Cornwallis creep
Your feature “Called into action” is an informative perspective on Rhonda Britton and her calling as pastor of Cornwallis Street Baptist Church (Cover story, April 6). However, this statement by writer Maggie Rahr may need to be run through the fact-checker: “The church, as the street it rests on, is named for Edward Cornwallis…infamous for tendering the scalps of Mi’kmaq men, women and children.”
Regarding the bounty, the 1749 proclamation reads, in part: “His Majesty’s Council…do promise a reward of 10 Guineas for every Indian taken (captured) or killed, to be paid upon producing such Savage taken or his scalp.” There is no reference to a bounty on women and children. Historians and researchers have found little verified data on the number of Mi’kmaw non-combatants (women and children) killed during Cornwallis’ three years as governor (not governor general as the article states). —Len Canfield, Halifax
Stop that stadium
I take exception of the plan to allow Sports and Entertainment Atlantic to take sole possession of the Wanderers Grounds for a pop-up 6,000-seat soccer stadium where people will have to pay admission to see a game. The Wanderers Grounds are part of the Halifax Common, a green space dedicated free of charge to the citizens of Halifax. It is a generic sports field where every sport, from football to baseball, is currently played. I am tired of seeing the encroachment of this cherished green space, in the heart of Halifax, by big business.
The other issue I have with SEA’s proposal is that it includes the parking arcade at the QEll Health Sciences Centre as part of the plan. The ER parking lot is filled to capacity, forcing people to use the parking lot built to service people going to the hospital for treatment and medical clinics. As a patient, I have gone to appointments and had to circle the parkade several times before I found a spot, or waited until I saw a person leaving. If parking is already such an issue, the Wanderers Grounds is not the venue for this soccer stadium.
A new and much larger Halifax Common and public green space was created near Clayton Park. My suggestion is for SEA to pop up their stadium in Clayton Park, and stop looking to take the disappearing Halifax Common as a venue to make their profits. This goes for any other business venture looking to take over what’s left of the Halifax Common that people enjoyed for generations FREE OF CHARGE! —Gary MacLeod, Halifax
Free cheers
With help from Canada 150, Breton Books has created an eBook called Great Cape Breton Storytelling. For the month of April, we are giving it free to every Cape Bretoner who wants a copy. Great Cape Breton Storytelling is available at capebretonbooks.com.
There are over 80 stories from the island’s Mi’kmaq, Acadian and Scottish traditions. There are examples of our diversity with several immigrant tales. And as a bonus, nearly every story links to more stories online in Cape Breton’s Magazine, also at no charge.
This offer is for all Cape Bretoners and anyone else who loves Cape Breton. It is a way we can all help keep the great Cape Breton tradition of storytelling alive. —Ronald Caplan, CM, Wreck Cove, NS
Getting ahead
In a recent edition of “Savage Love” there was a lady who said she wanted to have her boyfriend return the favour after giving him oral. Please pass on my email to her. —G.J., Dartmouth
Correction
The headline—”Joseph Laroche’s final resting place”—and subhead (“The Titanic’s only Black victim is likely buried in Halifax”) on a story by Evelyn C. White in last week’s issue gave the wrong impression about the (actually very low) probability Laroche’s remains made it to Halifax. The Coast regrets the error.
This article appears in Apr 20-26, 2017.
At the risk of stating the obvious regarding the Wanderers Grounds stadium proposal:
Most hospital appointments are in the M-F 7am-3pm window, and there is just never going to be a Halifax FC game at those times, so parking is manifestly a non-issue.
The idea that Grounds events have never charged admission is of course completely ahistorical. Many who grew up here in the ’70s and ’80s as I did (not to mention many decades earlier) will have fond memories of going to games at the grounds and paying their way in. Staging ticketed events at the Grounds is a tradition that goes back to the 1880s as anyone who knows their Halifax history will tell you.
Unfortunately if the Grounds are a “cherished” space that has not manifested in upkeep of the Grounds. Many will recall that two years ago an international rugby match had to be relocated from there due to the sad condition of the field. The SEA proposal offers a viable and indeed exciting way to ensure that the space is adequate to host first-rate sports events.
At this moment the Wanderers Grounds is an eye sore and underutilized, who actually uses it now that will not be able to use when brought back to life? If Halifax wants to be a great vibrant city like many in the world, then this venue is what is missing. If Halifax wants to keep its future population and attract new families of all ethnic groups, then this venue is what is needed.
Parking will not be an issue do to the timings of the games. This venue will be an economic boost for the city core and if I were a business owner I would have a welcome sign up and be pushing for it. This will also be a place to gather and celebrate like the past and more of a benefit than not. This proposal is a win-win situation for all and I would rather pay for great entertainment than never step foot in the place. If it is deemed not beneficial after three years, then so be it, taxpayers will not loose any money. We will never know if we do not try.
Bring the Wanderers Grounds back to life and former glory for all of Nova Scotia!!
Some would have us believe that the current Wanderers Grounds is a ‘cherished green space’ where ‘every sport from baseball to football is played’. Yet whenever I walk by I see a torn up field filled with tire marks sitting empty.
SEA proposes to restore the wanderer ground to its former glory when it served as a gathering place for Haligonian’s to get together and enjoy world class sporting events. Currently Halifax is lagging badly in sporting infrastructure compared to other cities of a similar size. In fact we do not even have an outdoor stadium where we can host professional/international sporting events, concerts, or cultural gatherings.
The Wanderers Ground proposal will allow Halifax to become a destination for top notch sporting events. This will give struggling downtown business operators a much needed boost. Also it will add some much needed diversity to the local sporting scene.
Finally SEA is proposing to put up the seating for events with their own funds AKA no public money. To me this is a no brainier. A top not outdoor entertainment facility hosting world class events with no cost to the tax payers???? How could anyone seriously oppose this?