Blog Gravenhurst
A Winter of Writing at Birch Hollow.....Can't Wait?
This has been the year of frequent hiatus periods, the most significant being the death of my mother Merle back in May. Although I have been writing frequently, it has in large part been unplanned except for a few moments here and there with no real set down schedule which I really do depend for consistency. It certainly hasn't been the case I've been deficient of projects but the back to back hours to put ideas into print have been cramped behind a booming year of antique book and art sales.....my other most adored profession. I've been truly and pleasantly distracted by the antique business.....as well assisting my young lads and their music business here in Gravenhurst. Things are sorting out now and it does look like a prosperous winter period for catching up on blogs and other research pieces I've had in the wings for the past six months.
This year has been one for the record books. I've stayed out of politics. I've removed myself from most of the sources of annoyance that would flare up the old battle passions of years previous. It hasn't been an entirely calm period of time but I really have enjoyed doing more in the antique field than usual, up until this most recent upheaval in the financial markets which adversely affects the sale of old stuff just as it slows down the sale of all merchandise. Antique dealers just have to wait for an upturn, historically refraining from holding big sales or cutting prices.....because most of us with any tenure have endured recessions before and have come out safely the other side with strong inventories. Still, we're surprised the sales haven't been worse. There still seems to be a willingness to buy antiquarian books and vintage art etc. It won't be a record year by any means, yet we're still making sales targets.... but I'm sure my contempories in the antique field in United States aren't faring too well.
I was asked if I was going to submit my name to sit on a new heritage committee that has been set up as an advisory group to Gravenhurst Council....presumably to offer information and sage advisories on matters of historical designation and conservation, and other heritage related initiatives. To get on the committee you had to send an application with resume. The same I believe was the protocol for joining the new Environmental Advisory Committee to assist members of council deal with development issues and conservation concerns. To which I replied to a mate that I would not give the Town the privilege of accepting or rejecting me based on a/. a resume, b/. their whim (I'm not in their good books after previous disagreements) and c. their desire to have a congenial, co-operative, amicable committee. On the other hand, if they had been sensible enough to weigh credits and experience over and above their need to feel superior and be the guiding hand, I might have considered a couple of meetings for curiosity's sake. So what's wrong with using an application process to fill out the seat on a fledgling committee? Here are just a few problems for those who won't be ruled and over-ruled.
First of all, a heritage advisory group in a municipality, needs to be staffed by the best of the best in the community or beyond.....it's not about having an interest in heritage conservation, as concerned citizens.......it's clearly a necessity to put experience and miles travelled in heritage affairs ahead of good citizenship. To properly fill out the expertise of an advisory committee you need those who don't care about ruffling feathers, or disagreeing with another point of view....especially if it happens to be the unyielding opinion of the mayor and council. If it's the wrong opinion, based on insufficient or inaccurate fact, then it is incumbent upon members of the committee to object, research, correct and offer no apology for doing what historians are supposed to......seek out supporting fact to correct a misconception and all other errors encountered along the way. The fact that both committees are under the thumbs of town council means they can dismiss you when they feel like it.....agree or be banished! They didn't want open dialogue on matters of local heritage; they wanted to control who was on the committee.....and set the tone they believe is in the best interests of doing council business.....which means no shit-kickers aloud. That would be me. Tell you what.....I'd rather work with well-tutored, experienced historical types with sharp, even cruel attitude, than with the head nodders who believe in the master-servant relationship they are assigned.
As far as environmental advisory, and having a few minor credits to my name in this field, there was no way I was going to be scrutinized and voted on, by some of the same councillors, who a year ago, were willing to sacrifice and subdivide a wetland in our neighborhood known as The Bog. My name won't soon be forgotten as the bastard of Segwun Boulevard who drove them nuts with protest. I apparently gave them heartburn. Thusly I did my job! Once again,.....if council really wanted a highly responsive, aggressive, committed environmental committee, they should have made appointments from a pool of leading environmentalists and scholars (Muskoka wide) instead of asking for applications. As well, working within a town sanctioned and selected environmental committee, from a list of successful applicants, is like putting the fox, as they say, in charge of the hen house. Council maintains control. Despite what the Ratepayers Group noted about this being an excellent opportunity to participate in municipal affairs, and influence conservancy in new development matters, the fact that members are advisors with a stripe....that being the town stripe.....independence to object carries with it the town's option of sanction. An appointed committee.....where members have been recruited, whether they are friend or foe of the local government.....believers or disbelievers of the town's commitment to practice good environmental stewardship, makes for a much more candid, free-wheeling, and aggressive foray into important debates, able to operate without fear of sanction because membership won't tow the line. A committee made up of well versed citizens, and this includes even the naysayers, who aren't afraid of speaking their mind......and going against the flow because it's the right thing to do....distances an advisory group from being complacent, complient and agreeable in order to get a cookie for good behaviour. It seems council wanted to be naysayer free! Well, you know, while some people believe in the virtues of blind acceptance and co-operation, my experience is that fact and honesty thrives in an environment where counterpoint and criticism is welcome and requested.....as part of democratic policy. A few politicians here don't like negativity to dampen the parade. Bad news is, negativity is just part of reality regardless of silly opinion about it being an inconvenience to progress. Get over it!
On matters of environmental conservation and heritage recognition, under the circumstances, the tasks are best served by independent action and reaction. I'd rather work unrestricted and beyond a group's influence-sculpted mandate and protocol because I'm not convinced wearing the team jersey is in the best interest of the town and the citizenry. If on the other hand the town one day drops its requirement to conform to their plan......like submitting an application that meets their happy-times requirements.....and asks for my assistance....well, you just never know what the bastard of Segwun Blvd might be able to do to help out.