December 15, 2020
By Nate Smelle
Hastings Highlands council received a delegation at their Dec. 2 meeting from Reverend Marilyn Zehr and Erin Morlock of the Maynooth-Madawaska Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada. Drawing attention to a hateful act of vandalism which took place in the municipality on Aug. 1, Zehr and Morlock called on council to move forward with a plan of action to deal with racism and discrimination in the community.
Establishing common ground in a shared hope for a more inclusive and healthier community, Zehr pointed out how everyone wants to live in a community where they are safe, and where they feel a sense of belonging. By using phrases in the municipality’s strategic plan such as “We care,” “We are all in this together,” and “Welcome home,” Zehr said council acknowledges the value of this kind of hope in their effort to become an “enviable community where people want to live and work and play.” Unfo