Raise the Hammer

Oh the fighting. Is that what Brantford children do? Yes. Well, most of the people in Brantford are old and miserable. And most of the children have actually left. Or, will one day become intelligent enough to leave. Sadly we still haven't resolved the native issue. And, sadly we turned a bright future for ourselves away and gave it all to Oakville in the past (referring to Ford). All the brilliant young minds that come out of Brantford flee b/c, they're too smart to stay and raise a family there. So really there is no hope for Brantford. There will be no sources of innovation and no sources of inspiration. The city truly is dead.

But, could it be revitalized? Possibly...how?

1. Say no to temp employment services. Don't give in to skewed labour market practices. By taking a low wage you also force other employees to take those same wages. The worst part of it is, you receive a false sense of job security and the employers don't have to pay you benefits and a pension. Out of desperation the entire of Brantford's labour force are now fighting for scraps. Go to city hall and get rid of these temp agencies or have them regulated. Do you really enjoy being called at any possible moment and working at any possible moment? The answer is no! Do not put up with that kind of working standard. Leave Brantford if you need to. As a matter of fact, if there is a giant exodus from Brantford then city hall may finally resolve the issue for future generations to come.

2. Tear down Old Brantford and build a NEW Brantford. Old Brantford is all recorded in pictures and that is enough. Its history is archived in the library. Why fret about such trivial things? Having a University in downtown is actually quite intelligent. You bring young people in and convince them everyday to stay. They will hopefully fall in love with Brantford and actually start a venture or own a small business that will grow into a bigger business. This takes time but it is something.

3. Bring in an architect and an experienced urban planner. This city is located on a river for heavens sake! That means Brantford should try to use the river to its own advantage. Build something along it that encourages traffic to go through it and by it more often. If only there were more fine restaurants along the river or a tasteful jazz lounge etc. Harmony square is a good start. I thoroughly enjoy the gardens there along with the water works/sprinklers that are put on in the water. It is also a skating rink in the winter. Though it is small, it's a taste of what's to come hopefully.

4. Make peace with the natives. This does not have to be collective as other cities along the river are at odds with the agreement. Something must be done in order for larger companies and corporations to feel secure in their investments for Brantford. It's obvious a large sum of money will not do for the native problem since the money is never distributed equally and a select few of the native "leaders" do become much better off. There needs to be a better forum for communication. The longer this problem remains and the longer needed words are unspoken, hatred between natives and Brantford's citizens will grow.

5. Clean up the brownfield sites. It is a constant reminder to Brantford's citizens of a promise unmet. I can assure you that the morale of Brantford's citizens is diminished every time they walk and drive by such places. They want it all gone and wiped away from their minds forever! The City of Brantford needs to take action. It needs to make Brantford more marketable. These sites should then be considered a long-term investment. A vehicle by which Brantford's employment will increase again if only it can convince companies into purchasing them.

6. The school systems work. There are many university and college graduates that come from Brantford. Many are very promising with exceptional leadership qualities and a high academic aptitude. If the city needs proof that it is not doing enough to make Brantford a hospitable place, then consider its many students and their desires to leave Brantford upon graduating high school. The desire is very strong.

7. Transportation. Transportation. Transportation. If Brantford cannot produce wealth then it must bring wealth into the city. VIA rail is not enough. There needs to be established a GO bus or GO transit system. Again, because Brantford is not bringing in enough wealth, its citizens cannot spend and in turn support its local businesses. Therefore this is perhaps the most important factor for growth. If Brantford can bring GO transit to its downtown center, it will boom. Skilled workers and young professionals will be given the means of traveling to bigger cities and working there. More jobs create more wealth. This may also reduce the amount of leverage temp agencies have on the Brantford labour force.

Finally, I wanted to conclude by saying that I am from Brantford. I grew up along a lot of amazing people. I'm 23 now and will have been employed in Toronto as a professional for a year. And, although I did my post-grad elsewhere I do long to go home to a changed Brantford. As of now though, I will most likely relocate to central Ontario. I know for a fact that its high schools have produced a lot individuals of exceptional talent and I wish that Brantford could have nurtured their own sons and daughters to fruition but sadly that's not the case today. Instead they'll have made a permanent stay in a distant city with haunted memories of Brantford. But there is hope. I do have a strong desire to come back and change Brantford. I know there are other generations that feel the same way. So from here I just want to say that change is good. I'm actually smiling now because Old Brantford is being torn down. And hopefully, maybe you'll understand one day. Perhaps you'll chide me because I'm young. But, the young do dream and want better things. So don't discourage us.