CURRIE'S MUSIC SESSIONS EVENTS - COME AND SEE A GREAT SHOW, IN A GREAT VENUE, IN A GREAT TOWN, SATURDAY NIGHT
CURRIE'S MUSIC, OF GRAVENHURST, IS EXCITED, AND HONORED, TO PRESENT THREE UNIQUE AND TALENTED ACTS, FOR THEIR OCTOBER SESSION'S CONCERT, AT ST. JAMES ANGLICAN CHURCH, LOCATED ON HOTCHKISS STREET; BEGINNING AT 8 P.M. THIS COMING SATURDAY EVENING, FEATURING WELL KNOWN CANADIAN FOLK-POP PERFORMERS, FAYE BLAIS, AND TRICIA FOSTER, TWO EXCEPTIONAL MUSICIANS, WITH A REPUTATION OF HOLDING THEIR AUDIENCES SPELLBOUND. YOU'VE GOT TO RESPECT THAT! "THIS IS A CONCERT WE'VE REALLY BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO, SINCE WE BOOKED THE PERFORMERS A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, AND WE KNOW OUR GUESTS ARE GOING TO ENJOY THE NIGHT OUT IN UPTOWN GRAVENHURST," REMARKED ANDREW CURRIE, PROMOTER OF THE ANGLICAN CHURCH CONCERTS. "THESE ARE ALL COMFORTABLE EVENTS, ALL MODEST IN PROPORTION, AND ALWAYS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, SO THE AUDIENCE CAN GET A CHANCE TO TALK WITH THE PERFORMERS AFTER THEIR SETS. IT'S SMALL TOWN HOSPITALITY WE'RE HOPING TO ACHIEVE, AND A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA TO PROMOTE MUSIC, AND ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS, IN GRAVENHURST. FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO BELIEVE THERE IS NOTHING TO DO IN OUR TOWN, THEY SHOULD TRY ONE OF OUR EVENTS, AND THEY'D FIND THAT IT'S TRUE WHAT THEY SAY; BIG THINGS COME IN SMALL PACKAGES." EACH CONCERT SINCE THE SPRING OF THE YEAR, HAS GROWN IN ATTENDANCE, AND FROM ADVANCE TICKET SALES, IT LOOKS GOOD FOR SATURDAY EVENING. "WELL, WE SURE WOULD LIKE A FULL HOUSE, BECAUSE THE PERFORMERS DESERVE THIS KIND OF RESPECT. AND BECAUSE WE INTEND TO KEEP PUTTING ON THESE SHOWS, AND BRINGING IN MAJOR CANADIAN SHOWS, WE'D LIKE TO MEET WITH OUR PATRONS TO DISCUSS SOME OF OUR FUTURE PLANS. WE WANT OUR PATRONS TO GIVE US SOME IDEAS ABOUT FUTURE PERFORMERS THEY'D LIKE TO SEE. MOST OF THE ACTS IN THE CONCERT SERIES SO FAR, HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF SUGGESTIONS, FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN THESE PERFORMERS ELSEWHERE IN THE PROVINCE OR COUNTRY. THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN SPOT-ON."
WE WILL HAVE A SPECIAL INTRODUCTION, FOR ANOTHER GUEST PERFORMER, WHO WE CAN RIGHTFULLY CALL "THE CONCERT OPENER," FOR THE SATURDAY EVENING SHOW, IN TOMORROW'S BLOG; AND WE'RE REALLY PLEASED ABOUT HIS PARTICIPATION; HE'S A FRIEND OF BOTH OUR SONS, ANDREW AND ROBERT, AND THAT MAKES HIM A FRIEND OF OURS. PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT IN TOMORROW'S BLOG; SAME TIME, SAME PLACE.
TICKETS ARE FIFTEEN DOLLARS EACH, AND ARE AVAILABLE FROM CURRIE'S MUSIC ON MUSKOKA ROAD IN GRAVENHURST, OPPOSITE THE OPERA HOUSE, AND AT THE DOOR OF THE CHURCH, WHEN DOORS OPEN AT 7:30 P.M. DRESS? CASUAL! ATTITUDE? GREAT EXPECTATIONS! INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO US, AND LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE CONCERT SERIES.
Sudbury’s Faye Blais is spreading her new material around the globe, on a series of International Tours. Detailed as “continuing the thread started by Joni, picked up by Ani and fashioned by Feist”, Faye’s songwriting, presence and personality are showcased beautifully through her impressive jazzy-bluesy folk style, on acoustic and electric guitars, and keys, with stunning, dynamic vocals.
Faye has spent nearly half of the last decade overseas, recording and touring her albums throughout Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, and USA. The rest of her time is spent touring in Canada, where she recorded her latest album, "On the Bright Side" (May 2012 release) at her family's cottage in Northern Ontario.
