by Anne Finlay Stewart
Twenty-five years ago a visionary woman left a bequest to buy a concert grand piano for the musical community of Owen Sound. On Saturday, March 21 at 8:00 p.m. that piano will be re-dedicated at a concert by Angela Park, a classical pianist of international repute.
Ms. Park will perform at the Harmony Centre, at 4th Avenue East and 9th Street. The community-owned teaching and concert space for many of Owen Sound's aspiring and professional musicians is now the permanent home for the grand piano, in the care of the Georgian Bay Symphony.
Formerly Knox United Church, the building has a rich musical heritage. In the 1930s and 40s, Mr. Cyril Moss was the organist. He often held public concerts at the church, encouraging its use for social and entertainment purposes to create and strengthen a sense of community.
On March 14 roughly 100 people gathered together on the steps of City Hall in Owen Sound. The Owen Sound demonstration was one of over 70 similar demonstrations held in communities across Canada to speak out against Bill C-51, the Conservatives' latest proposed anti-terror legislation.
Opponents are particularly concerned about the changes the Bill makes to CSIS. Formed in 1984 with a mandate to gather and and analyze intelligence and assess risks, if the Bill passes unamended the agency would be given powers previously reserved for law enforcement agencies like the RCMP. Because the work of CSIS does not bear the scrutiny of open court, C-51 has been dubbed the "secret police" Bill.
By Anne Finlay-Stewart
It takes a lot of money to provide a quality post-secondary education, and in Ontario students are bearing more of that cost than ever before. Yet the Students' Administrative Councils of Georgian College's Owen Sound, Barrie and Orillia campuses have committed to the largest single donation the college has ever received. The students will contribute $7.2 million over the next ten years to the college's Power of Education campaign to "help transform the student experience". The money will fund a unique on-line portal that will essentially provide students access to services at all seven Georgian campuses 24/7, as well as specific projects at each of the three main campuses. In Barrie, part of the money will be spent on a sports field to replace one ripped up in the process of adding a building, adding "value to the college and community", according to the Georgian news release.
Which begs the question – isn't this what taxes are for?
By Cathy Hird
When we think of a strong foundation for relationship, we think of Love. In contrast, spiritual teachers advocate Compassion, the kind of love that understands and forgives, that gives of self for the other. I suspect that all love is strengthened when a good dose of compassion is added.
This reminds me of a story that Jesus told when asked what the most important law was. He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, all your strength and all your mind; and love your neighbour as yourself." Luke recorded that the questioner responded, "Who is my neighbour?" Jesus then told the story known as The Good Samaritan. Here is my version of that story.
A man was walking in a narrow alley where a street light had burned out. Muggers jumped out and grabbed him. When he struggled, one of them cut his arm with a knife, and another pushed him to the ground. He hit his head hard. The two cleaned out his pockets and ran off.
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