Social media in Arnprior is exploding in reaction to Walter Stack’s pamphlet entitled, “My Opinion,” delivered to mailboxes across the community Tuesday.
The Op-Ed piece, distributed via Canada Post bulk mailing at his own expense, focuses on the continuing reaction to a CBC expose entitled Racism in the Valley, shared by the public broadcaster in December.
As Mayor, Stack indicated at the January 11th municipal meeting that he felt maligned by vitriol placed at his figurative doorstep from certain community members.
Stack advised that he would be circulating his thoughts to all of the Town’s resident regarding assertions that Racism is systemic in the municipality.
Stack’s pamphlet cites a number of definitions of the term, “systemic” which some may argue are not drawn from lived experience.
He does condemn prejudice and discrimination as individual behaviours.
In the document Stack’s stance may be perceived by some as confrontational, saying “I will be making statements that will call out those who have attacked our community and myself with the same type of bias that they would like others to think they are above.”
While the Mayor doesn’t pull punches, he names names- and his “closing statement” may not put the controversy to bed.
