On October 4, 2017 Apsley was shocked to learn that RBC, Apsley’s one and only bank would be closing next April 2018 after nearly 60 years of service in our community. The community’s reaction was swift and powerful. Amanda Gray and I took to social media and created the ‘Stop Apsley RBC Closure!’ Facebook Group and the SOB (Save Our Bank) campaign was born. Within days over 1000 petition signatures were collected, a letter writing campaign was organized and a story was featured on CHEX TV with several news articles appearing on line.
We have been inspired by how quickly North Kawarthans have banded together to protest this closure and fight to keep our financial institution in our community. However there are some that say we are wasting our time, it’s just the reality of technology and business, and it doesn’t really matter because they don’t even bank there. We would like to explain why it does really matter… to everyone.
Whether you are a local that works here, or commutes to the city to work or run your own business; a cottager who just visits on weekends; a seasonal resident or retiree that spends half the year here, at one point or another you will need a local product or service. Your car needs a repair, your boat needs to be stored, your pet gets sick, a tree has fallen on your roof, your septic needs pumping, you need to sell your home or cottage and so on. Those local businesses and services that you call for help have staff, have families, they have homes and they have expenses. In order for these people and businesses to be available for you they need a ‘complete community’ that has the infrastructure to support them. Infrastructures like a school, a post office, child care, health services, a grocery store, a library… and a bank!
We are not a community that is located in close proximity to a large urban area- we are a 2 hour round trip to the closest city. We are a community that lacks adequate transportation choices. High-speed, low cost, reliable internet service is not available for a large number of residents. We are a community that is the gateway to prime vacation/wilderness areas and on the fringe of everything else. We are a village that serves many remote residents. An ATM and on-line banking are not viable options and do not address the needs of a small rural community.
The greatest part of economic development is sustaining what we have. Losing a critical piece of infrastructure and/or service can create a ripple effect which is harshly felt in rural/remote communities. It often becomes a slippery slope as to what other amenities or services we can ‘live without’ or ‘drive for’. While it may not happen overnight or be a quick, painless death, many small rural towns across this country are struggling to avoid ‘death by a thousand cuts’. Losing our only bank would be a brutal ‘cut’ indeed.
Bank closures in communities such as ours highlight the growing divide and disconnect between urban and rural. Yet we all recognize the importance and the need for our rural communities. That recognition is the very reason why North Kawartha’s population swells to nearly 7 times the number of its permanent residents during the summer as those from the ‘city’ come to relax, rejuvenate and reconnect with our natural environment. Apsley needs to have basic ‘bricks and mortar’ infrastructure to support the local businesses and community members who in turn provide goods and services for the huge influx of seasonal residents, cottagers and tourists every year.
So you see… it really does matter. If there is a little piece of North Kawartha that you love and cherish then please support our cause. Sign the petition, write a letter of complaint, attend the public meeting and SOB! – SAVE OUR BANK!
Sincerely,
Carolyn Amyotte and Amanda Gray
SOB! How you can help Save Our Bank!
- Join the Stop Apsley RBC Closure! Group on Facebook for the latest news and info
- Go to www.change.org and sign the Save Apsley RBC online petition or sign one of the many paper petitions located throughout Apsley
- Please send an email to ALL of the following people expressing your concern about the closing of our bank
- RBC President and CEO- David McKay david.mckay@rbc.com
- Group Head Personal and Commercial Banking-Neil McLaughlin neil.mclaughlin@rbc.com
- Region President, Ontario North and East- Tina Sarellas tina.sarellas@rbc.com
- Regional Vice President Kawartha Lakeshore- Scott Mancini scott.mancini@rbc.com
- Lakefield/Apsley Branch Manager- Patti Perry patti.perry@rbc.com
- RBC Office of the Ombudsman contact@bankingombuds.ca
- North Kawartha Township Clerk- Connie Parent c.parent@northkawartha.on.ca
- If you would prefer to write a letter, then please send it to
ADR Chambers Banking Ombuds Office
P.O. Box 1006
112 Adelaide Street East
Toronto, ON M5C 1K9
- Please attend the public meeting on November 2, 2017 at the North Kawartha Community Centre from 7-8:30pm
- Email either Amanda Gray graylandscape@nexicom.net or Carolyn Amyotte carolyn@eelslake.com if you need further info or assistance