CHRISTMAS IN GRAVENHURST -

CITIZENS - NOT JUST RATEPAYERS - MUST GET INVOLVED TO HELP IMPROVE THEIR HOME TOWN

There are a lot of folks out there, who have given up, trying to change or influence the governance model of our town. They have a pretty good idea what would make the community better, in a variety of ways, but feel it's a lost cause, trying to mount the kind of campaign needed to make changes. It is the same malady that keeps many of the same citizens from voting for their council of choice. It's the same with provincial and federal elections. What's the point. One's as good as the other. They're going to get into office by lying, and that's the profile for the rest of the term of office. Cynical! You bet. Far too many of us give up too soon. There's an unfortunate resignation these days, that the individual in society, can't initiate change. Even though there are a billion or so reasons to disbelieve this, and clear evidence how personal missions can spark revolutions, and overturn governments, a lot of citizens fall back on the accomplishments of yesteryear, and recline in their respective armchairs, and criticize from comfort……not from the front line where it has to be launched and defended.

It seems to me, that this alone, is one of the most obvious shortfalls in our hometown life today. While there are strong pockets of community associations, service clubs, and a well organized ratepayer organization, the public at large doesn't see itself as a force to be reckoned with. When there is a community meeting, it inspires input to the degree of the ridiculous, such that we might want to consider changing our town's name, to attract business investment. Apparently the "Grave" is not a good start, to a follow-through that sounds……with a letter slur, like "Hearse." Grave and Hearse apparently are not positives for business. Nonsense. Public meetings often do this, and it's why you won't see me in attendance. I prefer the pointed, committed, tightly focused projects with a sharp tip, and the force to drive it home. Nothing obtuse about the plan. When it came to saving The Bog, or Gravenhurst High School, the objectives had to be hard hitting, a ceaseless, rigorous pursuit, to win at all cost. It's what scares me now about the same town. We appear to be ill-prepared for the next major round of Gravenhurst "take away."

Town Councils, for example, do not appreciate Ratepayer Groups. You won't see many in-council initiatives, anywhere on the continent, to launch a ratepayers' movement. Council doesn't feel it needs a monitoring, watch-dog group, studying its every move. If the Gravenhurst Ratepayers' group was to all of a sudden disband, I don't think there would be an audible outcry of chagrin. I think councillors might heave a sigh of relief that the annoying little badgers have left the building for the last time. The fact there is a ratepayers group, is positive for every citizen of this town, because they are monitoring the activities and spending at town hall. Would they be more forceful with an enhanced membership? What group wouldn't be? I'd rather live in a town with such a watchdog group, than one without.

But it's not just a tax and ratepayer thing here, that we need to concentrate on. We are woefully unprepared, as a citizenry, for many of the changes that are going to occur here in the next decade. What will bring us together, in a pinch, to wage a huge, huge battle for our town's history and future integrity? How fast would we be able to mount any challenge to close our high school? I know what it took the last time, but that was quite different than any potential closure issue today. Then it was a question, posed by the Board of Education, about a willingness to amalgamate our students into a brand new educational complex to be centered in Bracebridge. We did have a choice, and we forcefully declined the kind offer to send our kids north. The next time this issue arrives, the situation won't be the same……and there won't be a question…..as to whether we would buy into amalgamation. Enrollment numbers may dictate, as a cost saving, our school be closed, and for cost efficiency in lean times, Bracebridge will play host school. Go back a couple of blogs, and read my historical overview of Bracebridge's centralizing legacy, at Gravenhurst's general disadvantage.

The real issue here, is that we have become terribly complacent, and the "people power" we have to tap, in a crisis, has evolved into troubling lethargy that is not in our best interest. As an example, most business people, and citizens familiar with the uptown / downtown corridor conundrum, laughed about the installation of a piano someone had painted red, that was to identify a sort of "busker's zone," where impromptu entertainment would naturally transpire. There was a painted backdrop erected, to disguise the open lots left by the spring fire. It was believed by some best-intentioned folk, that well…..as cliched as it has become….."if you paint it red, they will come." Sometimes not! The initiative for buskers to come out and use that piano as a catalyst for a new entertainment movement in town, was created by folks who apparently, had little idea what buskers need and want…..or what environs are suitable to piano players or organ grinders. Where they positioned it was a no-go from the beginning. In fact, buskers situated themselves on a strategically positioned park bench on the other side of the street…..in the shade. That poor piano. It wasn't until the late evening, when those who had imbibed too much, felt it the right time to make their musical mark. As a consensus of public opinion was a tight knit group of "build it, they will comers," the red piano became an eyesore…….just as it is now, stuck back against a wall, on one of the vacant lots. Now what kind of public outcry, will create the sense of necessity at town council, to send someone to pick up the red wreck, and haul it to the dumpsite.

