The fairies are gone!
Sad news in my neighbourhood: The fairy treat tree is gone.
Every Thursday after daycare, my son and daughter would run to the fairy tree; with excitement the little door was opened and one (!) piece of candy was picked out. What joy it was for the owners, a senior couple, and the neighbourhood children.
In the past, when nuisances occurred (like when someone took all the candy), ‘the fairies’ rationed the supply of candy then.
Over time, my family and the ‘fairy tree couple’ became friends. It was a pleasure to see the intergenerational connection grow. What a great asset for our neighbour! Every neighbourhood should have a fairy tree!
The fairy tree is gone now – someone urinated against it and right in the candy cup. Disgusting! The fairies packed up and are gone.
Imagine the disappointment for my and other kids. Very sad, indeed.
Police chief Davis calls this a "quality of life crime" – a small crime. For us neighbours, this was a stab into the heart. This is how the spirit of a neighbourhood is destroyed: it pulls people apart and connections are lost. Instead of strong and vibrant neighbourhoods, the social fabric is getting weaker and dull.
We must support neighbourhoods! We must demand more and better services: social services, homelessness prevention and drug addiction treatment and support.
Policing must change to a community-centric approach.
Chief Davis is rightfully asking for a budget increase – one of his suggestions that is brilliant: auxiliary police force. More foot and bicycle officers patrolling the beat. The "fairy tree incident" would have been less likely.
A larger police presence could have prevented this. "Could have.”
Sarnians: Please support the new police budget!
Dr. Robert M. Dickieson, DVM
Sarnia