A Source of Pride, Our Gravenhurst

A SOURCE OF PRIDE - BUT ARE WE TRULY PROUD OF OUR TOWN AS WE SHOULD BE?

OR DO WE LET POLITICS GET IN THE WAY OF OUR ENJOYMENT

     SUZANNE THINKS I OVER REACT AND MAKE THOSE PROVERBIAL MOUNTAINS OUT OF MOLE HILLS.  SHE'S NOT ENTIRELY WRONG. JUST A LITTLE BIT WRONG. REGARDLESS, I DO WONDER A LOT THESE DAYS, WHETHER WE HAVE DEVELOPED A SERIOUS AND ENDURING DISCONNECT WITH THE AMAZING QUALITIES OF OUR HOMETOWN AND REGION. ARE WE BEING ADVERSELY INFLUENCED BY POLITICAL RHETORIC, AND THE FOIBLES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT? YOU SEE, I BELIEVE MANY CITIZENS ARE BEING DISTRACTED FROM THE CELEBRATION OF THIS CHARMING, VIBRANT COMMUNITY, BY THEIR DISAPPROVAL OF GOVERNANCE….AND THE INHERENT FEELING THESE DAYS, THAT INSTEAD OF A SANCTUARY, THE HOMETOWN IS BECOMING MORE A PLACE OF IMMINENT AND NASTY SHOWDOWNS. WHICH GROUP IS GOING TO WIN THE STRUGGLE? WHICH MEMBER OF COUNCIL WILL SOON BE POSITIONING FOR THE MAYOR'S CHAIR IN THE NEXT MUNICIPAL ELECTION? I REALLY WORRY, WE ARE DESENSITIZING TO  THE TRULY GOOD THINGS ABOUT THIS TOWN, AS A RESULT OF THIS PRE-OCCUPATION WITH POLITICS AND THE STRUGGLE FOR POWER. IT HAPPENS A LOT THESE DAYS, IN MANY COMMUNITIES. IT SPREADS LIKE A RASH, WHEN THOSE VYING FOR MORE AUTHORITY, AND MORE CONTROL, TAKE INITIATIVES SOME OF US FIND UNDEMOCRATIC. AND THE PRIVILEGE DEMOCRACY AFFORDS THEM, ADMITTEDLY, IS KIND OF LOOSE. NEW FLEXIBILITY SEEMS TO BE FOUND WHERE FEW KNEW IT EXISTED. IT CAN BRING TO THE FEW, WHO GOVERN, A SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT, AND PRIVILEGE, THAT YOU HEAR AND READ ABOUT FREQUENTLY THESE DAYS. IT'S AS IF, IN THIS COUNTRY, THERE IS A CONCERTED EFFORT AMONGST ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEIR TOADIES, TO COMPROMISE WHAT WE HAVE LONG KNOWN AS "A DEMOCRACY WORTH FIGHTING FOR." WHAT ABOUT MAKING OUR HOME LIFE BETTER? GIVING US THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY A ROLE IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS, WITHOUT BEING LOOKED UPON AS INTERLOPERS IN A PRIVATE DOMAIN, WHEN WE WISH TO GET INVOLVED, OR OFFER A CONTRARY OPINION……EVEN IF THE ONLY CREDENTIAL WE HAVE IS A MAILING ADDRESS. 

