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Do you support efforts by Keewatin residents to keep their library/seniors centre open?
No   36     18%
Yes   162     82%
 Total Votes: 198


Comments   Add Your Own
Mike  ( May 30, 2007)
I sure wish Keewatin residents would stop blaming Kenora for all their problems. It was the provincial government that stuck all of us with amalgamation. I would expect that the closure of the library is based on costs vs. value. If more people would have used the service it would have survived. Maybe it had more to do with staffing costs, the fact is we hear more whining about how bad a job our council does and very little offered in the solution department. If I recall correctly there were no candidates from the former JM or Keewatin in our last election. I may not agree with the closure of the library. But maybe the residents in Kenora West can start their own "book club" and purchase the books cheaply from the former library and have senior volunteers run the service. But maybe complaining and griping is more fun and easier. Try running for council next time.
  ( May 30, 2007)
This has been so unfair. Keewatin has three senior apartment complexes and two public schools. What in the heck would be the point in closing the Keewatin Library/Seniors Centre? There are enough seniors, children and residents to justify its entity! Those sitting at the round table meetings at city hall have not one clue about fairness and necessity. If only it was possible to turn back the clock of time I would bet my last dollar that this amalgamation would never have taken place had the decision been up to the residents of Keewatin and JM. Take a pay cut, and save some services for "RURAL Kenora"!
Fred  ( May 29, 2007)
I think it is time that the citizens of Keewatin & JM stood up and said we are not going to take it anymore. We have been screwed over since amalgamation was forced down our throats. It was supposed to make things better, well it hasn't. We lost our dedicated maintenance staff, our town office employees, now our library and seniors centre, what is left? Lots of money to keep the 'Ggaragemahal' open and the Rec Centre for the few that can afford memberships. Come on council take your heads out of the sand and do the right thing! Reinstate the monies to the library and handi-transit, these are necessities, not trips to the far east for drinks and eats with the politicians.
Dave  ( May 28, 2007)
Definitely, also it is a matter of maintaining the identity of Keewatin. Even with "amalgamation", Keewatin is still and always will be a proud and separate entity.
Keewatin needs a library, just as any "neighbourhood" does. With public transit being almost unusable, gas prices being so high, the cost of commuting to the library in Kenora gets pretty costly.
Then you have the local kids who are motivated enough to walk to the Keewatin library to get reading material or research a school project.
There are better ways of saving taxpayers a few bucks, than depriving people access to a library.
  ( May 28, 2007)
It is amazing that after amalgamation the two communities have slowly been losing their services. The Keewatin Library/Seniors Centre, why are the Keewatin Ball fields not being rented out to local teams? Both Keewatin and JM arena's are poorly maintained. Is the pull back in our communities a means of "forcing" people to attend the wellness centre and make up for the loss of monies it has seen in membership? By closing the Keewatin Ball Park, are you making way for a snowmachine corridor next winter? Some really, really stupid decisions are being made here by people we voted in. Next election I surely hope there is some strong representation from the citizens of Keewatin and JM. The city has been wasting our money for too many years and making inappropriate cuts followed by inappropriate spending!
Student  ( May 25, 2007)
There is ABSOLUTELY nothing to do in Keewatin. Having spend a good part of my life in Keewatin I understand how important it is to keep this facility open. Many of the seniors in this community are unable to get to Kenora due to health concerns or lack of transportantion. By taking the seniors center away what will they do? By taking the library away what will the kids do? I can remember as a kid going to the library classes that they had there. If the city closes this facility there will be nothing left in Keewatin for any age.
keewatin home  ( May 25, 2007)
The library is just the start of things to disappear, this building is supposed to be surplus or has it been sold? Keewatin will stand to lose a lot more as the council focus will be on Kenora. The arena will be next, ammalgamation will screw Keewatin!
Kim  ( May 25, 2007)
I suggest they quickly rename the library to the "Thistles Library" - the town will protect it forever.
Reader  ( May 25, 2007)
We cannot lose the Keewatin Public Library or Seniors Centre! Libraries are essential to children's educational growth as well as adults. It seems that Keewatin has got nothing but "shafted" since amalgamation - as well as taking away the excellent services of road maintenance etc., now the library and senior's centre is in jeopardy! ENOUGH ALREADY! In my opinion, "culture" seems to be neglected in Kenora - there always seems to be money for the Rec Centre, and for the new city garage, but when it comes to enriching minds, it seems like that is not a priority - there is talk of the city needing a concert hall - which I agree would be an asset, but the library in Keewatin needs to be a priority over a concert hall.

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