What People Are Saying About Gravenhurst

WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GRAVENHURST - THAT WE MOST OFTEN CHOOSE TO IGNORE

THE COMMENTS FROM VISITORS ARE ENLIGHTENING - AND ENCOURAGING, BUT ARE WE LISTENING?

     TO SUGGEST GRAVENHURST RESIDENTS ARE OVERLY CRITICAL OF THEIR HOMETOWN ISN'T FAIR. I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS A LOT RECENTLY, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT I'M WORKING WITH OUR BOYS EACH DAY, IN THEIR UPTOWN MUSIC AND ANTIQUE SHOP. THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT SOME OF OUR CITIZENRY FEEL OBLIGED TO CRITICIZE, WITHOUT FEELING IT INCUMBENT TO ALSO MAKE IT CONSTRUCTIVE…..AND TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP FIX WHAT THEY PERCEIVE TO BE WRONG. LIKE BOOING PERFORMER JUSTIN BIEBER, AT THE GREY CUP, WE CAN BECOME PRETTY NASTY TO OUR OWN, IN CANADA, WHEN THE MOOD PREVAILS. THERE ARE A LOT OF CITIZENS IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHO COULDN'T SAY ANYTHING POSITIVE ABOUT LOCAL BUSINESSES, IF THEIR FEET WERE HELD TO A FIRE. THEY PREFER TO SHOP ANYWHERE ELSE BUT AT HOME. I KNOW THESE PEOPLE. I'VE TRIED MANY TIMES, TO COUNTERPOINT THEM WITH ARGUMENTS, AND SHARP INQUIRY, ABOUT WHY THEY FEEL IT NECESSARY TO PUNISH HARDWORKING, AMBITIOUS BUSINESS OWNERS, BECAUSE OF PRECONCEIVED NOTIONS……THAT NINETY PERCENT OF THE TIME ARE IN ERROR OR BASED ON RIDICULOUS MISCONCEPTIONS. WHAT DOES SHUNNING A LOCAL BUSINESS ACCOMPLISH FOR THE WELFARE OF OUR HOMETOWN? WELL, OF COURSE IT IS YOU DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO SHOP WHERE YOU WANT. NO ONE WOULD DENY THAT. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO MOUTHING OFF, ABOUT JUST HOW CRAPPY IT IS TO SHOP HERE, BEWARE WHO YOU ARE STANDING BESIDE. I WOULD TAKE GREAT DELIGHT, IN CARRYING ON AN ENQUIRY, ABOUT WHERE THIS DISLIKE ORIGINATED FROM; CIRCA WHAT ERA, AND WHAT SHOP(S) STARTED THE CRITICAL BALL ROLLING. THIS IS THE QUICKEST WAY TO SHUT-UP A CRITIC WITHOUT A CASE. THE NUMBER OF THESE DISGRUNTLED CITIZENS ISN'T HUGE BUT IT IS ENOUGH TO HURT LOCAL BUSINESSES, WITHOUT DOUBT, INCLUDING OUR OWN. BEING OUTSPOKEN AS I AM, WELL SIR, I EXPECT TO BE PUNISHED FOR NOT AGREEING WITH THEM. BY EXPERIENCE AND IMMERSION, I AM VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WE HAVE IN GRAVENHURST, AND I'M SPEAKING AS A CUSTOMER AS WELL.

