How Do you Measure the Days in the Life of a Woman or a Man ..............Or a Child
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I can tell you that the death of nine year old Cuong Nguyen jarred me as a resident of Kipps Lane that summer. Hell I didn't even think anyone swan in the dirty brown water in the Thames near Kipps Lane. I remember the story of Nguyen's friends who couldn't get help in time because the River is quite a hike from any pay phone.
I remember the pleas for more recreation facilities from neighbours. Controller Joe Swan did try to rally the neighbours to make requests to Council as the Recreation Master Plan was being put in place. Joe didn't realize how isolated Kipps Lane was and is. He didn't realize how devoid it was and still is of political leadership at the Municipal, Provincial and Federal levels
Three years would pass before the Tenants far down the street began the Kipps Lane Tenants Association to fight our landlord. Two more years would pass before the 2006 election came and I invited sitting municipal politicians to Kipps Lane for an all candidates meeting along with candidates. I also invited many to walk Kipps Lane and area. Many did. Ward 4 Candidate Greg Thompson encouraged me to make the tenants association into a community association and reach out further on Kipps Lane and into the neighbouring streets.
So you could measure the years it took to organize this street to make a response to Cuong Nguyen's death as 5 years or 1825 days. Where was the City of London and Councillor Bernie MacDonald after Cuong Nguyen's death and during those 1825 days. I was here and I don't remember any effort on his part to improve recreational facilities. He was a Councillor during all of those days. He has been in office in the Kipps Lane area for over 25 years.
This young man deserved better. He should not have had to look to a dirty brown river as the place to swim in, in 2001. It is now 2009. The same tragedy could happen again. There are a few recreation programs in place so kids can swim if they are bussed away but let's get real. The kids of Kipps Lane need a splash pad in Ed Blake Park so they don't have to leave home. The kids on Huron-Boullee could use it as well since it is not that far a walk and a paved trail is now in place in Ed Blake Park.
A City Manager put the total price tag at $500,000 with the washrooms. Compare that to the $30 Million being spent on the opulent North London Community Centre, YMCA and Library. The kids have waited for too many years, days and minutes Bernie. When will you listen? I'm told by a former Councillor that to make a project like this happen it takes the Ward Councillor to push it through. Well Bernie, we are all waiting for you. You've been very kind to the Stronach area. It's now time for the part of your Ward "West of Highbury."
