The Commentary section in our paper, although the smallest, has the distinction of tackling some of the biggest issues on our collective minds. These editorials are designed to spur discussion and get people talking, and in the process hopefully see difficult subjects from new points of view. Here are our top ten commentaries from 2019.
- “Consider the Angel of Justice,” by Greg Fehr. In February of last year, everyone was still talking about the tragic bus crash that took the lives of 16 people from the Humboldt Broncos hockey team, and injured 13 others. On the eve of Jaskirat Singh Sidhu’s sentencing, the only thing people could agree on was that it was an unusual test of Canada’s criminal justice system, pitting a defendant so filled with remorse that he refused to mount a defence against the public demands for justice. (https://nivervillecitizen.com/news/commentary/consider-the-angel-of-justice)
- “Making Our Voices Heard,” by Greg Fehr. When an editorial in a different newspaper got people talking about whether public council meetings should be recorded, columnist Greg Fehr, a former councillor and mayor himself, ruminated on the benefits and pitfalls of the practice. (https://nivervillecitizen.com/news/commentary/making-our-voices-heard)
- “Our Community’s Role in Feeding the World,” by Candace Alarie. Many people who move to our communities from the big city don’t have a full appreciation of the agriculture that goes on all around us. In this piece, guest columnist Candace Alarie wrote about the issue of global food security and the role of our hard-working farmers in feeding the world. (https://nivervillecitizen.com/news/commentary/our-communitys-role-in-feeding-the-world)
- “The Cannabis Store: What Is the Role of Council?” by Greg Fehr. No issue got the people of Niverville talking more last year than the question of retail cannabis. In the wake of a controversial decision by council to deny a retailer’s application to open a local store, and subsequently to hold a plebiscite to decide the question, Greg Fehr explored the issue of council’s role in making these sorts of decisions. (https://nivervillecitizen.com/news/commentary/the-cannabis-store-what-is-the-role-of-council)
- “Life in an Uncompetitive Riding,” by Patrick Roland. This fall, Manitobans went to the polls twice in two months, once to elect a new provincial government, and then again to elect a new federal government. This piece explores the long history of Provencher, the federal riding of which our communities are part, and asks a question: is it a problem that the results in our riding are so static and predictable year in and year out? (https://nivervillecitizen.com/news/commentary/life-in-an-uncompetitive-riding)
- “Where Is Our Common Ground?” by Greg Fehr. Another hot-button topic this past year, which is surely a sign of things to come, has been climate change and what to do about it. This piece looks at our many differences, and the hypocrisy and finger-pointing on display from all sides, and asks where we can find common ground. (https://nivervillecitizen.com/news/commentary/where-is-our-common-ground)
- “Coming Full Circle,” by Heather Fast. A long-time resident of Niverville reflects on the recent changes to the community as three generations of her family meet at a new play structure in Hespeler Park that commemorates a fourth. (https://nivervillecitizen.com/news/commentary/coming-full-circle)
- “The Stability (and Instability) of Confederation,” by Greg Fehr. Ever since the federal election, in which the governing Liberals were shut out of Alberta and Saskatchewan, there’s been a lot candid discussion about western alienation—and even talk of the western provinces separating from the east. Against this backdrop, Greg Fehr discussed the fractious history of our nation and its stability—or lack thereof. (https://nivervillecitizen.com/news/commentary/the-stability-and-instability-of-confederation)
- “Standing up for Ourselves: LGBTQ+ Support Challenges in Niverville,” by Laura Guenette and Sarah Salter. At the grand opening of the Niverville High School, two students attempted a peaceful demonstration against one of the delegates, MP Ted Falk, for his stance against the LGBTQ community and women’s reproductive rights. They tell their story, specifically of efforts by the school division to minimize the demonstration. They later received an apology from the school division. (https://nivervillecitizen.com/news/commentary/lgbtq-support-challenges-in-niverville)
- “On the Darkest of Days, a Spark of Hope and Compassion,” by Accalia Robertson. Most of us in southeastern Manitoba grew up in the Christian holiday traditions. In this cross-cultural guest article from a resident of Niverville, which focuses on marking the occasion of the winter Solstice, the reader gets a peek into another cultural perspective. (https://nivervillecitizen.com/news/commentary/on-the-darkest-of-days-a-spark-of-hope-and-compassion)
