Editorials - Aug. 2, 2024

A recent TikTok post claimed that tourists in Wasaga Beach have been setting up privacy tents and using the sand to poop on the beach. The Town of Wasaga Beach and Ontario Parks have responded that they have not observed any of this behaviour on their regular patrols of the popular resort, but encouraged anyone who witnesses it to contact authorities. It didn’t take long for social media to extrapolate the situation, and most recently comment threads on Facebook have been speculating that the tourists in Goderich must be also using their tents to poop on the beach.

 

It is true that Goderich has enjoyed exponential growth in tourism numbers over the last decade or two, and that many of those visitors appear to be from urban centres. Modern beachgoers tend to arrive in large family groups and come prepared to spend the day, with coolers, chairs and various types of structures. The faces of these groups are now decidedly more diverse and cultures tend to clash about how the waterfront is best enjoyed, creating friction between locals and tourists.

 

Tents with sides are banned from most beaches now, as they take up more room and don’t allow everyone to enjoy views of the water, but the accusations of them being used as toilets seems to be a new development. Sunshades and shelters are still allowed, so everyone can use the waterfront and get a little reprieve from the sun.

 

Goderich (and other towns) can use the economic boost that tourism provides, and we can learn to share, or avoid the busy weekend times. Unless you have actually seen someone from another culture pooping on the beach, social media speculation is just thinly-veiled racism. If you do see it, report it to the local authorities so charges can be laid. – DS

As the Canadian women’s national soccer team worked to defend its gold medal win in 2020 in Tokyo, a cloud of scandal has hung over the team; a cloud placed above them by a careless, reckless coaching staff and an apparent case of organization-sanctioned drone spying. The “tactic” is reported to have been used by both the men’s and women’s teams, dating back years and encompassing that gold medal run.

 

Former players like Stephanie Labbé and Christine Sinclair have called on Canadians to support the team after it was docked six points for the scandal, in addition to insisting that they had not ever been shown any drone footage. Similarly, defender Vanessa Gilles has delivered a fiery, impassioned plea to separate the players from the staff wrongdoing. “We’re not cheaters. We’re damn good players, we’re a damn good team, we’re a damn good group,” she said.

 

For now, most Canadian soccer fans have taken the players at their word, pinning the blame on rogue staff. However, even if those words are true, the extent to which the players benefitted from cribbed information, without even knowing it, may never truly be known.

 

For years, Canada Soccer has failed its players. Organizations like Canada Soccer ask young Canadians to turn their lives over in service of sport, scooping up talented kids at young ages. The organization needs to adhere to that covenant, helping those players to succeed. By failing to do that, Canada Soccer has derailed the careers and aspirations of current players and jeopardized the recruitment of future players and the very program itself. Canada is better than this and, in the years ahead, we’ll have to prove ourselves all over again. – SL 

You! Yes, you reading this! What are you doing to adapt to climate change? What are your friends and families doing to adapt to climate change? This question should be on everyone’s minds, lips, eyes, ears, skin and noses. Well, maybe not noses. At a party and feeling awkward? Ask everyone in the room how they’re adapting to climate change. Quiz your local representatives. “What’s the plan?” If they don’t have one, suggest they come up with one or step aside.

 

Ontario’s government doesn’t seem to have a solid plan for dealing with climate change. If it does, they’re keeping it a secret. We need transparency and action, not empty promises and vague reassurances. Climate change isn’t waiting for us to get our act together. We’ve seen the flooding rains in Ontario and the horrific wildfires in Jasper.

 

Investing in climate adaptation now will save us the exorbitant costs of cleaning up after catastrophes later. This isn’t just about avoiding disaster; it’s about creating a resilient future. We don’t need to feel despondent about the ravages that are upon us. Instead, let’s ask ourselves: What are we doing to adapt to climate change?

 

Small steps can make a big difference. It’s not just the government that needs to act; every individual has a role to play. Support sustainable practices and advocate for change. Small actions, when multiplied by millions, can create a tidal wave of positive impact.

 

So, what’s the plan? Ask your nieces, nephews and uncles. Ask your friends, colleagues, and neighbours. Challenge the status quo and push for real solutions. We can’t afford complacency. Ask everyone! – SBS