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So, is this what it’s come to? Organizers of the Edmonton Corn Maze have now been forced to apologize not once, but twice, within 48 hours due to social-media backlash. After having designed this year’s corn maze to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the RCMP and facing the subsequent online outrage, on Friday, organizers issued an apology saying that they, ” … did not adequately take into account the hurt and harm that the RCMP’s history has caused in different communities.”
By Sunday, that post had been removed, and a second mea culpa had been issued, stating that, “We in no way wanted to diminish or devalue the good work that they (the RCMP) do.”
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In these times of hyper-vigilance for any possible sign of micro-aggressions, it’s certainly safest to avoid any attempts of community engagement (and fun), and refrain from doing or saying anything, as obviously somebody will take offence. And just remember, social-media scorn and censure is but a click away.
Al Willey, Edmonton
Elks record needs perspective
It is interesting to note that the Edmonton football club is, at once, noted for at one time having the North American pro sports record for most consecutive entries into the playoffs and now is noted for the most home-game losses. Bottom line is that it’s just a game; let’s not lose perspective.
Duane Mills, Edmonton
Time for Chris Jones to go
Having enjoyed so many years of great Edmonton Eskimo football, I am thoroughly disgusted with our present-day Edmonton Elks. I am not blaming the players, as the sole responsibility of their demise lies with the coaching staff, particularly head coach and manager Chris Jones.
Coaches are hired to be fired and the Elks board of directors have to let Jones go, replacing him with an assistant coach for the balance of this year. This move is no worse than watching Jones finish the season with the worst losing record in professional sport.
Darryl Havrelock, Edmonton
Offended by RCMP tribute critics
Some people feel offended because of the RCMP corn maze. Well, I am also offended not by the maze but rather by those dissenters. Perhaps they can look at the bigger picture of the RCMP past and present. The maze was made as a tribute to the RCMP who have done so much good for this country. I myself would never have apologized.
Leslie Rivet, Edmonton
West LRT work pace fails to impress
I recently travelled north on 124 Street, and the southbound lanes are torn up with sidewalks and infrastructure being replaced. It was a sunny Friday evening and there were at least 25 or 30 workers pouring concrete and performing other work. Kudos to PCL Construction
Compare that to the west LRT construction on Stony Plain Road from 142 Street to 156 Street. Lanes closed, roads dug up, and on a good day, you might see five workers with a broom or shovel on this 14-block stretch of road. Get ready Edmonton: this work will not be completed this year nor even next year if this tepid construction rate continues. I feel so sorry for the homeowners and businesses who suffer due to Marigold construction’s poor project management.
Perry Assaly, Edmonton
English prof, bibliophile remembered
In case no one better qualified steps up, I write about Christopher Gordon-Craig, whose death notice appeared in the Journal on Saturday without any obituary.
Chris was a valued colleague in the University of Alberta’s Department of English (now English and Film Studies) for many years. Among other courses, he taught bibliography, an unsexy subject which in one form or another is useful to indispensable in further literary studies. Chris was a bibliophile: we connected through exchanging antiquarian book catalogues. He was department “scribe,” a post he declined to relinquish on retiring. His minutes of department council were unique of their kind, in being actually fun to read. He will be missed.
Isobel Grundy, Edmonton
Learn from mistakes of history
I caught the local news just in time to see the corn maze creator apologize for any pain caused by this year’s celebration of 150 years of the RCMP. Why was he apologizing? He did nothing wrong other than celebrating part of Canadian history.
There have been countless mistakes made in history but how have we learned about these mistakes? By learning the history of this country. Canada is not the only country that has made historical mistakes and we are continually learning that there are better ways to handle different situations. Canadians not only mistreated the Indigenous children but also the Chinese, the Japanese and some of the Eastern Europeans who immigrated to our country. We are constantly trying to eliminate this history by removing statues and renaming communities but if we do this, how will our future learn about these historical mistakes?
It is time to stop apologizing and to take that history, learn from it and grow up. We need to have that history to learn the difference between right and wrong. So, apologize for any wrong you, personally, may have caused. Learn from the history of this country and do not apologize for historical mistakes.
Connie Oskoboiny, Edmonton
Letter overstates Canadian emissions
Re. “Yes, Alberta can put a dent in emissions,” Letters, July 29
A quick Google search shows that, as I suspected, China is in fact the global leader when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, and it’s by a significant amount. Canada’s greenhouse emissions are six per cent that of China’s, and only the ninth-largest contributor overall globally. (Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-country).
