SPIRIT AWARDS - NOW THAT'S GOOD STUFF FOR A GOOD OLD TOWN
SUZANNE AND I WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2012 SPIRIT AWARDS, AT THE HOPEFULLY DRY OPERA HOUSE. THERE ISN'T ANYTHING POLITICAL ABOUT OUR ABSENCE SO I HOPE COUNCILLORS WON'T FEEL IT WAS AN INTENTIONAL SNUB. ON THE OTHER HAND, MY LADS AND THEIR BEST BUDDIES MIGHT BE TICKED-OFF, NOT SEEING MOM AND POP IN THE FRONT ROW TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS, BECAUSE THANKS TO FRED SCHULZ, MANAGER OF THE MUSIC ON THE BARGE, THEY WILL RECEIVE THEIR SPIRIT AWARDS, FOR THE VOLUNTEER WORK THEY DO, EVERY SUMMER SUNDAY AT GULL LAKE PARK. FRED TOLD SUZANNE AND I IN THE SUMMER, THAT HE PLANNED ON NOMINATING THE FOUR AMIGOS, WHO HAVE BEEN WITH FRED NOW FOR THE MOST PART OF A DECADE, AS TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS FOR THE SUNDAY EVENING CONCERTS. THE FOUR LADS (SOUNDS LIKE THE OLD MUSICAL GROUP) INCLUDE JAMES LUCIABELLO, LUKE THOMPSON, ROBERT AND ANDREW CURRIE. FRED CAME INTO OUR SHOP LAST WEEK AND WAS BEAMING WITH THE BIG NEWS……THAT HIS NOMINATION OF THE BOYS WAS SUCCESSFUL, AND THE AWARD COMMITTEE HAD DECIDED THEY DESERVED RECOGNITION FOR THEIR VOLUNTEERISM. THE BOYS AND FRED HAVE BEEN A TEAM FOR A LONG TIME NOW, THROUGH A LOT OF GOOD WEATHER AND BAD, CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND THEIR CONTROL, AND SITUATIONS RIGHT OUT OF THE FUNNY PAGES; BUT NO MATTER WHAT, THEY SHAKE HANDS AT THE END OF EACH SEASON, AND VOW TO RETURN ONCE AGAIN, TO KEEP THE MUSIC ON THE BARGE GOING. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE TO GIVE AN ACCEPTANCE SPEECH, BUT I CAN TELL YOU, THEY THINK THE WORLD OF MR. SCHULZ, AND BEING RECOGNIZED BY HIM……WELL, IT'S IN A LEAGUE BEST DESCRIBED AS A "SPECTACULAR" HONOR.
I DON'T HAVE A LIST OF AWARD WINNERS, BUT I'D BE GLAD TO POST THEM ON THIS BLOG IF I WAS PERMITTED. WE CAN'T DO WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AND WE REALLY DO NEED TO APPRECIATE THE HUNDREDS OF FOLKS WHO GIVE UP THEIR PRECIOUS TIME TO HELP OTHERS…..AND BEST OF ALL, HELP OUR COMMUNITY MAINTAIN ITS VITALITY, COMPASSION, GOOD NEIGHBORLINESS, AND COMPETITIVENESS. THEY ARE THE BACKBONE OF THE HOMETOWN, AND THIS MUST BE UNDERSTOOD. WHETHER IT IS SERVING DINNERS TO THOSE IN NEED, AT WEEKLY SOCIALS, OR BAKING HUNDREDS OF COOKIES AND PIES AS FUNDRAISERS, RUNNING CHURCH RUMMAGE SALES, DRIVING PATIENTS TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS, TENDING COMMUNITY GARDENS, COLLECTING FOR CHARITIES, KNITTING FOR THE LESS FORTUNATE, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON. IT MAKES YOU FEEL PRETTY GOOD, TO BE IN A COMMUNITY THAT FIGHTS SO HARD TO MAKE UP FOR SHORTFALLS, WHERE MONEY ISN'T AVAILABLE. IT'S NICE THAT THE TOWN RECOGNIZES JUST HOW MUCH OF OUR CHARACTER, IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF INDIVIDUAL BENEVOLENCE, TO KEEP US SELF SUSTAINING, AND EVER-READY FOR AN EVEN LARGER SCALE NEED…..SHOULD ONE DAY, AN EMERGENCY PREVAIL THAT NEEDS ALL HANDS ON DECK.
