As I write this on Monday evening (actually, it’s closer to Tuesday morning, but who’s keeping track?), writer’s block has gotten the best of this writer’s brain.
Without a solid idea to craft a single column about, but a few random thoughts popping in and out of my head, I thought it would be best to fill this space with some bits and pieces…
Hockey playoffs are no fun without the Leafs
How many hockey games have I watched since the Toronto Maple Leafs made their annual first-round exit?
One – when Edmonton defeated the L.A. Kings in Game 7 of the first round later that night.
Once the Leafs are out, I tune out from hockey. It’s no fun watching a bunch of teams you don’t follow play for a trophy that has eluded your team since before you were born.
Sitting near dead last in both of the playoff hockey pools I am participating in doesn’t help either…
Smart Beach
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been helping our friends at the Kincardine Independent by writing a few stories while they are between reporters.
Last Wednesday, a beautiful day with blue skies, I made the trip up to Ontario’s West Coast to cover a couple of events, including the launch of the Municipal Innovation Council’s Smart Beach pilot project.
In a nutshell, this project uses technology to gather information about water conditions, weather patterns and beach usage to give researchers better insight into when it is safe to swim.
Dr. Chris Houser of the University of Windsor is the lead researcher on the project, and he says current safe-to-swim guidelines are based on a single factor: if waves are higher than 50cm, use caution.
That may be true in some locations, but not every beach is the same is his argument.
Over the next three years, this data will be collected and it will remain to be seen if we can predict safe beach days or not. Dr. Houser hopes that this data will be useful to local emergency personnel, giving them an added “heads up” when the potential for a water rescue is present.
I hope this project accomplishes its goals and saves a few lives in the process.
Election predictions
By the time you read this, you will have likely already voted for the provincial election or are standing in line to vote.
I’m going to do something that I normally don’t do in this space: give you my election night predictions.
Before I type any further, these predictions are not an endorsement of any political party or candidate but are merely being made based on my observations.
If lawn signs are any indication, the Conservatives will continue to represent our riding at Queen’s Park.
The same goes for looking at past elections as a reference point.
In Perth-Wellington, Conservatives have held the seat since 2011 when incumbent MPP Randy Pettapiece won the seat from Liberal John Wilkinson. Liberal supporters will tell you the wind turbines won the Conservatives that seat in 2011. Over in Huron-Bruce, Lisa Thompson first won the seat in 2011 and hasn’t had a real close challenger since.
Provincially, I think the Conservatives stay in power, but not a majority. I think pandemic restrictions and reactions will persuade other voters to vote on the left, or further on the right to the New Blue Party (see below), but not enough that it costs Premier Doug Ford his job.
Provincially, I think the Conservatives will lead a minority government, with the Liberals and NDP taking an equal piece of the pie in opposition. Who the official Opposition will be on Friday I don’t know, but it will be orange or red.
Another prediction I will make is this, again based on lawn signs and how the candidates have performed at local debates: The New Blue Party will receive more votes than anyone thought they would have going into this election.
The candidates for the New Blue have been well-spoken, articulate and level-headed in any conversation or debate I have seen. This will cost the Conservatives some votes across the board. They may even win a seat or two.
Guess we’ll see come Friday morning.
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Mike Wilson is the editor of Midwestern Newspapers; comments and feedback can be sent to mwilson@midwesternnewspapers.com.