     THIS SUMMER, AT OUR LITTLE MAIN STREET SHOP, WE HEARD CUSTOMERS TALKING ABOUT THEIR VACATION RETREATS, COTTAGES, AND DAY VISITS TO OUR COMMUNITY. THEY DIDN'T KNOW THEY WERE TALKING TO LOCAL HISTORIANS. THEY HAD NO IDEA THE GUY WITH PAINT ON HIS FACE, HAMMER IN HAND, WHACKING A TABLE-LEG BACK IN PLACE, WAS A WRITER WHO WOULD TAKE THEIR COMMENTS PUBLIC. BY GOLLY, I SPENT AN ENTIRE SUMMER SEASON, HEARING SOME GREAT THINGS ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY'S HOSPITALITY……ABOUT ITS BEAUTIFUL LAKELAND SCENERY, AND OH SO MANY THINGS TO DO IN THE ENTIRE REGION. I HEARD COMPLIMENTS THAT MADE ME BLUSH, AS I DO FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT HOMETOWN ATTRIBUTES. THEY WERE THE KIND OF COMPLIMENTS THAT COMPOSE A TRULY NATURAL, IMPULSIVE, AND NOT COACHED SURVEY……WHEN THE ONLY THING WE SAID TO THEM, WAS "HELLO.," "GOOD MORNING," OR "GOOD AFTERNOON." THE FACT THEY FELT IT NECESSARY, IN OUR GENERAL CONVERSATION, TO COMPLIMENT THE DAY, WEEK AND SEASON, VISITING AND VACATIONING IN OUR TOWN, WAS EVEN MORE ENLIGHTENING. I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HEARD STATEMENTS LIKE, "YOU'RE SO LUCKY TO LIVE IN A PLACE LIKE THIS," AND "WHAT A JEWEL YOU HAVE HERE," REFERRING TO OUR TOWN OVERALL. I FELT GENUINE ENVY, ON THEIR PART AND IN HEART, WISHING IN SOME WAY, THEY COULD VACATION YEAR ROUND, IN A NEAT LITTLE HOMETOWN THAT LOOKS SO NICE WRAPPED IN THE MAGNIFICENT LAKELAND TOPOGRAPHY. ONE CHAP TOLD ME THAT LIVING IN GOD'S COUNTRY, MUST HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH MAKING US NICE, FRIENDLY AND ACCOMMODATING PEOPLE. HOW DO YOU STOP THE PRIDE FLOWING OUT OF YOUR EARS, WHEN YOU HEAR THIS KIND OF REVIEW FOR THE TOWN YOU CALL HOME?

     THIS IS WHAT A LOT OF CITIZENS OF THIS COMMUNITY NEVER HEAR OR READ ABOUT. IT MIGHT BE CASUALLY ALLUDED TO, BUT IT IS DEFINITELY NOT RELATED TO THE PUBLIC, WHO AT TIMES, COME TO BELIEVE THAT POLITICAL WILL INSTEAD, AND THEIR OVERVIEW OF WHAT'S IMPORTANT HERE, DEFINES US AS A HOMETOWN. I HALF EXPECT, THAT ONCE THANKSGIVING PASSES THIS YEAR, WE'LL BE BACK TO STORIES ABOUT HOW OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS LANGUISHING AGAIN, AND WE MIGHT ALSO EXPECT A VISIT OF LOCAL TELEVISION STATIONS TO EXAMINE OUR FALL FROM FINANCIAL GRACE. ARE YOU GOING TO HEAR AND READ ABOUT THE SUCCESSES OF BUSINESS, AND THE INCREASED COMMERCE MANY OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED? OR IS IT THE UNFORTUNATE FACT, SOME OF US ONLY FEEL NORMAL, WHEN WE'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT OUR MISFORTUNES…..REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, WELL, MAYBE WE HAVE BEEN THE AUTHORS OF AT LEAST SOME OF OUR PERCEIVED MISFORTUNE. I DON'T EXPECT ANYONE, BUSINESS OWNER, POLITICIAN, OF CANDLE STICK MAKER, TO FUDGE THE TRUTH. IF YOU HAD A CRAPPY YEAR, THAT'S WHAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. THERE IS HOWEVER, THE RAGING NECESSITY, TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS INCLUDED IN THESE LITTLE NEWS MAKERS…..BECAUSE SOME OF US HAD GOOD SUMMERS THAT WE'RE PROUD TO SHARE WITH ANY ONE INTERESTED…..INCLUDING THE MEDIA.

WE NEED GRAVENHURST BOOSTERS NOT DETRACTORS

     Here's what I would like to see, in the next group of municipal government hopefuls, vying for council positions in two years' time. Hometown folks who have demonstrated their passion to make this a better place to live. Citizens who can step over the power plays and politics of the day, to bolster the efforts of everyday citizens and good neighbors, to promote harmonious relationships and goodwill amongst the population. Not just property owners and business proprietors. There's a lot of components in the recipe for a caring, forgiving and healing hometown, that puts politics and government where it belongs……not the other way around. For far too long we have allowed local government, to take on a role that doesn't belong to them. They do not define what our community represents. They are spokespeople, and our stewards, to look after those areas that require governance, and maintain efficiency and reliability of services. If one was to go to council, to ask what Gravenhurst is all about, the responsible reply, is to defer the question to the actuality of experience, because even the skilled and well versed historian, couldn't bring it down to a simple, inclusive, dynamic summary. When we have pride in our hometown, it just beams forth, such that those who might ask such a question, know before they conclude the sentence, that one must experience a neighborhood to know for sure what is fact, and what may be the embellishment of a happy camper. I had these experiences relayed to me throughout the summer, when visitors told me what our hometown was all about. "I bet you like living here," they might say, or "What's it like living in paradise," and of this, they are also referring to our town's comfortable position, in one of the best known hinterlands in Canada and beyond. I don't need to provide a definition of our town, or for that matter, a history lesson. I might be asked about local history, but not frequently. All our family, working in the shop, are reminded, that our community is beautiful, historic, friendly and desirable as a hometown. But folks, you won't read or hear this very often, but what you will find out about, is that we have nagging, abrasive and draining political and business issues, and that always seems to take precedent over the realities…..and actuality, our town is a hit with our guests and second home owners…..by any other name "cottagers."

