Homes don't make a community

TODD DENNIS

Dear Editor - Re: "Meet the Southies" (Guelph Mercury, June 23).

I'm writing to express my disappointment with the recent article regarding the south end. Was the article an attempt at an informative piece on the south end, or was it trying to generate a controversy where none exists?

The article targeted the myopic stereotypes of the south end, rather than actually performing any journalistic investigation. The Clairfields Neighbourhood Group was contacted to find families willing to be interviewed for this article. In spite of several families offering interviews, the reporter accepted one. I have nothing against the Frosts; I just wish the article had obtained more than one viewpoint.

Many of the Frosts' concerns do resonate with most residents of the south end. Their seven-year-old has to be bused to school. There is no local recreation centre for our kids.

Yes, our trees are still small, and many of the homes do have that similar "just built" look that can only fade with time. Fortunately, schools, recreation centres and diversity of housing is not what builds a community -- the people are.

My wife and I chose south Guelph as a place to live. I love my home, and have made every effort to make my neighbourhood an integral part of the city.

The blatant hypocrisy of a city newspaper providing this type of shallow coverage is, frankly, embarrassing.

We are trying to make ourselves a vibrant, integral part of the city. We're part of Guelph, and we'll show you what it takes to build a community.

Todd Dennis

Guelph

Chairperson

Clairfields Neighbourhood Group