The question of public mission, to correct things perceived as wrong, will be answered in part, when the piano is finally hauled away…..and not a minute sooner. Heaven knows. There may be a battalion of objectors, planning to protect this piano's right to disintegrate into the soil, in its own time. I don't know. I don't think this is the case, but you never know. What I do know, is that there are a lot more folks prepared to watch it crumble, without saying a word to anyone…….without sending a little directive over to town hall, to inspire its removal. It's an unfortunate sign of the times, and we should take this seriously. If it's as systematic and wide-spread as I think it is, we certainly need to re-energize ourselves, to gear up for even greater challenges, in the immediate future. The piano is just one of the issues, at present, that marks our deepening lethargy to protect hometown character, and restore pride. The real check and balance of local governance, is a citizenry that insists on being heard, and respected……and it is our last line of defense.

Recently, when there was a town launched initiative to build an amphitheater at Gull Lake Park, to better accommodate crowds attending The Barge concert series (plus other events on-site), the idea was to pretty much approve it in principle, with a few like-minded associates of the town, and get the project "shovel ready," in the event the provincial or federal governments had some loose cash to grant. After the G-8 debacle, of which we are still the subject of jokes and assorted ridicule, I think we'd be lucky to get a few bucks for a coffee, over the next four years. The problem, like the red piano of mainstreet, is that a few people are creating binding plans for the rest of us……and deciding that what we need most, is "their plan" to make our lives better. The only glitch is when it doesn't work. If it had been a decision based on larger public consensus, we'd have to live with this. When "the few" are calling the shots…..this is never in democracy's best interest.

While it may seem that, for example, I despise the idea of an amphitheater at Gull Lake Park. Truth is, you see, that Fred Schulz and our family have discussed the idea numerous times, during our years connected with the Concert on the Barge series. I don't claim to be the first person to think about it….because that would be absurd…..but maybe it was the first unofficial but vested-interest group, to discuss and then dismiss the idea as being frivolous in light of so many other park and barge upgrades in arrears. Even if it had been an idea to move forward with, public consultation and town approval was a necessary bridge-work, long before anyone of us would have suggested "shovel ready," anything. We'd expect hurdles because that's the safety mechanism, to get what we need, not what isn't necessary at the time. The folks who know The Barge best……you see, because we're not fair-weather friends, and attend all the concerts (as volunteers, and spectators) genuinely felt, after considerable discussion, that there are more important investments to make in this jewel of a park, than carving out the hillside for a concrete bunker with seats. If there had been a serious interest, in regards to the red piano, to know the truth about the project, in advance, it never would have been installed where it was. At least one of our sons was contacted about the intent of the piano, after the project was already nearing the final coat of red. So why do you ask the musicians after you implement the plan? Apparently, this is our nagging problem here, and the same mindset, that thought it was a brilliant plan, to set out emergency vehicles, in honor of both the construction completion, and the annual lighting of the ceremonial Christmas tree at the Opera House, two weeks ago. A lot of people have complained about the flashing red lights…..not just this blogger. As for the lights of the Christmas tree, apparently still not working after a two week hiatus……what's up with that?

The point of this Christmas season critique, is that we need people power in this town. When it has been needed in the past, like when it was necessary to construct a new public library, or to save the high school, by golly, the energy of the citizenry was a truly bright and enduring light. Leaders popped up all over the place, and activists were born from complacency, to take ownership of their community. It is precisely what is needed today. It is not a BIA, Chamber of Commerce, Ratepayer or Town Council issue alone…….it is a necessary situation, for the citizens of this town, to get involved in that restoration of pride……some would argue, isn't what it used to be. If we can't muster support, well, then prepare for a profound change in your hometown.

The history of Gravenhurst is full to overflowing, with examples of courageous town spirit, to overcome adversity. There are some folks today, with little regard for what history tells us. Can we even mount a defense of our heritage? Can we insist the town respect our interests as hometowners, to improve their stewardship, of the standards of character we have earned as a community,…..as a result of centuries of hard work and sacrifice? Is it our right to intervene, and object to carving up Gull Lake Park, or allowing our school to be closed without our consent?

We have every right, and more rights than we know, to demand council's attention. Will it become a priority involvement before it's too late. As a long-serving historian in Muskoka, I'm genuinely worried, our history is being watered-down because we have been resting on our laurels. And that's wrong.

Get involved, stay involved, or live with the consequences.