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Ecowrappin'

With Kris Lee

Whether Big City, Small Town, Factory or House....Neighbours Come in All Sizes

Tuesday, August 12, 2003

I walked into an elevator in Toronto with a very quiet elderly man a few weeks ago. As we traveled to the 12th floor of the apartment building, we exchanged a few pleasantries. At the end of the ride he said, "You're not from here. I can tell." When I asked a friend in Toronto how he knew that I was from a small town, she said, "People who live in apartment buildings in Toronto don't talk to each other in elevators." In fact, big city dwellers seldom even make eye contact, let alone smile. After 30 years in Wallaceburg and the St. Clair River, eye contact and smiles are just par for the course. That's my definition of small town.

How we react with our neighbours differs between small town and large city. It is a shame, it should not be that way. But what if your neighbour is a large factory or chemical company? Can you still make eye contact and greet with a smile?

I regularly speak with communities which house large chemical manufacturing facilities. It amazes me that unless the neighbour is an employee, seldom are residents aware of the products being manufactured or who is in charge. Suddenly, they become some mysterious entity of nothing more than stacks and pipes. Neighbours have concerns and complaints but are afraid to call because their complaint may be perceived as harassment. Other neighbours assume that their input will be ignored anyway, an exercise in futility.

So here are some important questions to think about if you live next door to a factory or an industrial complex, even a warehouse. If the neighbour is a chemical manufacturing company or a large warehouse, take heed. These questions could be important to the safety of your family.

Do you know what they make and who owns the plant?
If there were an explosion or fire, do you know whether it is safest to stay in your house or get into your car and drive away?
What is stored on site? Can it hurt you if there was a fire or a spill?
How is the material stored, e.g. tank cars, tractor trailers, drums?
Can a child climb the fence and play there without being detected? How vandal proof is the site?
Would you know whom to call if you had a question or complaint?
Would you be afraid to call? If you have called or visited the site, how were you treated?
Have you ever been contacted via newsletter, phone call, open house invitation?
Does the company have good standing (high profile) in the community e.g. Educational tours, co-op programs for students, management personnel who reside in the community, an open attitude to comments and questions?

If you draw a blank for most of these questions, a neighbourly visit or phone call may be in order. However, remember that receptionists are not always trained to forward concerns. If you are not successful, donít give up. Contact a local environmental or nature group. Describe your concerns.

There are national environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club of Canada ( HYPERLINK "http://www.sierraclub.ca"; www.sierraclub.ca), Pollution Probe ( HYPERLINK "http://www.pollutionprobe.org"; www.pollutionprobe.org) and Ontario Environmental Network ( HYPERLINK "http://www.oen.ca"; www.oen.ca) who can assist citizens with concerns. For chemical companies, an excellent source is the Canadian Chemical Producers Association (CCPA) and Responsible Care ( HYPERLINK "http://www.ccpa.ca"; www.ccpa.ca)

Oddly enough, there are many chemical companies that proactively communicate with their neighbours. For example, Terra Industries in Courtright, along the St. Clair River, has regular newsletters, an active community advisory panel, open houses, an automatic dialing system to neighbours warning them of tornadoes as well as emergencies. Their latest emergency drill incorporated the trailer park residents at St. Clair Parkway Cathcart. Their plant manager and other key personnel live in the community. These types of factors are indicators of a good neighbour policy.

Regardless whether the neighbour is big or small, it is important to greet them with a smile and communicate problems as they arise. Don't wait for an emergency before you get to know your neighbour.



Kris Lee is a high school science teacher in Wallaceburg, Ont. She is working hard to bridge the gap between industry and community, with a major goal of reducing harmful effects to the environment. For over 10 years Kris has been an active member of several national industry and government advisory panels.