     SINCE WE MOVED TO GRAVENHURST, FROM BRACEBRIDGE, IN THE LATE 1980'S, I'VE BEEN KEENLY AWARE, AS A REPORTER AND WRITER, THAT THERE IS A CERTAIN AND UNHEALTHY AMOUNT OF SELF-LOATHING IN OUR COMMUNITY, I SIMPLY CAN'T UNDERSTAND. WHEN I BEGAN WORKING AS A NEWS EDITOR OF THE BANNER, IN 1989, I WAS SHOCKED BY THE AMOUNT OF NEGATIVITY BEING GENERATED WITHIN, ESPECIALLY THE BUSINESS SECTOR. AND NOT JUST THE TRADITIONAL MAIN STREET AREA. WE RAN INTO NUMEROUS SITUATIONS, AS A YOUNG FAMILY, THAT MADE US GASP, WHEN NEIGHBORS AND ASSOCIATES, EVEN IN CASUAL CONVERSATION, WOULD PAINT GRAVENHURST AS "THE PLACE NOT TO BE!" WHICH BY THE WAY, REALLY SUCKED, CONSIDERING WE HAD JUST MADE A HUGE, LIFE CHANGING DECISION, MOVING TO A NEW TOWN TO RAISE OUR KIDS. WHEN WE STARTED TO IMMERSE IN EVENTS AND SHOPPING AROUND GRAVENHURST, WE WERE SHOCKED TO HEAR SO MUCH CRITICISM ABOUT LIFE AND TIMES IN OUR NEW HOMETOWN. I WOULDN'T KID YOU ABOUT THIS. WE WENT FROM BEING ENTHRALLED WITH OUR NEW HOME, AND WONDERFUL HINTERLAND NEIGHBORHOOD, TO BEING FRIGHTENED WE HAD MADE A TERRIBLE DECISION. WELL, WE'RE STILL COMFORTABLY ANCHORED IN THIS TOWN, DESPITE HEARING AND READING A LOT OF NEGATIVE OVERVIEWS SINCE.

     AS A NEWS HOUND, DATING BACK TO MY DAYS WITH THE COMMUNITY PRESS, I HAVE PAID ATTENTION TO THESE SOURCES OF NEGATIVITY, AND POLITICAL AGITATION, WHICH POURS FORTH GENEROUSLY, FOR NO OTHER PURPOSE THAN TO KNOCK DOWN, WHAT IS PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE AT THE TIME. SO AS NOT TO APPEAR HYPOCRITICAL, THERE ARE UNFAIR CRITIQUES WITHOUT FOUNDATION; MINUS THE CONSTRUCTIVE ASPECT. AND WHAT I HAVE BEEN WRITING ABOUT INTENSIVELY FOR THE PAST YEAR, COMES FROM SOMEONE WITH SOLUTIONS, AND WHO IS IMBEDDED IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY…..AND WHO, BY THE WAY, HAS TO SCRAMBLE WITH IDEAS CONSTANTLY, TO REMAIN ECONOMICALLY RELEVANT.  I LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO, THAT UNLESS YOU HAVE A SOLUTION, AND AN ALTERNATIVE PLAN, THEN BEING CRITICAL IS SIMPLY POURING SALT ON AN OPEN WOUND, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, EXPECTING AN IMMEDIATE RECOVERY. I HAVE CHALLENGED NUMEROUS EDITORIAL FORAYS BY THE LOCAL PRESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS BLATANTLY BIASED COVERAGE OF THE NEGATIVE SIDE OF LOCAL ECONOMICS, WITHOUT THE COUNTER BALANCE, OF REPORTS FROM BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRY DOING PARTICULARLY WELL. I'M NOT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, AND I HAVE NO ASSIGNED ROLE OF GRAVENHURST ADVOCATE. FOR ME, AND IT'S JUST MY OPINION, BUT I CAN'T ABIDE THOSE WHO HIT AND RUN. WRITE A SCATHING LETTER TO THE EDITOR, OR PARTICIPATE IN THE SPREAD OF RUMOR AND INNUENDO ABOUT OUR ECONOMIC PERILS….AND THEN TAKE OFF, REFUSING TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ASSERTIONS…..WHICH AT BEST ARE SELF-SERVING WITH VERY LITTLE BASED ON THE BROADER ECONOMIC PROFILE.

     WE'VE SAT AT HOME, HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, MANY TIMES DURING DINNER, AND STOPPED MID-FORK-FULL, HALWAY BETWEEN TABLE AND MOUTH, TO LISTEN TO SOME ONE-SIDED NEWS STORY, ABOUT THE DARK DAYS IN GRAVENHURST, AS FAR AS ITS ECONOMICS. IT'S ONE THING TO SUFFER TERRIBLE EVENTS, SUCH AS CATASTROPHIC FIRE. EVERY COMMUNITY HAS TO DEAL WITH THESE UNFORTUNATE REALITIES. BUT TO SUGGEST WE MIGHT AS WELL ROLL UP THE MAIN STREET, BECAUSE OUR BUSINESS FUTURE HAS COLLAPSED…..TO NEVER RETURN, MAKES US WONDER ABOUT THE ASTUTENESS OF THE MEDIA, AND THE APPARENT WILLINGNESS TO SALT THE EARTH WITH NEGATIVITY, TO WEAKEN PROSPECTS FOR EVERYONE ELSE. EACH AND EVERY TIME WE HEARD THESE POORLY RESEARCHED AND TERRIBLY BIASED NEWS FEATURES, WE'D LOOK AT OURSELVES AND WONDER WHY WE BOTHERED TO KEEP OUR FAMILY SHOP OPEN. OH YES! WE WERE MAKING MONEY! NOT A LOT. BUT OUR BUSINESS HAS BEEN A SEVEN YEAR PROGRESSION, AND WE WENT RIGHT THROUGH THE EYE OF THE ALLEGED ECONOMIC STORM…….WHICH REALLY WASN'T A STORM AT ALL. THE BOYS HAD AT LEAST SIX EXPANSIONS IN THEIR BUILDING, SINCE BEGINNING WITH ONE SMALL ROOM UPSTAIRS IN THE OLD THEATRE.

