Dear Ms. Bellchanber-Glazier
Feb 8, 2007
Jill Bellchamber-Glazier
Municipal Advisor
Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing
Municipal Services Office - Southwestern
659 Exeter Road, 2nd Floor
London ON N6E 1L3
I received this email [see below] regarding digital pictures. I am appalled at the lack of sensitivity regarding this matter, obviously Micheline, Shawn and yourself have absolutely no understanding of the situation the residents of Caledonia have had to experience. When exactly did you feel we had the opportunity to take pictures without taking our lives and the lives of our families in our hands?
Should we have stepped out with our digital cameras when our town was under siege, bridges and tires were burning, barricades were in being put in place, occupiers were surrounding our properties with weapons in hand. The OPP were unable to remove the occupiers and they had bullet proof vests and guns.
Should we have taken pictures when the SUV was hijacked infront of our homes, lets review what happened to the occupants of that vehicle when they took pictures.......oh yeah, the native protestors attempted to murder one of them, (under the watchful eye of the OPP)
Should we have taken pictures when the elderly couple were attacked.....wait, CH news did that, they were physically attacked and their camera equipment stolen (again, under the watchful eye of the OPP).
Should we have taken pictures on 6th line, we also could have been taken hostage and had our vehicle destroyed (this happend to 2 OPP officers)
Should we have taken pictures as they were cutting my phone line, or loosening the lug nuts of my neighbours vehicle.(we assumed the OPP would have pics, they were sitting out front of our homes)
Should we have taken pictures when I have been verbally assaulted while trying to enter my own home, with yells of bitch, whore, whitey, cunt being called out to me. This was the same evening my neighbours were physically assaulted.
Perhaps we should have sent cameras with our children to Notre Dame Elementary School and asked the little ones to snap a few pics.
We learned our lesson early on, do not take pictures and try to survive. I would strongly suggest you contact the OPP and ask for their pictures, I would assume they have pictures of all events that have taken place, due to the amount of time they spend taking the residents pictures. I would also suggest that the residents who are waiting on compensation, have been waiting since June 2006 therefore a few more weeks while you obtain permission from all media sources would be an alternative solution. The other option is 'google' apparently there is over 3000 pics on line.
I look forward to a response from you. Please forward this email to Shawn and Micheline. I would also like to suggest sensitivity training for the person or persons who came up with this rediculous idea.
Regards
Resident of Caledonia
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From: Bellchamber-Glazier Sent: February 6, 2007 12:48 PM Subject: Request for digital photographs Good Afternoon folks, I'm sending out this email on behalf of Shawn, we've been advised that the Committee would require CBC's permission to use their photographs and the permission would take more time than we have to obtain. Micheline and I spoke with Shawn and wondered whether any member of the committee have digital photos that could be included in the advice document. They could not be pictures that identify individuals, license plates, etc. but if you have any that capture particular events. If you do have photos that we could include we would source it "photo courtesy of member of Caledonia Community Committee". Thanks, Jill Jill Bellchamber-Glazier Municipal Advisor Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing Municipal Services Office - Southwestern 659 Exeter Road, 2nd Floor London ON N6E 1L3