Canada and Safe Water

Canada and Safe Water

Canada is an enormous country that has its cities and communities spread form one

sea to another. Many great distances often separate these areas, and sometimes force these

areas to develop their own identities out of isolation. Even sometimes communities are faced

with disasters that force certain identities on them. Such identities can often resemble the

national identity, but most of the time, they represent the community’s own views. The way

a community sees national issues says a great deal about their identity and the same goes for

the national side. The way community issues are dealt with through the community shows a

great sense of pride and determination to make the best out of one’s surroundings, and the

way those same community issues are dealt with nationally shows how much our country

cares for the well being of the people. All of these issues present today are mostly portrayed

through the eyes of the media and their coverages. Today, the media presents its opinions on

the issues and determines the importance through the amount of coverage. A good example

to portray this situation is through Walkerton, Ontario. Last year, it was home of the

outbreak of E.Coli water contamination, a more community issue that got the attention of

the whole province and the nation. Since this disaster, there has been attempts from the

surrounding communities and the nation to improve the water systems, especially in Ontario.

This major event was covered by both “The Globe and Mail” and “The Toronto Star”, and

represented two opinions on how to deal with the matter.

Walkerton Disaster

On Friday, 26 May 2000 a quiet little town in the rural heartland of Ontario was

struck with...

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... that the whole country felt a concern for the Walkerton tragedy.

Canada can definitely say that it learned from the situation, and it shows by the national

coverage. It was like everyone was trying to help, no matter where they lived. Canada is

considered a national community, that spreads from sea to sea.

Bibliography:

Canadian Press. “$2,000-a-head Walkerton Offer.” Toronto Star 30 January 2001.

Gorrie, Peter. “Can High Profit Flow with Safe Water?” Toronto Star 28 January 2001.

“Ontario’s Rural Heartland in Shock.” CBC Indepth. 2000.

Mallan, Caroline. “Half of Ontario Water Plants Flawed.” Toronto Star 22 December

2000.

Mittelstaedt, Martin. “Factory-farm Controls Aim to Protect Water.” Globe and Mail 24

January 2001.

Walkom, Thomas. “Is Water Seeping into Corporate Hands?” Toronto Star 29 January

2001.