     I EVEN APPROACHED THE MEDIA ON THIS SHORTFALL IN REPORTING. I HAVE SENT LETTERS MYSELF, BEGGING THE EDITORIAL STAFF, TO BALANCE THEIR REPORTING, BY CHATTING WITH BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN PROSPERING, DESPITE THE PERCEIVED ECONOMIC DOWNTURN. WE'VE OFFERED COUNTER POINT. AND NOT ONCE IN SEVEN YEARS, HAS A REPORTER WITH ANY MEDIA, PRINT OR ELECTRONIC, WISHED TO KNOW OUR SIDE OF THE STORY. OUTSIDE OF HAVING A REPORTER COME IN TO BUY SOME VINTAGE RECORDS, NO ONE HAS THOUGHT IT WORTHWHILE, TO CHAT WITH TWO LADS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, TO FIND OUT HOW THEY HAVE FARED, ON THE SO-CALLED DOOMED HISTORIC MAIN STREET, OF THEIR HOME TOWN. IT'S NOT THAT WE CARE ABOUT EXPOSURE, BECAUSE WE'RE DOING FINE ON OUR OWN. IT'S ABOUT FAIR PLAY. AND NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT THIS, THE MEDIA HAS JUMPED ON NEGATIVITY FOR THE SAKE OF HEADLINES……OR THIRTY SECOND SPOT NEWS REPORTS, WHEN THE ELECTRONIC MEDIA FINALLY DECIDES TO PROVIDE A  LITTLE COVERAGE OF OUR AREA.

COMMENTS FROM OUTSIDERS, THE TRUE MARKET ASSESSMENT

     I never subscribe to the value of on-the-street surveys. There are business associations that swear by them, as the great liberators of truth as it affects local economics. As a main street investor, our family likes to hear unsolicited testimonials, about our town, provided by happy shoppers…..contented visitors…….thankful vacationers, to have such a nice place to retreat for recreation and shopping adventures.

     I hate to keep drawing everyone back to the recent CBC visit to our town, that put on two sold-out nights of entertainment, at the Opera House, courtesy the entertainment of host Stuart McLean, and his famous "Vinyl Cafe." From Thursday afternoon, and right up to the time the crew left for the next leg of the tour, in Victoria, British Columbia, the praise for our town was enough to make us blush. Many of the staff and crew of the Vinyl Cafe did come into our shop, in the former Muskoka Theatre building, but it wasn't about our shop, they were most animated and vocal about. It was the whole package of the retail, restaurant, catering and lodging, services and goodwill, which inspired comments like, ……"you have a charming town….and we love it here," kind of thing; afforded us without any prompting or even the slightest conversational turn, that would have necessitated saying something nice about the Gravenhurst experience. One thing was clear. The business community, as a whole, treated the CBC gang with respect, and generosity, clearly demonstrating our thankfulness, that our town was selected above every other community in Canada, to be the first to host the Christmas edition of The Vinyl Cafe. Apparently, according to the crew, we lived up to our reputation of being kind hosts. This should make all of us feel good about our attractiveness to visitors. Yet I'm sure there will be someone out there, who would like to put a negative spin on this, because they might have been bypassed, or that they simply don't want to hear words like "charming" as a description of the place we live. I will never understand it, but it is definitely time to distance ourselves from those who complain without ever once, blaming themselves for any perceived or actual shortfalls.