Faye has received great reviews from her releases, including CBC Radio 3's New Music Canada Track of the Day (for "Something's Changed"), nominated for 6 Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards over 2010-12, and been included in Canadian Folk Festival lineups (Eaglewood Folk Festival, Northern Lights Festival Boreal, Arts Wells, Robson Valley Music Festival, Revfest…) and invited to showcase NXNE 2012. Faye has also been featured in a wide range of media at home, with radio, TV and print interviews and placements (CBC Radio One, Radio-Canada/CBON Breakfast Television – Calgary, CTV – Sudbury, VUE Weekly – Edmonton….), and was commissioned to write music for Native Canadian Documentary "Return to Manomin" by Michelle Derosier (Thunder Bay, 2011).
Throughout her years overseas, Faye has performed hundreds of shows, including international folk festivals (Port Fairy Folk Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Illawara Folk Festival - AUS, Nannup Folk Festival - WA, USA, Spring Scream, Peacefest – TW, Art & Soul Festival - USA...) and received great attention from radio, TV and print media (NBC - USA, Triple J - AUS, ABC - AUS/NZ, Noise TV -AUS, BLTV-TW, ICRT – TW, Balcony TV - AUS, FasterLouder - AUS, MX – AUS, CTV – NZ), in addition to compilation album features, and placements in Web and TV wordwide.
Faye is currently based in Toronto, Canada. She has just spent time writing and recording a new indie-pop project in LA over February 2014, and is also working on her first french album.
TOWN COUNCILS CREATE HISTORY BY THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE - SO HISTORY MAKERS SHOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THEIR OWN STAKE IN HERITAGE
IS IT POSSIBLE, COUNCILLORS HAVEN'T CONSIDERED THEMSELVES THE MAKERS OF TOWN HISTORY? CAN THEY BE THAT NAIVE?
EVERY NEW CABIN, BARN, SILO, COUNTRY LANE HACKED BY AXE AND HAND, THROUGH THE MUSKOKA WILDS, FROM THE 1850'S ONWARD, WAS IN ITS OWN WAY, HISTORY MAKING. EACH NEW SETTLER, EVERY NEW FAMILY, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, ALTERED, IMPROVED, OR NOT, THE DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL NEIGHBORHOODS. SOME NEIGHBORHOODS BECAME BETTER PLACES TO SET UP BUSINESSES, AS CENTRAL, CROSSROADS HUBS, AND THUS CAME THE BUILDING OF HAMLETS, VILLAGE AND EVENTUALLY, TOWNS. HISTORY IS MADE EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY. THERE ARE HOWEVER, EVENTS THAT ARE BIGGER AND MORE PROFOUND, AND MAKE A BIGGER WAKE ON RESPECTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS, WHEN DROPPED BY CIRCUMSTANCE. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, HISTORY IS WITH US AS LIFE IS WITH US, AND WE HAVE TO COPE THE BEST WE CAN; WITH WHAT CHANGES AND NEW DIRECTIONS ARRIVE AT OUR DOORSTEP NEXT. SOME WE CAN FIGHT, AND OTHERS, WE HAVE BUT LITTLE CHOICE IN THE MATTER, EXCEPT FULL COMPLIANCE. OR CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE. IT'S UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL. LOOK AT HONG KONG TODAY. HISTORY IS BEING MADE, BUT WILL IT BE FOR THE BETTER? WHEN IT'S A GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE, CONSTITUENTS HAVE HIGH HOPES IT WILL BE FOR THE BETTER. AS WE KNOW, IT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. BUT REGARDLESS, PROGRESS WILL ROLL ONE, AND WE HOPE DUE DILIGENCE WILL KEEP MISADVENTURES TO A MINIMUM.
MANY OF THE WORLDS GREAT WRITERS, PHILOSOPHERS, POLITICIANS AND INNOVATORS, REVERED IN HISTORY, HAVE EARNESTLY WISHED IN THEIR SOLITUDE, THEY COULD BE INSTANTLY UNBURDENED OF THE PAST, AND ALL ITS ASSOCIATED BLEMISHES. HISTORY HAS OFTEN BEEN VIEWED, AND INTERPRETED, AS A BALL AND CHAIN, SLOWING DOWN THE WORLD'S PROGRESS. MANY WORLD LEADERS, HAVE FELT THE MILLSTONE OF HISTORY, WAS HOLDING BACK THE NEW AGE, AND DRAINING RESOURCES FOR ITS CONSTANT MAINTENANCE. AND OF COURSE, THERE ARE THOSE WHO APPRECIATE THE KINDER SIDE OF OUR HERITAGE, BUT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF HISTORY REMOVED ENTIRELY. REALITIES OF THE PAST THEY DON'T LIKE. UNFLATTERING DETAILS OF MISADVENTURE, THAT MAKE A COUNTRY, OR POLITICIAN LOOK BAD ON THE WORLD STAGE. THERE ARE NO DO-OVERS, JUST RETROSPECTIVE REMEDIES. HISTORY IS FULL OF BURDENS OF CONSCIENCE. PHYSICAL BURDENS THAT HAVE TO BE OVERCOME, IN ORDER TO REALIGN THE PRESENT. LIKE THOSE OLD RUSTED IRON WATER PIPES BURIED A CENTURY AGO, THAT KEEP BURSTING AT THE WORSE POSSIBLE TIMES. I GET THIS! EVEN HISTORIANS CAN OCCASIONALLY BECOME OVERWHELMED BY THE HERITAGE THEY COMB THROUGH, LOOKING FOR THE MISSING PIECES THAT WILL NEVER BE FOUND. BUT THERE IS NO WAY OF BECOMING DISCONNECTED FROM THE PAST, UNLESS ITS PURPOSEFUL, AND TO THAT END, A NEGLECTFUL AVOIDANCE, AND THAT HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES.