SUZANNE AND I HAVE BEEN A VOLUNTEER IN SO MANY DIFFERENT CAPACITIES, IN MUSKOKA, AND NEVER ONCE, HAVE EITHER OF US FELT, AT THE END OF A PROJECT, THAT IT HAD ALL BEEN A WASTE OF TIME. MY GREATEST PLEASURE, WAS WORKING WITH SOME OF THE FINEST CITIZENS ON EARTH……RIGHT HERE, A HANDSHAKE AWAY…..IN GRAVENHURST.
THANK YOU MR. SCHULZ FOR YOUR MANY KINDNESSES, AND FOR LOOKING AFTER YOUR VOLUNTEERS….YOUR FRIENDS, AS IF THEY WERE FAMILY. BUT IF YOU WERE TO ASK THESE LADS, THEY'D TELL YOU…..THEY ARE FAMILY. THE BARGE FAMILY.
INSTILLING PRIDE BACK INTO OUR TOWN - SEEING OUR YOUTH RETURN TO INVEST IN THEIR HOME TOWN - NOW THAT'S PROGRESS
THE CHALLENGE TO RESTORE OURSELVES - MEANS FIGHTING BACK LIKE THE GOOD OLD DAYS
AS I HAVE MENTIONED MANY TIMES IN THESE BLOG-A-TORIALS, I BEGAN MY APPRENTICESHIP IN HISTORY, AT YORK UNIVERSITY, WHERE I MAJORED IN CANADIAN HISTORY. BUT NOT BEFORE STUDYING WORLD AND AMERICAN HISTORY FIRST. WHEN I ARRIVED BACK HOME TO MUSKOKA, I HELPED LAUNCH A FAMILY ANTIQUE BUSINESS, THE BRACEBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND THE EVENTUAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TOWN'S FIRST MAJOR HISTORIC SITE - WOODCHESTER VILLA AND MUSEUM. I'D LOVE TO SAY IT WAS STILL A GOING CONCERN, BUT I'D BE TELLING A PORKY.
WHEN I BEGAN WORKING FOR MUSKOKA PUBLICATIONS, I APPRENTICED WITH ROBERT J. BOYER, FORMER MUSKOKA MPP, AND CHAIRMAN OF ONTARIO HYDRO, WHO WAS THEN, IN THE EARLY 1980'S, ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN HISTORIANS ACTIVELY WRITING IN THE REGION. I LEARNED EARLY ON WITH MR. BOYER, THE IMPORTANCE OF READING HIS BOOKS, BEFORE ASKING HIM ANY HISTORY RELATED QUESTIONS. IF I HAD AN ENQUIRY THAT COULD BE ANSWERED BY READING "A GOOD TOWN GREW HERE," OR HIS BOOK ON THE EARLY SURVEYS OF MUSKOKA, HE'D JUST CHOMP DOWN ON HIS CIGAR, TWIST AROUND IN HIS CHAIR, SORT OF SNORT, SAYING, "HAVE YOU READ MY BOOK MR. CURRIE?" IF I RETORTED, AS A SMART ASS JUNIOR HISTORIAN, THAT I HAD INDEED READ HIS BOOK, BUT STILL COULDN'T FIND WHAT I NEEDED, HE'D SHOOT BACK SARCASTICALLY, "THEN YOU DIDN'T READ IT WELL ENOUGH." ON OCCASION, IF I WAS WORKING AGAINST AN EDITORIAL DEADLINE, HE WOULD REACH OVER INTO HIS CLUTTERED BOOKCASE, AND RETRIEVE A HANDFUL OF NOTES HE KNEW CONTAINED THE ANSWER. INSTEAD OF RE-READING A WHOLE BOOK, I'D HAVE TO READ ABOUT THIRTY PAGES OF NOTES. I ALWAYS FOUND WHAT I NEEDED, BUT I COULD NEVER FIGURE OUT HOW HE COULD, SO QUICKLY, PUT HIS HAND ON THE RIGHT STACK OF PAGES, OUT OF THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF PAGES WITHIN ARMS REACH, IN HIS TINY DICKENSIAN OFFICE, AT THE OLD HERALD-GAZETTE BUILDING THAT HAD BELONGED TO HIS FAMILY.
