CONNECTING
I’m a sucker for an underdog story. I love the story of The Little
Engine That Could. I devoured Malcolm Gladwell’s David and Goliath. I
always have a particular affection for the runt of the litter, the rose bush
that got pelted with hail and the author that was rejected by 50 different
publishers. I rooted for the tortoise.
That’s why I was particularly happy to write about Leamington for
this issue of The Hub. Leamington has taken its share of hits the last few
years – a tornado, a major industry closing – but it keeps plugging along in
the face of overwhelming odds. It’s an example of bouncing back and
positive action that can serve as an inspiration for other communities.
In a way, all our stories this month are about little engines that could.
For generations, people around the world have left their homelands and
come to Windsor-Essex, but they’ve worked to ensure their cultural
traditions survive and thrive. And AM800 CKLW has reinvented itself time
and again to respond to changing media practices and technology, all
while maintaining its sense of belonging in the community.
Have you noticed that it’s never the big, nameless, faceless entities
that bring our communities together in the face of adversity? It’s always
the people – the individual ideas and energy coming together to find a way
to beat the odds.
We’re all stronger when we work together. So as this summer begins,
and our thoughts turn to warm days, short nights and taking it easy, I hope
all our readers keep that in mind. Whether you’re saving a radio station or
a town, raising money for a cause or making pierogi for a crowd,
remember that Windsor-Essex is full of people who are willing to chant
along with you: I think I can, I think I can, I think I can. Here’s to beating
the odds!
Who would have thought that one day before the start of June we'd be
wearing long pants, socks and coats. It seems everyone is talking about
how unusual the weather is for this time of year. I'm not saying I'm not one
of those people, but all this talk of gloom and doom doesn't make it better.
You'd think we all lived in paradise till the last couple of years if you relied
on our collective, self-delusional memory. But Mother Nature has always
had her moods. It was at this time of year, five years ago, when a tornado
ripped through the town of Leamington. I'll take two, unseasonably cool,
rainy days in a row any day rather than a repeat of June 11, 2010.
Leamington, it seems, has had its share of devastating events. Just
one year ago, Heinz, a major employer in the community, announced the
sale of the local plant and the resulting loss of jobs. People were shocked,
but like in the aftermath of the catastrophic weather event, they managed
to regroup and move on.
In this issue we take a look Leamington one year later as well as the
multicultural aspect of our region. Did you know that Windsor-Essex is
the fourth most ethnically diverse community in Canada? Whether due to
political unrest, economic necessity or a yearning for "a better life,"
thousands of people have chosen to leave their home and make their way
here over the years. We look at why and how it has made us all that much
richer.
And finally, do the call letters CKLW ring a bell? Read about the Big 8
and the glory years of AM 800. There are some as far as the southern
United States who can tell you who Big Tom Rivers was and we think you
should know why.
As you're reading and planning your calendar for the month of June, I
bet the weather will have changed enough for everyone to be complaining
about the heat. Whatever the thermometer says, I hope you get the chance
to experience at least a fraction of what June has to offer.
Shelley
Managing Editors
Please direct advertising or
subscription inquiries to
[email protected]
Eva Antonel
Shelley Divnich Haggert
Contributors
Alex Antonel, Dan Gray,
Angelica Haggert, Michael Haggert,
Windsor Essex County Health Unit
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4 The HUB - June 2015
Eva
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