I am truly saddened by your March 13 issue and the story regarding the Commonwealth Games bid. While I appreciate Tim’s desire to dig into the specifics of the bid, he did an incredibly bad and unprofessional job of reporting the full and accurate story. As someone that was closely involved with the bid, I noted several incorrect statements and was shocked to read his negative, almost personal bias against several leaders in our community. These individuals employee hundreds of Atlantic Canadians, have decided to do business in this city/region, actively promote the city in a positive light locally and internationally, and wish to see it grow for the better. I have only lived in this city for four years (I moved here from Ontario for the lifestyle and growth potential) and get extremely upset when people from here knock those that try to succeed or want to elevate this place to the next level. I find that many from here do not recognize the potential of this city/place and are afraid of progression. I know many may have an issue with this statement, but “change is good”.
As I’ve now read in the Mach 20 issue, others have read your article and believe it to be true. As a source of information (that I read weekly), I expect you to report the truth or accurate facts of each subject. You did not do this. Therefore, people are taking away one sided, bias, factually incorrect information. For instance, Steve Parker does not own a piece of the Barrington Group. It is another gentleman with the same name.
It was extremely unfortunate that we did not win the chance at hosting an international event such as the Commonwealth Games. Since I had been to a recent games, and saw what potential this event could bring to our city and our children, it hurts me that there are those that always want these types of things to fail. This city can be a great city if people stop trying to hold it back. You wonder why the youth is leaving the city to go to Calgary and Toronto, it is because those cities promote growth, innovation and progression.
Respectfully yours,
Unimpressed
This article appears in Mar 20-26, 2008.
Change is awesome, UCFA. I was born and raised here and have watched and welcomed many changes. That article was not knocking change or progress, it was exposing and questioning government spending. So the writer got a name wrong – I haven’t heard anyone complaining about the names of the people who spent the money. Would you please elaborate on any other mistaken details in the article, since you were closely involved with the bid? Was it much, much less than 8.5 million? Was any of the money spent on some improvement to the city that we aren’t aware of? I don’t believe everything I read and would love to hear all sides of this story. Halifax is like the new boyfriend. The last guy was great, but too fast, too hip, too forwardly progressive, didn’t want kids, so you left him for this new guy because he was quieter, slower, more laid-back and fit in better with the ‘lifestyle’ you wanted.The accusation that anyone who questions this kind of blind government spending is of a negative mentality, against progress, or afraid of growth and change is petty and insulting. Unimpressed CFA, you moved here for the potential, and like any new boyfriend, they might not be so quick to become what you want just because you keep talking about how the last guy was so much better.