THIS ISN'T REALLY ABOUT THE GOOD MR. BOYER, OR ABOUT THE HISTORY DEGREE I EKED OUT, THE MUSEUM I HELPED FOUND, OR ABOUT BRACEBRIDGE. WHAT I LEARNED IN THE EARLY YEARS AS AN APPRENTICE HISTORIAN, WAS THAT BRACEBRIDGE WAS CERTAINLY THE BENEFACTOR OF MUCH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC GOOD FORTUNE SINCE THE 1860'S, AND ALTHOUGH MR. BOYER, GOD REST HIS SOUL, MIGHT BE ANGRY ABOUT THIS DECLARATION, IN 2012, POLITICS SURE SEEMS TO HAVE PLAYED A ROLE. I STILL HAVEN'T ANALYZED EVERY ADVANTAGE BRACEBRIDGE HAD OVER GRAVENHURST AND EVEN HUNTSVILLE, BUT FOR ME, THE ARGUMENT THAT BRACEBRIDGE GOT MORE GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT, BECAUSE IT WAS CENTRAL IN THE REGION, SEEMED A LITTLE FLIMSY TO A FLEDGLING HISTORIAN. AS YOU GO THROUGH LOCAL HISTORY DECADE BY DECADE, YOU START TO SEE A TREND, THAT BRACEBRIDGE'S GAIN WAS ALMOST ALWAYS OUR PROFOUND LOSS. OVER AND OVER. AND WHILE BUILDING THE PROVINCIAL COURT HOUSE IN BRACEBRIDGE, WAS SEEN AS STRATEGICALLY AND CENTRALLY LOCATED, TO SERVE THE JUDICIAL NEEDS OF THE REGION, THE FACT IT WASN'T AWARDED TO GRAVENHURST DID HAVE A CENTURY PLUS IMPACT. TO THIS DAY! YOU CAN USE THE "CENTRAL" AND "STRATEGICALLY LOCATED" ARGUMENT A LOT, TO EXPLAIN THESE BRACEBRIDGE ASSETS, BUT IT'S FAIR ALSO TO NOTE, THAT IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO GO AGAINST GRAVENHURST, AT TIMES WHEN THEY COULD HAVE REALLY USED A BREAK. MOST RECENTLY, IT IS SAID, OR RUMORED, THAT GRAVENHURST MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LAND A UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE CAMPUS……AND THAT WOULD HAVE MEANT BRACEBRIDGE'S JUBILEE PARK……WELL, MIGHT STILL BE A PARK.
NO ONE CAN ARGUE THAT, BETWEEN THE THREE TOWNS, THE MIDDLE ONE BECAME A DESTINATION OF FAIR PROPORTION, AS CENTRAL PLACES LIKE THIS TEND TO BE, OF COURSE. BRACEBRIDGE WAS ABLE TO ATTRACT A LOT OF INVESTMENT FROM GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE LAND REGISTRY OFFICE, THE DISTRICT OF MUSKOKA HEAD OFFICE, THE MUSKOKA BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA HEALTH UNIT, THE MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES, AND SOUTH MUSKOKA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. BEFORE SMMH, WAS THE LATE NINETEEN TWENTIES ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RED CROSS HOSPITAL, ALSO IN BRACEBRIDGE. THE FACT THAT BRACEBRIDGE WAS GEOGRAPHICALLY CENTRAL WAS A CREDIT, I SUPPOSE, TO THOSE FIRST BRAVE SETTLERS, WHO HUDDLED TOGETHER, IN THE FIRST NEIGHBORHOOD, ON THE BRINK OF THE BRACEBRIDGE FALLS. THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT AT THE TIME, BUT GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION (NOT JUST FOR HYDRE GENERATION) WOULD BE OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE DOWN THE PROVERBIAL ROAD. THE FOUNDERS OF GRAVENHURST BELIEVED THEY HAD ESTABLISHED THE MOST IMPORTANT MUSKOKA COMMUNITY……THE LITERAL GATEWAY HAMLET TO ALL ELSE THAT WAS GOING ON IN THE NEWLY OPENED ONTARIO WILDS.
