A total surprise
November 23, 2007 · Print This Article
View from the Strip
By Casey Lessard
It’s amazing how contentious change can be. This issue of the Strip profiles the varying opinions about plans to improve the beach and its parking lot. Lambton Shores wants everybody on side so it can get on with the project.
Barbara Gare discovered this firsthand earlier this month, after she gave her opinions at the October 27 beach enhancement meeting. Representing herself, but mentioning she worked at the Chamber of Commerce, the (now) former executive director described concerns tourists brought to her attention at the tourism booth. The only note I made about her short speech was, “If you look at any websites for other tourist towns, they all have vital downtowns,” Gare said. “You have to have A before you can get B.”
Watching her give that speech, something didn’t feel right. It was the last straw for the chamber executive. Gare was reprimanded in an email for representing the chamber, which supports the plan. Gare wasn’t aware of that official stance.
She was fired days later.
Barbara Gare says the move came as a total surprise, but the chamber executive told its members last week she should have seen it coming. They’re tight-lipped about what led to her departure (under legal advice). The question is, was this the last straw or the only one?
I THINK MS. GARE MADE A REAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE BEACH MEETING, AND WAS A RESPECTED , AND INFORMED LEADER OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
ITS REGRETABLE THE CHAMBER WAS SO
UNCOMFORTABLE, AND LACKED ITS OWN CONFIDENCE THAT IT REACTED BY FIRING BARBARA GARE POSTHASTE.
THOSE ACTIONS DIRECTED UPON MS GARE ARE A POOR REFLECTION ON THE GRAND BEND CHAMBER AND ITS PAST EXECUTIVE BOARD, PERHAPS WITH A GREAT DEAL OF WORK THE FEW NEW PERSONS RECENTLY INSTALLED IN THE BOARD OF THE CHAMBER, SOME CREDIBILITY MIGHT BE RE ESTABLISHED
IF THIS NEW EXEC GROUP GETS DOWN TO WORK AND EXECUTES THE REQUIRED EFFORTS TO ENSURE CLARITY IN THE MISSION OF THE CHAMBER AND MAINTAINS GENUINE TRANSPERANCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ,THIS OF COURSE BY FULFILLING ITS OBLIGATION MANDATATE TO THE COMMUNITY.