CHANGE AND PROFOUNDLY SO! A STRATEGY THAT WON'T LET GRAVENHURST DOWN

There are a lot of folks in our hometown, who wish their town would return to the way it was in the 1950's. The 1960's weren't too bad either. Some would even argue, a dose of the 70's and 80's would be better than what the so-called modern era has foisted upon us as alleged improvements. Many of the older residents, who have invested much of their lives in this bailiwick, feel there has been a loss of identity, and a watering down of old town values. There are those, amongst these citizens, who are appalled by new commercial nodes, and the decentralizing of the main street, as the main business area of town. Of course, there are those who are equally appalled change hasn't occurred faster, and more aggressively, to offer more opportunities and greater services…..such as a bus route linking the business nodes. Can't please every one!

First of all, the reality is that there will always be a shortfall, between what we possess and what we would like to have for our mutual benefit. It's just good old human nature. As far as consensus, well, there's no earthly way to satisfy all the people all of the time. Still, there is a lingering belief, we can come close enough, to stop the belly-aching about our shortfalls. Yet even though it may be a small divide, between optimum and "we can live with it," the bridge has to be a mighty one none-the-less. Lately, it would seem, if you believe press reports, that the economic disadvantages of being a main street business here, can never be fully bridged or reconciled. It might be temporarily, and weakly bridged by dialogue, and negotiation, but before any good can set in, for the long term, some event, it seems, will occur that knocks the blocks away. Then we read, in the local press, or hear electronic media reports, that doom and gloom are once again akin to the Town of Gravenhurst logo……suggesting to one and all, the world, that we have a main street business community going into the round-about of the popper.

I expect, after reading some of these negative and biased pieces, based on a limited number of opinions, and fact finding, to discover, that very next morning, all the storefronts boarded-up, with tumble-weeds rolling down the centre of the street…..where motor vehicles used to pass. If reporters aren't willing to go the distance, and interview those merchants who are doing well, and who have a resolve to soldier-on, despite some economic weaknesses (kind of a global thing these days), then they are doing a disservice to the realities of the community they serve. Few citizens would deny there has been a mainstreet decline, over the past ten years, and if they were asked…..well, they'd provide a diverse range of reasons, not simply the facts we've had road re-construction, fires and building collapses. Some of the reasons the public believes there has been a decline, might surprise those interested enough to research the matter. It's not as complicated an issue as it all appears at first or even second glance.

There's been a nagging negativity in the business community itself, that has been festering for more than 20 years. The complaining has been public, not confined to board meetings, or council chit-chat. It's been "out-there" for everyone to see and interpret. What do the business community movers and shakers expect comes from multi-decade bungling of business representation? Who wants to locate in an area where business colleagues can't agree on much of anything, other than "the governance of the day," simply "can't cut-it," when it comes to the co-operation of all concerned. There has been a dysfunction for a long time, and while the infusion of grant money for coordinators, seems an initiative that could bring about a new understanding about the poor relations with local governance….., will it then be the case, that when the results are provided from surveys and questionnaires, the traditionally stubborn and argumentative board members and town councillors, allow contrary opinion to their own mindset, help set down the foundation of yet another hopeful bridge.

Some participants may argue that it is this resistance to change, that makes inevitable change so darn hard to swallow. Like road construction, that despite what collateral damage has occurred, had to take place. Despite the protests of those who believe they (the road re-builders) could have executed all the service changes needed, like the less-invasive surgery we read about in health care. A few believe they should have been compensated because construction adversely affected their businesses. When what we should have all been doing, from the get-go of construction, is working together to, (as a business community should), mitigate some of the obvious problems that were about to occur. It's not like we didn't have preparation time. The problem here, is that we do not operate as a unified business community, because of hard feelings up and down the street. An eager reporter might find this out, should they be truly interested in the root causes of the prevailing disunity.

Gravenhurst is a good hometown, and it will rally, just as it has many times in the past. There is a lot of negativity out there, and frankly, it's hard not to let it seep into your psyche. But as main street business operators, ourselves, we get up every morning with the same chipper attitude, and look forward to the adventures of the business day. And we enjoy the company of some business friends, who are also doing okay as main street enterprises, and look forward to special sales events we have planned, and of course, our seasonal celebrations which we enjoy getting ready for! While we are affected by everything that goes on, in our business community, on the neighborhood scale, and in the wider community (where we have our business mindset), we know that we have to try to rebuild, and serve our customers to the best of our capability. Job one. We think the best way to fight negativity, and the doldrums some others prefer to partner-with, is to know we have satisfied a customer's needs, and that they will not only be back to see us, but tell others about the good service and kindnesses they received, shopping in Gravenhurst. And when all the posturing and fact-finding has been exhausted, it will still come back to gumption to succeed at business, and the logical approach to change, and stalwartly meeting it before it meets you. Reality is just catching up with Gravenhurst, and although it appears some manifestation of curse, and comeuppance……well, resilient business folks and cheerful hometowners, look at it with sensible proportion, and know that human spirit and resolve can survive a lot. Those who might suspect the arrival of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, as the next stomp-down of all our hard work, should soon realize, that opportunity will present itself, despite the fall of hooves along our path.

We need a bridge between us. Of course we do. But the pooling of negativity, and fear-mongering, has to be removed before the first block between earth and universe is stuck in the muck…..with the security we need to build upon for lasting positive results.

Maybe we all need to go to the Dragon's Den, to get some business advice. A lot of us probably wouldn't like the critique. Doesn't mean it was wrong. Just that we didn't like it! Truth does that some times.