POLITICS OR SOMETHING ALWAYS SEEMED TO POKE GRAVENHURST IN THE EYE
I'm positive that Mr. Boyer would not have allowed me to get away with the bold statement, that politics played a role in Bracebridge's many advantages over the years, attracting government spending. It is hard to prove now that most who knew how political it was, have passed on. Now don't get me wrong here. If there was political favoritism, and Bracebridge was a touch more savvy getting it over Gravenhurst, I'm not suggesting there was anything wrong with wooing, or even strong-arming those with governmental authority. I don't want long time Gravenhurst citizens feeling insulted either, when I suggest Bracebridge was a little better positioned, or represented, to benefit from government investment. It may seem the historian is taking a walk out onto a thin bough, on this one, but it's something I've been actively researching for many years, starting from that apprenticeship with Mr. Boyer, who gave me every reason to read and challenge accepted thought. What I found, time and again, was that Bracebridge kept winning, and Gravenhurst seemed to be losing…..and most of the time that wasn't determined on the hockey rink or the baseball diamond….because we had some fabulous teams here. It just appeared Bracebridge shot out of the gate, much more aggressive and challenging, to get new investment, that like government headquarters, would attract more companion business, and require housing for staff. Bracebridge capitalized on all of the opportunities it was afforded.
There are those older citizens of Gravenhurst, who adamantly believe our town should have been the site of the new regional hospital in the 1960's, when South Muskoka Memorial Hospital was built, taking over from the former Red Cross Hospital, on the same site. As we had the huge Sanatorium facility here, and a highly qualified medical staff, it was thought reasonable, that an expansion to the property, would have made a reasonable alternative to the Bracebridge hospital. The central argument won out again, but there were some people who felt Gravenhurst had once again fallen victim to the pull of politics. Ironically, one of the key people involved with the hospital and its expansion, was Gravenhurst's George Beard, and his wife Margaret, who certainly deserve recognition for their work on behalf of the fledgling hospital. There were, of course, many other Gravenhurst contributors to the hospital.
Think about it for a moment? What would a regional hospital have meant to the Town of Gravenhurst in perpetuity? In fact, what would it have meant for our town, if we had been chosen as the best location for the Provincial Court House, the Land Registry Office, Regional Government Headquarters. The potential of these government establishments became magnets for a lot of other developments for the good of the Bracebridge economy.
I have always believed as a local historian, that Bracebridge's one major regret, is that they hadn't figured out, how to influence the change of the municipal boundary, so that they could have taken possession of both the Muskoka Airport and Beaver Creek, and the new Fenbrook Institution. It's never seemed right to some Bracebridge politicians, whining over the decades, how we snagged both, within a short hop to the municipal boundary, especially in modern thinking of the issue, and the airport's increasing relevance and use; plus the huge new investment in the federal correctional facility. I can recall arguments about service roads, when Fenbrook was being proposed, and how they (municipalities) would provide improved access to the combined correctional facility……and it always seemed to me, that Bracebridge was determined to bend the boundary to their advantage……if just the flow of traffic. If a war broke out, we'd be fighting them over these installations, and probably the ReStore, which they still think is in their town…..but it's not. It would be an interesting statistic to know, just how many correctional services staff, live in Bracebridge, versus Gravenhurst. I overheard conversations one day, in a Bracebridge coffee shop, suggesting that while Gravenhurst may have the prison, we have the staff living in Bracebridge. Competition between our towns hasn't always been in sports. The economy has been a big playing field.
WHAT NEXT? THEY CAN'T TAKE THE LAND AWAY FROM US…..CAN THEY?
