Some wiseacre social commentator once said, “History doesn’t repeat, but it does rhyme.”
Here’s an ironic historical rhyme: about 10 years ago, Thorne Council sued its volunteer community recreation association. Both sides – taxpayers and residents of Thorne – had to hire lawyers. It didn’t go well for either. That’s what led me to run for council, determined to end the lawsuit. The week I had to file my nomination papers, we learned our offer on a fixer-upper home in Shawville was accepted, and my partner was diagnosed with stage four cancer. She insisted I run. An almost entirely new council was elected, and the lawsuit was dropped. But the damage was done – Thorne’s community spirit was left impoverished.
Now, MRC Pontiac is suing one of its own municipalities. At issue is Alleyn-et-Cawood’s (AC) reluctance to pay “shares” based on an imaginary number called the comparative factor. The warden chided AC for taking a principled stance, warning legal fees could pile up. Sometimes, one must put a price on principles. I hope this proves less costly and destructive than Thorne vs. Thorne, but the rhyme is strong, and it won’t look good in the history books.
Robert Wills,
Shawville and Thorne
Ed.
Published February 12, 2025.
