LETTRE

A different view from Jardin North

 

The Jardin North opened the 2016 season with a shocking eye-opener; despite following guidelines established under a new Committee for the Jardin North, I was disqualified from participating although I paid my membership fees at registration and agreed to the rules in effect.

As I grew my seedlings, hoping to transplant them to the garden on opening day, I met Luc Prud'homme, a Committee member and I saw myself denied access to the garden and told the deadline for participation had passed and the number of participants had been reached. Too late, no excuses and no explanations to attest that I was on site previously with the confirmation of another organizing member present!

This event confirms that community spirit is not a priority; this represents actions of an exclusive club by refusing someone’s participation without cause.  In past seasons, Jardin North and the Aylmer Food Bank encouraged the creative vision of participants, but now power in the hands of a few is uprooting a greatly appreciated community service.  

I'm surprised by these actions of a community-funded organization mandated to value tolerance and inclusiveness. Through the Aylmer Food Bank, I joined a community garden that was fun and productive, creative and peaceful in nature. Will the new committee grow roots to cultivate these fine values or will they weed out diversity for self-serving interests?

 

Pierre Guertin
Aylmer