Grannie leads the charge
Tuesday August 5 2008 By Doug Harkness, On Politics I’ve mentioned it before that there isn’t much doubt that my affinity for politics was gleaned around the family dinner table when I was younger.  The daily chatter of current and world events, as well as there always being a newspaper around, gave a curious young person plenty to think about.
There were certainly other influences as well, such as a favourite uncle and without a doubt my paternal grandmother.  
Being a child of the Great Depression, Nannie, like many from her generation, began working at a young age to help support her family.  She went on several years later to become a supervisor while working on the Avro Arrow, a rather large accomplishment for a female during that era.  Although proudly into her 90’s, I still enjoy conversations with her about politics that can range from “that Bush” and, with her being a Shelburne resident, of course local politics as well.
I even tried to convince her during the last municipal election to take a shot at the mayor’s chair, a race that would have amused me to no end.  Not that the current guy is doing a bad job, he’s a shameless promoter of his town as most small town mayors are.  
The railing on about the work of the physician recruitment committee is getting a little tired though, particularly since most of the folks on that committee aren’t public figures like the mayor. A more proactive approach might have been to ask how the success the committee has been having in the south of the county could be duplicated in the north.  
If the issue was so important (and it is), the mayor might have been better off choosing to sit on the committee himself or appoint a council designate. I suppose doing something like that wouldn’t grab so many headlines though on a slow summer news week.
Anyway, back to Nannie. If you visit the Shelburne hospital or the Shelburne residence anytime soon, you’ll find that one has and the other is about to have doors with automatic openers.  
It seems Nannie has spent a lot of time persuading the good folks at the hospital for the need of such a door, and then went and petitioned all of the residents at the residence for one as well, before presenting her case to the administrator.  
Both institutions should be applauded for reacting to the needs of their clientele, but kudos to the management at the residence in particular. Our seniors need to be well cared for and there is certainly room for more provincial funding in that regard. Our seniors homes have taken quite a beating lately and it’s good to be able to report on efforts they are making to improve.
 I do feel a little sorry for the administrator at the residence though, because I understand Nannie isn’t quite done yet. She’s going to be back again soon, only this time it’s going to be about the food!

Doug Harkness is a longtime member of the Orangeville community with a keen interest in local, provincial and federal politics.

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