Mar 27/10: Sidewalk

Mar 27/10: Sidewalk, originally uploaded by susanvg.

We took a drive through a few small towns in eastern Ontario. I was struck by how few people were out on the sidewalk. Walking through Maxville, we came across this mural of the town in 1906. People were out and about. We live in a culture of cars. We saw people drive up to the LCBO (liquor store), charge out of their cars straight into the store, then out again and back into the car with their purchases. No more strolling down the street and chatting with a neighbour. The car becomes essential as the local grocery stores and pharmacies close, driven out by the larger chain stores in a nearby town. The cores of these towns have been gutted of the conveniences of local stores.