C.D. Howe, once said, Canada is at its best when it has a big project to take on.
Howe, a former Liberal cabinet minister who served under three consecutive prime ministers from 1935 to 1957, has been credited for helping transform Canada’s economy from one based on agriculture to industrial. Howe was also given the nickname ‘minister of everything’ by the media of the day because of his extensive involvement in Canada’s war effort.
At the time he was talking about the Avro Arrow, however, if he were alive today I believe he could have been referring to Barrhead.
Although I have been here a relatively short period of time, I have seen the community take on and complete a number of major projects — the soon-to-be completed aquatic centre and the successful integration of Gambian refugee Buba Banda by the Barrhead Community Refugee Support (BCRS) come to mind first, but there are others.
The question is what should the community’s next big or series of projects be?
Rita Lyster, one of the driving forces of the Agrena Society’s pool fundraising effort, during a Habitat for Humanity key awarding ceremony last spring suggested it could be another Habitat project. Certainly a worthy undertaking, but, if were to suggest a project, it would be a transportation system.
About two weeks ago, a senior called our office, concerned that she was no longer was able to get around town and conduct her normal day-to-day business, because the town’s two taxi services were not operating.
Since then I am glad to report, that the loss was only temporary and that Barrhead once again has a taxi service, although it is limited to in-town only.
While I don’t want to see a group or organization, compete with a business, the loss of the service did emphasize how important transportation is. In a rural community, even one as compact as Barrhead, getting around can be a challenge. And that is only for those who have to travel within the town. For those living in the county and have to come to Barrhead on a regular basis or residents who have to travel to the city, the challenge is multiplied 10 fold.
In the April 6, 2016 issue of the T&C we published a story about how the Medically At Risk Driver Centre (MARD) is trying to help communities establish their own sustainable transportation system by creating the transportation toolkit. It includes ideas and suggestions of how to get an alternative transportation system as well as potential funding avenues.
Is it feasible to implement such a system in Barrhead? I’m not sure, but the need is definitely there. I know for my own small family with one vehicle there are times when getting to necessary appointments has been difficult. For those without a car the challenge can be insurmountable.
So what should our next big project be? My vote is transportation.
