Yellow-Ribbon Campaign for Military Families Comes Untied

Businessman Decides Against Giving Free Decals
Because City Hall Wants to Sell Them
From CBC

July 24, 2007

Calgary councillors have decided not to put "Support our Troops" decals on city vehicles after a contentious and emotional debate at city hall, prompting the businessman offering the yellow-ribbon stickers to withdraw his donation.

Sean Burnand, owner of Can West Label Inc., said Tuesday he is disappointed that a simple gesture could become a political issue.

"This was a simple offer that we made to the city thinking that the city has thousands of vehicles on streets. But we're going to find a way to get these ribbons out there to private citizens and to corporations, with or without council's help on this."

On Monday, council unanimously approved a plan by Mayor Dave Bronconnier to keep the stickers off city vehicles and instead sell them to the public to raise cash for military families.

"Why don't we take those decals and place them in city facilities, and people could go and take those decals and put a five- and 10-dollar donation, and raise another $50,000 to do something meaningful?" he said.

But by selling the decals, city hall is missing the point, said Burnand, whose staff volunteered time over the weekend to help him make the first run of 5,000 decals.

'This is just about saying thank you'

Ald. Ric McIvor argued that putting yellow-ribbon stickers on city cars and trucks is a simple way to show public support for Canada's military.

"This is not about supporting any or all of those missions or deployments. This is just about saying thank you," he said.

But the decals have become politicized, argued Ald. Helen Larocque, who said some city workers could equate them as a show of support for the war in Afghanistan.

What if employees choose not to drive the vehicles? she asked. She also wanted to know "whether we would be in a position to have to force them to do so or whether they would be able to declare human rights issues."

Thanks to the publicity from the city hall debate, Burnand said he has received offers of support and donations from the public, and is now working with the Calgary Military Family Resource Centre to ensure any money he collects goes directly to the troops and their families.

He is also donating the stickers he made for the city to the resource centre.

Toronto Votes to Retain Decals!

They have voted to retain the Support Our Troops Decals! Toronto Mayor David Miller has reversed his position and led a city council vote to continue to affix "Support our Troops" decals to fire and emergency vehicles in the city!!
The vote, which was passed unanimously Wednesday afternoon with a few councillors abstaining, also permits the police department to put the decals on its' vehicles!
Mayor Miller had said, "It is important for Canada's largest city to make a statement, symbolism matters a lot." (he should have never have let it get this far.. he should have stood his ground from the beginning.. kinda reminds me of a willow tree... bending both ways. However, I'm happy he swayed in support of our troops!)
The vote by city council reversed a plan by city staff to have the decals removed in September, a year after they were added to about 170 of their fire trucks and 175 ambulances.
Earlier this week, Miller said that he backed the decision to remove the decals and that they were only intended to be affixed to the vehicles for one year!! One year!! (let's support our troops for one year and that's it??? geesh! ) He had said that some people found the decals to have a political message in support of the war and that was not appropriate for city vehicles.
But the Toronto mayor said he changed his mind this morning, after learning of the deaths of three Canadian soliders in Afghanistan.(I don't think it should take this news to sway.. he should have stated a strong, positive position from the beginning!) Miller stressed that he also wanted to correct the erroneous impression in some media reports this week that city council does not support the individual members of the military serving in Afghanistan - to which he was stating through his actions!! He had hurt many military families and members through his statements.

He's such a wishy washy guy! One second he says the decals will be removed ... as some citizens of Toronto complained that the decals represented support of war.. and then this... "It is important Toronto demonstrate its support for the troops, since there was a perception that it didn't," said Miller. He added that the city always flies its flags at half-mast if someone from the Toronto area is killed in Afghanistan and other measures have been taken previously to show support.
I want to thank everyone that took the time to email Mayor Miller today and let your voices be heard.. I believe we made a difference.

..and then there's Councillor Pam McConnell
Pam McConnell, one of the few councillors to abstain from the vote, said "The way to support our troops is to bring them home," said McConnell, who is opposed to Canada's military role in Afghanistan. McConnell noted that she was an infant when her father was killed in World War Two. A nephew was recently injured serving in Afghanistan. The councillor also disagreed with suggestions that the "support our troops" decals are a political and not connected to support for the military deployment in Afghanistan."They are exceedingly political."

...and.......... If you'd like to write Councillor Pam McConnell a note or email,
here's her address: (I think she may need to hear from military families and friends as well)

Pam McConnell
City Hall
100 Queen Street West, Suite A7
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
Email: councillor_mcconnell@toronto.ca

Support Our Troops Through Sears

An Additional Way for Canadians

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Support the Troops

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Canadians wanting to support the troops now have another option. CANEX, a division of the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA), has coordinated with Sears Canada to provide official "Support Our Troops" merchandise in Sears Canada retail stores across the country.

Official CFPSA Support Our Troops merchandise includes ball caps, t-shirts, car and fridge
magnets, cling vinyl window decals, bracelets, lapel pins, and more.

T-Shirts are only $12.99 and ball caps only $9.99.
Canadians can now purchase official Support Our Troops t-shirts and ball caps at Sears Canada, with two dollars from each purchase going back to morale and welfare programs for CF members and their families.

To purchase other Support Our Troops items, order online through CANEX at www.cfpsa.com/en/canex/. or through FOCSIA@hotmail.com (Families of Canadian Soldiers in Afghanistan)
"All proceeds from the sales of CFPSA "Support Our Troops" items are reinvested directly into morale and welfare programs for CF members and their families"

Come on.... SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

CFPSA develops and delivers morale and welfare programs, activities and services to members of the CF and their families, in Canada and overseas. These activities include sports and recreation, health and fitness, family services, retail operations, financial services and, mess management. In addition, the CFPSA deploys approximately 60 civilian personnel per six-month rotation to Afghanistan to conduct morale and welfare programs.