Fitting name for city hall

(January 06) - The new city hall will open soon. Coincidentally, council just approved a new policy for naming parks and public buildings. A process has been set to commemorate an individual’s "outstanding achievement, distinctive service or significant community contribution." The timing is just about perfect. We can correct an oversight that has gone on for far too long. When it finally opens its doors, the new building should be named the Carl Hamilton Civic Administration Centre.

There are very few people in Guelph who can match Hamilton’s record of service to the community. He was first elected to city council in 1970 and served continuously until health considerations prompted his retirement in 1993. Only Norm Jary and Ken Hammill put in more years on council. Jary’s years were spent mostly as mayor. Hammill sat with Hamilton on Council. He is now continuing his good work through the Friends of Guelph. They are raising money to fund a public space in front of the new building.

Carl Hamilton passed away seven years ago, on Feb. 10, 2002. He was a lawyer with a deep commitment to social justice. He was an environmentalist long before most people could spell the word. He cared about our city and the people who live here. His was a steady voice of reason and moderation in the years when developers came to council with an overblown sense of entitlement.

From 1958 to 1961, Hamilton was the National Secretary of the CCF. During the 1970s he ran as the NDP candidate in three provincial elections, coming a strong second to Harry Worton in the last two of them. He was respected and trusted by all who knew him, even if they sat down at different political tables.

In September 2003, a year and a half after he died, Wellington County installed a bench in his memory in the courtyard across from the entrance to the Crown Attorney’s office. We are still waiting for the city he served so well to give him the recognition he deserves. This wait should be over in 2009. Making it happen should be our community New Year’s resolution.

The first step in the new naming procedure is public input. The new naming committee will receive suggestions from citizens, and will make recommendations to council. If you agree that Carl Hamilton should be commemorated in this way, go to the city website, look up the e-mail addresses of your councillors, and send them a message of support. You can send a copy to me at pickersgill.letters@gmail.com.

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Development is about to pick up on the east side of Guelph. People bought homes in the area with an expectation they’d soon have a grocery store close by. Some have waited 10 years. If things go according to plan, they will have a new branch library by September. This will kick-start commercial development. Loblaws owns land on Watson and has been putting off building a grocery store for years. It will happen sooner or later.

When it does, we will have to pay attention or it could go horribly wrong. If we’re not careful, it could mirror the ghastly mess that landed on the west end. The area around the corner of Imperial and Paisley has all the aesthetic charm of Hespeler Road in Cambridge. It doesn’t have to happen again. The staff in our planning department could adopt a New Year’s resolution to make the east side of Guelph a "gaudy sign free zone."

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While I enjoy thinking up resolutions for other people, I avoid them for myself. It just sets me up for failure. It makes more sense to adopt an achievable goal for the year. Start with a realistic self-evaluation and make it measurable and possible. That’s what distinguishes a goal from a dream. I could set a goal to run a 25k marathon this year, but I know it won’t happen. So my goal for 2009 is a bit more modest. Before the year is out I want to step onto my Wii Fit balance board without it groaning and saying I’m obese. About 20 or 30 pounds should do it.