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41 votes
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108 votes
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Leila Paul
commented
The image of London as waspy is so outdated. Image takes a long time to catch up with reality so we have to stop repeating that outdated mantra.
IMO, both assertions are naive or ill-informed. And we cannot find a solution if we start off on the basis with incorrect assumptions.
With regard to the wasp image - just look around and walk around to see how false that is. It may have been true 30 years ago, ironically when London was economically healthy and considered a desirable destination.
Secondly, I've never, ever, lived in a place that threw open its arms and welcomed strangers. Every city I've ever lived in - and I have lived in many cities - have always looked to a newcomer with suspicion.
Whether I was a kid with my family or if I was a highly visible person on air as a TV reporter or anchor. I've always experienced some degree of "she or they are outsiders".
Ethnic identity is not our problem - it's desirability of living conditions and work. People don't care whether the image is waspy or mixed anymore. Those days are gone. They want certain features - jobs, money, cleanliness, efficiency of city government, taxes well-spent, affordable availability of commodities, efficient internal transportation, good quality education in elementary and high schools (an option taken out of local control) and recreational-leisure activities.
Well-planned, tree-lined neighbourhoods where it's safe and pleasurable to be outside are significantly overlooked. But the LFP's roundtable discussion dealt with that accurately.
We need a sense of community, a feeling of kinship with one another, regardless of colour, race or religion. That means people have to stop identifying with their ethnic/religious group and promoting it and to keep that for family and willingly join in the community's activities on an equal level.
Kinship no longer means isolating ourselves on the basis of ethnicity, religion of gender stereotypes. We have to actively promote equality in London and our identity will evolve naturally, uncontrived.
We need a sense of kinship with one another independent of waspy or non-waspy identities.
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7 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment Leila Paul
commented
Agreed. In fact, it's a must. How? I don't know. Maybe perimeter parking and take like trams into the city core where it's primarily pedestrian.
Anyone ever been to Mackinac island in Michigan? I used to go there and they filmed a romantic movie there. No cars were allowed and it gorgeous - a step back in time.
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London needs some great attractions in the CORE of the city -bring excitement to residents & tourism
25 votesAn error occurred while saving the comment Leila Paul
commented
All good points - what may be missing is a character, an identity, based on our history. Who's got the knowledge and ability to look into our history and find out what makes us distinctive and something we can all relate to. I still think unique boutique style arts shops that are small and truly local is far more appealing than a museum or large organization. We need variety that shows the diversity of our communities and how they express their cultures - and to pay for it they can sell their creations. We also need areas where people can just wander and enjoy each other's company amid clean green features.
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58 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment Leila Paul
commented
The water and trees help us capitalize on our Forest City image. Keep the river flowing so it's clean, prevent dumping of waste and ensue trees are abundant and healthy. Riverwalks encourage creative areas where artists of all kinds and musicians can perform. Unique chatting areas, patios, cafes, places for people to meet. These were the things that made the French Quarter in New Orleans vibrate with life and it energized people. Energy stimulates others. We are an interactive species - we need spaces where we can relate to one another in real life and in real time. Downtown and the Thames should be the focus of green creative resurgence - and small enterprises with character like creative boutiques. We've got the people, the places and the potential.
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167 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment Leila Paul
commented
Wonderful ideas with lots of examples in many cities which have developed their river fronts.
All we need to do is figure out the costs and who's going to pay for them.
We should also find out what other cities with river walks and restaurants and patios have to say about the profitability they've experienced.
Our lives are too managed at the federal and provincial levels for anything to emerge that would make us "different". Too much is centralized with the goal of eliminating differences so we can appear equal on the surace.
We've lost our local autonomy and decision-making and I think people resent that so they stick to "their own" and look with hesitation at other groups.
If we could take control of our lives locally, we might have qualities that make us different but don't divide us. Canadians have allowed the view that distinctiveness, distinctions, exercising discriminatory choices and actions as a negative. Everyone rushes to samenesss. We'll have to go a long way back to be different.
A good place to start would be with cities taking back control of their decision-making capacities and allow differences to re-emerge. We're like a collection of cliques. That could be turned to advantage if these cliques felt a sense of unity and participation in our city's decisions and designs instead of leaving in the hands of Queen's Park or Ottawa.
Cities had different characteristics when they were all legislated to same-ness. it's almost out of our hands unless we insist on reversing the loss of local autonomy and local character.