     The kind of comments we received from these appreciative visitors, who are familiar with just about every part of our country, sea to sea, confirmed what we have always known……but because of prevalent negativity, have admittedly at times, begun to question nonetheless. We have some great things happening in our town. All you need to do is take a drive around. And if a news reporter wanted to do a story, about a business actually desiring, to be located on the main street, they'd find two young Currie lads, looking forward to future challenges…..and successes; without once fearing the sky above, might be falling on their heads. If you drive around Gravenhurst today, any old day, you will see lots of change occurring. Improvements, expansions, commercial and residential, and while it may not be a huge sign of re-investment, it is most definitely a clear indicator, many folks have tremendous confidence in our future potential. It's not a minor attitude adjustment, but rather a sprawling network of committed folks proving a point……that negativity has its key purpose, when used constructively in the critical process of due diligence. Thus, by this show of confidence, there are many investment opportunities budding in Gravenhurst. Just ask the risk takers, out there now, expanding their enterprises, and building new homes. What do they see in Gravenhurst's future?

     Criticism is used as justification for argument's sake, to predict, often without basis, some imminent failure. As if the predictor, would be happiest to see failure, versus something successful. When the doomsayers are proven wrong, well, they just disappear into the shadows for awhile. Until they feel the urge once again, to predict the end of the world. The folks building up their investments in our town, must like what they see and experience here, because the number of optimists is growing.

     Suzanne and I have been working side-by-side our lads, now day to day, since the first of July, operating the antique wing of their vintage music business. We signed on for another year, after an initial short term arrangement, to see how well we could work together. We weren't sure whether mom and pop would cramp their style. I've been having a ball. Suzanne is preparing for retirement, pleased as punch to jump aboard a business we began shortly after first son Andrew was born, in the 1980's. The shop then was on the main street of Bracebridge. We have no regrets joining forces with Andrew and Robert, and the customers seem to like the diversification we offer. But it gives us a chance, to meet face to face, with not only local customers, but a wide array of visitors to our community, and so many day travelers; and those who work in our community but live elsewhere…..even in Muskoka. I have a lot of stories garnered, since July, about the good graces of Gravenhurst, provided by the wide range of our clientele……but especially tourists…..yes, even at this time of the rolling year. And believe me, I know their opinions of many other businesses in our town…..and by consensus, we're doing a pretty good job of catering to their needs. This, of course, considering we are still by all assessments of our armchair critics, just a small rural town struggling in the Ontario hinterland, in what they argue, is an economically depressed area, without much chance of a quick exit from fiscal peril. This certainly has its elements of truth. There is no denying we are in great need of a food bank and social services in our region. Of this we are sorry, but by generosity from within, donate as much as we can afford ourselves, to help our neighbors. But hearing positive comments about our town is always refreshing, especially when we've heard so much to the contrary, over so many years.

     I don't believe it sensible whatsoever, to block criticism just because we assume, as a slur, it's always baseless. Sometimes there is great reason to reflect upon, what has been leveled as criticism. I don't think it would do any of us, in the business community, any good, to remove ourselves from the trials of criticism. But there is a point of no return, when too much criticism, without counter-point, becomes so painfully discouraging, that it is impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel…..whether it is there or not.

     We plan to continue investing in the main street business community for many years to come. Suzanne and I will retire here, very shortly, and spend our time feeling good, about the choice we made in the 1980's, to move south from Bracebridge, to this fine community, with so much to offer.  Despite what you may feel is wrong with our Uptown, Wharf business community, South End plazas, or with enterprises throughout the town, boycotting or shunning them, hurts the town as a whole. When you shop at home, you make us a stronger community. It's a core value of community pride. We are as strong and dynamic as our citizens make us……by re-investing in Gravenhurst. This Christmas season, give our local merchants the opportunity to help you find the perfect gift……or provide quality services, whether as caterers for your parties, or snow removal for your clogged driveways. We have hundreds of highly competitive enterprises in our town……that are eager to win your trust. Please shop locally. Let's build back our main street business corridor to its glory days. Yes, it is possible, despite what you may have heard. Bypass the critics, and see for yourself, the great shops bursting as the seams, with lots of seasonal fare. Start this weekend, by attending Saturday's Santa Claus Parade.

     Thanks once again, for keeping me company on this blogsite. It's always great to have you drop by for a visit.