      That's why we need councillors who are so freaking proud of this town, that they will pull our government over the obstacles past administrations have created, and stand out there on the main street, or down at the wharf, or in the plaza area, and meet and greet casual visitors, who have some pretty profound things to say about our bailiwick in Canada. Our politicians here need to know what these people think about our town…..and be prepared to take criticism for what it is…….and from the heart of the tourism industry, this is how we make progress and implement changes that are responsive……not just ideas thought up at scheduled brainstorming sessions. To find what we need to know……..look no further than a grocery store line-up on the first of July, or a gathering of a family for a picnic at Gull Lake Park……a queue of tourists awaiting a chance to board the RMS Segwun for a dinner cruise. Geez, this is where it's at! This is where the information resides, that can make us a better tourist destination……and improve our state within the tourism economy in this ever-alluring region. Instead, we do the opposite, and surmise throughout the fall and winter season, about tourist requirements, and time and again, it proves faulty logic and another misguided attempt to please our visitors. It might surprise a lot of officials, and local government generally, to find out that what God created here, trumps anything mortals might wish to impose as a catalyst of profit. We need politicians who realize that the nature of Muskoka has been bolstering tourism since the fledgling days of sportsmen travels in the 1850's onward. We will not improve nature. But we can use it to our advantage. It might be helpful, if our movers and shakers understood, just how important it is to be partnered with God, and his creation…..this inspiring, enchanted place amidst the sparkling lakes and rivers. When environmentalists try to save our forests, lakes and lowlands, well sir, they're considered nothing but a radical element, getting in the way of progress. This is now a Canadian thing. If a tourist was to bestow this compliment, of us having an amazing hinterland, some close to, or in government, would take credit, as if they made it themselves. We need some realists in our government, who know just how precious the environment is, to our social, cultural and yes, economic well being. So when a proposed mega development hits the front pages, of the local press, the story with equal coverage, is council's demand for environmental well being first and foremost. Wouldn't that be nice. I might even call this progressive thinking. Well, we need many more of these folks, who understand our hometown, and our place in the universe. We need them to appreciate our past successes and failures, understand our vulnerabilities and frailties as a local society, and take into consideration, how we all deserve a right to sculpt the future we wish for our sons and daughters……because the greatest joy and endorsement of how well we are doing as a hometown, is if our offspring wishes to return here to live, work, and invest. My sons have done this, and they are reaping the rewards of faith, in what they have seen from their childhood, (and heard from so many visitors recently), that Gravenhurst is a fine little town where one feels privileged to reside.

     As the bloke who played a pivotal role in naming our new post office, in 1862, and ultimately our town, the critical approach to life is the best way. W.D. LeSueur lectured on the need for counter point and critical analysis to hone truth from near or total fiction. We need a new grouping of political representatives for this town, who are critical of the way government has operated, and who are willing to find out why this has and continues to be prevalent……and then agree on a sensible plan, to refurbish democracy and introduce a long-promised transparency that has never fully been implemented…….just talked about. If one was to follow the teachings of Dr. LeSueur, a brilliant historian, who challenged popular versions of history in this country, we would, prior to the next election, dissect what has happened over the past twenty years of local government, excesses, and over-spending on our behalf, and begin taking this "One Government" initiative more seriously. They are presenting some tangible evidence, that we're gradually approaching a time in our region, when cost inefficiencies and duplication of services, are going to limit our ability to finance our future. It's time to find council hopefuls who are at least willing to discuss these amalgamation issues.

     I will never agree to diminish the historic identity of our hometown. But there is a need for responsible government. Soon.

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