How ridiculous would it be, to learn that the Province of Ontario, might have a project for the former Muskoka Centre property, that we might not like…….? Now I want to stress this as hearsay, without a shred of fact, or any word from a reliable news snitch on the inside. With all the talk about new casino locations being discussed, and sites proposed, in Ontario, is it remotely possible, that the multi-million dollar lakefront oasis, might be on a list we don't know about…..for consideration? If I was still in the day to day news game, here in Muskoka, I would assign this story, to find out, just how the province intends to handle the former Muskoka Centre acreage. As far as debt reduction, it does seem relevant today, to market the property, before real estate values diminish, as is the prediction over the next two years. While the announcement the other night, that Premier McGuinty is stepping down, does throw the brakes on, as far as new casinos…..at least for a wee hiatus…..others in Gravenhurst have certainly thought about the possibility…..the former Muskoka Centre property could be on the long list of potential sites. As far as it making folks nervous around here, this is to be expected. I'm not sure what a poll would reflect, of those against and those in favor, but as far as economic incentives, it would be hard to deny a casino would be a huge boost to the main streat, of which the complex would be just up the road…..and not a long drive at all, from the BIA zone. Bracebridge would have to come to us this time.
Now you might parallel what I've just written, as one might feel about a theatre-goer, who yells fire on a hunch, to empty a room. Suggesting a casino might fit the property, will create a lot of opinions around town…..and some of them vigorously angry. Some may even jump the gun, and contact the province to say….."bring it on!" Wouldn't that make Bracebridge crazy jealous? I just like to mess with their emotions.
Of course it is a possible site. You don't need me to tell you that. The province is looking to create more casinos and they own one of the best, most valuable properties in Muskoka…..one of the best known vacation regions on the continent. Considering that they've messed around for years and years, trying to figure out what to do with it, doesn't it seem strange that in the last year, they've finally started to play some of their trump cards. What are they holding back? Now keep in mind, that those areas that are most likely to receive the nod for a casino, may throw the offer back, in protest, refusing to have their communities burdened by gambling problems. If a few of these proposals are blocked or for any reason dismissed, it certainly is reasonable to believe, the Muskoka Centre property is more than suitable, for a luxury resort and casino facility. Hey, you can always re-tweak a road, to accommodate more traffic. Here's a reality the nay-sayers need to take into account. There are many hundreds of Gravenhurst citizens who travel to Casino Rama regularly to gamble, and to see the exceptional entertainment they offer. While I expect Casino Rama may not be too happy about sharing the gaming and entertainment audience, I'm not sure how that's going to be judged by the province in any location they select.
So here's the question? If we were asked to vote on acceptance of a casino being built in our community, how would that turn-out? Based on the need of the local economy for jobs, and spin-off business investment, and retail advantages, how close would the vote be to fifty percent for, and fifty percent against? Or would it be overwhelmingly rejected as we don't want gaming in our municipality. Or would it be endorsed by a huge margin, because we want to tap into some advantages for a change……and Bracebridge can't do a thing about it?
I know this may be far fetched. But here's what isn't. The Town could make a play for one of the new casino locations, even without us endorsing it. They would simply be making an enquiry, on the premise, the citizens would have to be consulted before its acceptance. My point is, are we interested in such a development for our town? The province will do something with the Muskoka Centre property, sometime soon, and we should be a part of the process…..as to what we would like to see on that beautiful chunk of lakeshore.
Our sons and daughters may benefit from whatever is built on that property…..more so if it is commercial versus being divided and sold-off for cottage lots, or a lakeside subdivision. I don't like casinos, and I've never once visited one, but I can tell you now, I would not vote against one…..because the bottom line, is that we have an economic need here, and a piece of valuable land that has sat vacant for far too long, offering us no clear advantage one way or the other. I will say this however; that I will not, outside of this hearsay bit of gossip, make a strong promotion to get a casino either. I would abstain from voting. It's a personal choice. The debate and vote on a casino, would be up to the citizens, at large, to decide, and my only hope, is that the town would seek approval in this fashion, with a referendum.
Is there a casino proposal coming? Why not?
As for jobs for our sons and daughters, at home here in Gravenhurst? Love the idea or hate it, you have to consider the economic advantages versus the inherent disadvantages associated with casinos the world over. But I think it would be of interest, just to be asked if we'd consider the idea! I'm sure the cottager association will have a strong opinion, and we should be prepared to listen…..just as they should listen to other points of view.
Have I started something here? I hope so. We need to get to motivate the province to get moving on the Muskoka Centre property……as it is very much an opportunity for economic development…..and this is to our advantage…..for a change.
Thanks so much for joining me today. Please come again.
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