...and I couldn't agree more with these people who don't want their town to become like every other North American city. Guelph doesn't need bigbox stores to be stylish or urban. It already is!
Here's a CD Wal-Mart isn't likely to carry
By JOHN ALLEMANG
Saturday, July 16, 2005
For 10 years, Wal-Mart has been campaigning to build a big-box store on the northern edges of Guelph, near two cemeteries and a Jesuit retreat centre, and for just as long the city's sizable collection of rebels from consumer culture have been fighting back.
Although the Ontario Municipal Board approved the project (which goes against the city's official plan), the province's Divisional Court has granted a rare leave to appeal the decision. To raise funds for the appeal, scheduled for Aug. 8 and 9, Guelph musicians have banded together in their own act-locally, We Are the World style to create a CD with the pointed title of Not There.
The title track, written specifically for the CD by musician-producer Sam Turton, is a folk-blues number that turns the rhythms of the South against the Arkansas-based corporation with such lines as, "The people stood up and the city said no/But the Walton boys just wouldn't let go," and, "World is round, box is square/Stick it in the south, we don't care" -- a reference to the Wal-Mart opponents' willingness to see the store built at Guelph's more commercial south edge, far from the Jesuit quiet.
The CD, which features such musicians as James Gordon, Jesse Stewart and Dave Teichroeb, costs $20 and is available at Music in Orbit, The Bookshelf and Thomas Entertainment in Guelph, or through http://www.not-there.ca, the campaign website of Residents for Sustainable Development.
What is the Wal-Mart Nay-sayers nay this time? That Wal-Mart is a large american company (ooh scary)? That it is car dependent? That it has low prices that allow people to buy things they otherwise couldn't afford, with the only downside to them being a bleak shopping experience?
…Stick it in the south, we don't care" -- a reference to the Wal-Mart opponents' willingness to see the store built at Guelph's more commercial south edge, far from the Jesuit quiet
Well, if it doesn't go in Guelph, it'll go in K/W or Cambridge, and you can bet there will be Guelphers there shopping. They should put it to the vote like in LA.
Most Guelphers are happy to drive to nearby cities that have been uglified and use their bigbox stores.
And^^ about the lowprice american store all that... WalMart is a horrible company regardless of where they originated. They are mean to communities, and they uglify nice towns that are trying to use new urbanism. Guelph is a town of local businesses, including those with low prices for the not-so-wealthy.
Wal-Mart is bad...endeavoring to out-price all competition out of business, and then raises them when all competition (and consumer alternatives) are gone...
Thousands of Guelph residents drive to Cambridge to shop at their big box stores every day, and despite the resistance of a vocal segment of the local population, and even though they might be loathe to admit it -- i bet that most Guelph residents would like a Wal-mart in their city. Same goes for Stratford.
I get a kick out of how one person is convinced that Guelph's council is a bunch of ******** because they won't allow the city to be overrun with big box stores -- i would think that that makes them the complete opposite of ********!
personally, having lived in guelph for two years with two more to go i would like to see a wal-mart. it's easy shopping, affordable, and one-stop. I never really liked small stores as I never find what I'm looking for and they're usually more expensive.
For example, I always buy my CD's from Future Shop (big box) rather than CD plus b/c i'll end up saving $5 which I could use for something else.
I'm young so I like commercialization, and haven't come around to appreciate the small things in life yet. Guelph is a city for people who don't want to live in a farm town, but not get stuck in rush hour. You get a quite neighbourhood in return for less development.
Most Guelphers are happy to drive to nearby cities that have been uglified and use their bigbox stores[1].
And^^ about the lowprice american store all that... WalMart is a horrible company regardless of where they originated. They are mean to communities[2], and they uglify nice towns that are trying to use new urbanism[3]. Guelph is a town of local businesses, including those with low prices for the not-so-wealthy[4].
1: Wouldn't building one closer allow shoppers to drive less – and help the environment? If it were really close they could even walk.
2: If people in the community didn't want one, Wal-Mart wouldn't build one. If Wal-Mart thinks they can make money – and they have been overwhelmingly right on their assesments – it's because communities are shopping in the store.
3: They are ugly because they are cheap. How many pawn shops are architect designed and have LEED certification (Incidentally, the Vancouver Wal-Mart had these things) And as for "new urbanism," well, it's worth mentioning. Total tripe.
4: If Guelph businesses have low prices, they have nothing to fear; Wal-Mart will fail and disappear.
Although the Ontario Municipal Board approved the project (which goes against the city's official plan), the province's Divisional Court has granted a rare leave to appeal the decision.
The last stat that I read was for every job created at a WalMart, three local jobs are axed.
Canadian companies can't compete, we don't have the huge backing of a massive US population behind us that enable the WalMarts to keep their prices lower. Besides, WalMart sucks at investing anything in their city locations. I drive to the US and I see WalMart supporting this, WalMart supporting that, I take a look around Canada and I'm very hard pressed to find any WalMart support within their local communities. At least the Canadian Tires support Canada and the cities within.
I give up. With many people like some of you in here, I have lost hope in the future of our cities, which will all look the same and have no quirky little shops, no local business or excitement in searching for things and not just dropping in at an ugly warehouse building to buy the same pressurewasher your nextdoor neighbour has.
It's sad that even in South Africa we now have bigbox stores. Even beautiful Africa will be ruined!
The last stat that I read was for every job created at a WalMart, three local jobs are axed.
Canadian companies can't compete, we don't have the huge backing of a massive US population behind us that enable the WalMarts to keep their prices lower. Besides, WalMart sucks at investing anything in their city locations. I drive to the US and I see WalMart supporting this, WalMart supporting that, I take a look around Canada and I'm very hard pressed to find any WalMart support within their local communities. At least the Canadian Tires support Canada and the cities within.
