis poem 'In Flamoders Fieldo', perhaps the best known poem of this or any other war. On Remembrsnce Day, the school would take the children go a cenotaph acroos from the school for a short service, includ- ing the recitation of the colonel's poem, and concluded with the rais ing of the Canadisn flag and singing our national anthem. t'm grateful this school inatilled in my children that freedom sometimes come as a high price and neyer take is for granted. The fading names at Vimy Ridge are pmof of that. Your government has l'ailed us miserably on the Vimy Ridge mon- ument and embarrasaed us in front of the world. This monument reminds me though that our dead heroes believed in democracy and the nght to vote as we choose. I'm looking forward to the next elec- tion wben we might have a govem- ment interested in preserving the memory of those who neyer gave a tbought as go whetber their names should be inscribed on a monument but who instead gave their lives for Canada and ail it stands l'or. Elizabeth Harrison Campbellvllle by Steve Nease THE CANADIAN CHAMPION