Don't even start with the comparisons- I have NEVER heard of something hosted or supported by WalMart. And of course their website will say good things.
We wouldn't be arguing against them with a passion for no reason. I don't care if they are an American company- I just think they are a very sick and evil/demeaning company.
I give up. With many people like some of you in here, I have lost hope in the future of our cities, which will all look the same and have no quirky little shops, no local business or excitement in searching for things and not just dropping in at an ugly warehouse building to buy the same pressurewasher your nextdoor neighbour has.
It's sad that even in South Africa we now have bigbox stores. Even beautiful Africa will be ruined!
Slight overstatement don't you think? Last time I recall, the GTA is home to a number of Wal-Mart's and it still has thousands of smaller independant/boutique retail establishments.
Slight overstatement don't you think? Last time I recall, the GTA is home to a number of Wal-Mart's and it still has thousands of smaller independant/boutique retail establishments.
The GTA has much larger number of potential customers. Walmart will simply kill all the independent stores in Guelph and thus singlehandedly kill its downtown at the same time
The GTA has much larger number of potential customers. Walmart will simply kill all the independent stores in Guelph and thus singlehandedly kill its downtown at the same time
While I agree that there is some validity to your statement, you neglect to realize that the retail market is quite diverse and those who don't shop at independent stores are already shopping at places like Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Zellers, etc. Most smaller independent retailers already have an established 'core' clientele.
I give up. With many people like some of you in here, I have lost hope in the future of our cities, which will all look the same and have no quirky little shops, no local business or excitement in searching for things and not just dropping in at an ugly warehouse building to buy the same pressurewasher your nextdoor neighbour has.
I totally agree; we should go back to the days where everyone walked to local mom and pop businesses, because cars weren't invented. Back to a time when everything you bought was made by the person you were buying it from. Who cares that this sounds a lot feudal ages, where only the wealthiest could afford anything. Wal-Mart and other retailers are giving consumers a chance to buy things they could otherwise not afford. And what do you think consumers do with the money they have saved? Burn it?
Wal-Mart and other large scale retailers make profit by having minimum selection of any given product, ie. only xxl tubs of peanut butter. A market will still exist for high end goods and speciality products that Wal-Mart does not stock. And while we're on the subject of prohibition, I think alcohol should be illegal. Since I don't drink, no one should be allowed to.
SP!RE said:
It's sad that even in South Africa we now have bigbox stores. Even beautiful Africa will be ruined!
...We wouldn't be arguing against [Wal-Mart] with a passion for no reason. I don't care if they are an American company- I just think they are a very sick and evil/demeaning company.
Typically you would follow that with a reason, or it makes your claim seem half-assed; in this case, about ∏ of an ass.
doady said:
The GTA has much larger number of potential customers. Walmart will simply kill all the independent stores in Guelph and thus singlehandedly kill its downtown at the same time
Yes everyone in Guelph shopping for antiques, going to the bank, getting a haircut, or stopping for coffee will rush from downtown – rush – to buy vinyl disney backpacks at Wal-Mart. The offices of Downtown will evanesce, and all the workers will become Wal-Mart greeters (or set up new offices in the Wal-Martrofessional services department)
The intersting thing about Wal-Mart is that it is opposed by a diverse array of different special interests that morph together: Non-competitive Local businesses, Union leaders, anti-americans(in Canada), anti-foreigners-in-general(in the US), and anti-globalization vandals. Wal-Mart is indicative of the new model for global retail and shipping – one that, via new technologies – will allow us to buy more for less and make life better for everyone.
If I ever see a big WalMart banner at one of our local events, then I'd start to believe that they support the communities they are in. In all the years I have been involved in various events within the city, I have yet to see one single contrabution from WalMart. For such a huge company, they can't come close to what Canadian Tire, Zellers, Marks Work Warehouse, 3M, Molson or Labatts do when it comes to helping their events in and around the cities they are located in.
No matter what anyone says, I still believe the money we spend finds it's way down south and is used to help put on events or help much more in the USA. I've been to countless airshows, balloon festivals, concerts and other festivals in the USA and have seen huge support from WalMart. The same can't be said here in Canada.
I am on the organizing board for two of Ontario's largest festivals and if WalMart were to assist even one penny, then it would help out.
Sure their website says they assist with various organizations, but if I'm not mistaken, this has only started in the last while due to some flak directed their ways about the lack of support by the worlds largest retailer to Canadian events.
I've seen plenty of Wal-Mart banners at events in Mississauga. We're home to two Wal-Marts (maybe more in the North), including the world's biggest (Square One-> also the second biggest mall in Canada).
Maybe the reason you haven't seen any of their banners is because there is no Wal-Marts in your community and therefore no reason for them to give back. Wal-mart support my T-ball team for three years, donated to every school fair I can remember and donated $10,000 to my school's fundraiser againsit cancer. I think that they're helping my community.
Btw, I have to disagree with you one job at wal-mart stat destorys three jobs. I think that's over doing it. I know in my local community, our Wal-mart has hired many people form the surronding community. As well, every outlet in local malls seem to be filled with stores and even when one closes another store opens up right away. Therefore I think that Wal-mart does add plenty of jobs to the local area. As well, they're prices are competitive. I'd rather be able to buy more for less.
Maybe the reason you haven't seen any of their banners is because there is no Wal-Marts in your community and therefore no reason for them to give back.
London and I have yet to see a banner at RibFest, Balloon Festival, Airshow, Childreans Fest, Western Fair, Blue's Fest, Rock the Park, London Knights, London Majors, Home County, etc.
And just because a WalMart is not in a community IS NOT a reason to not give back to all of Canada.
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