I AM NOT AN HISTORICAL RE-ENACTOR. NOT ONCE IN MY LIFE, EVEN AS A CHILD AT HALLOWE'EN, HAVE I PLAYED AN HISTORIC CHARACTER, OR PARTICIPATED IN ANY HISTORICAL THEATRE, THAT REQUIRED ME TO DRESS UP AS A FATHER OF CONFEDERATION, OR TO LOOK THE PART OF CHARLES DARWIN. I'VE NEVER BELONGED TO A GROUP, INCLUDING SEVERAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES AND MUSEUMS, THAT EVER ONCE ASKED ME TO DON THE APPAREL OF AN HISTORIC FIGURE. I DON'T LIVE THIS WAY, AND ALTHOUGH I MAY GIVE THE IMPRESSION, THAT I AM SOMEHOW STUCK IN A QUAGMIRE OF LOCAL HISTORY, BETWEEN THE 1850'S, AND THE DEMISE OF QUEEN VICTORIA, IT'S NOT AN ACCURATE DEPICTION OF THE HISTORIAN I AM; OR OF THE PROFESSION I ADORE AS A RESEARCHER. NOW, THE ANTIQUE COLLECTOR / DEALER, MR. CURRIE, IS A DIFFERENT BEAST, AND YES, I DO SURROUND MYSELF WITH RELICS, AND ENJOY THE TICK-TOCK AND CHIME OF A WIND-UP CLOCK, AND THE GENTLE ILLUMINATION OF A VINTAGE OIL LAMP. I STILL DON'T DRESS IN PERIOD ATTIRE, JUST TO FEEL A PART OF THE PERIOD OF HISTORY, I MOST ENJOY. I DON'T OWN A VINTAGE FROCK, SHIRT, PANTS, OR BOOTS. I DO OWN A FEW OLD TOP HATS, BUT I DON'T WEAR THEM. I CAN ENJOY WRITING ABOUT OUR HERITAGE, AND CELEBRATE THE PROVENANCE OF ANTIQUITIES, WITHOUT MORPHING INTO A CHARACTER THAT IS NOT MY OWN. I'VE LEARNED HOW TO BE CONTEMPORARY AT THE SAME TIME, AS WAXING NOSTALGIC, ABOUT THE GOOD OLD DAYS. I ONLY FEEL BURDENED BY HISTORY, BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH MORE I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE PAST, BUT I'M BECOMING A RELIC MYSELF, AND THERE MAY NOT BE TIME TO FINISH ALL THAT I HAVE BEGUN.
THE REASON I BRING THIS UP, AND I DO THINK IT NECESSARY, IS TO COMPANION MY OPINIONS FROM YESTERDAY'S BLOG, WITH THOSE OF TODAY; A NEAR CONFESSIONAL ABOUT THESE SO-CALLED BURDENS IMPOSED BY HISTORY. SOME OF US DON'T MIND THESE BURDENS, BUT I MOST DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND THOSE WHO WISH TO BE LIBERATED FROM THE ACCESSES OF THE PAST. THUS, I CAN'T BLAME ANYONE, WHO FEELS LIKE THIS, MINIMIZING THEIR EXPOSURE TO THE RECORDS OF BYGONE DAYS. BUT THERE IS ONE OFTEN FORGOTTEN REALITY, OF THIS HISTORY THING, THAT AT THE VERY LEAST, NEEDS TO BE MORE FULLY UNDERSTOOD. EVEN THOSE WHO DESPISE HAVING TO REGARD HISTORY, BEFORE TAKING THE VERY NEXT STEP, TO ACHIEVE WHAT THEY BELIEVE TO BE THE NIRVANA OF PROGRESS, THE FACTS OF LIFE AND ITS EVOLUTION IN TIME, DEMANDS UNDERSTANDING OF HOW HISTORY IS MADE IN THE FIRST PLACE; AND HOW IT CAN BE DEVIATED FROM, BY EVEN THE MOST GENTLE OF ADJUSTMENTS. LIKE THE TIME TRAVELLER WHO STEPS ON A BUG, AND CHANGES THE COURSE OF NATURAL HISTORY.
IN THE CONTEMPORARY SENSE, IT'S LIKE CREATING COMMERCIAL NODES IN A SMALL RURALLY POSITIONED TOWN. A COUNCIL BECOMES A HISTORY MAKER, WHETHER THEY THOUGHT THIS WAS A SPIN-OFF-NEGATIVE OR NOT. HERE'S HOW TOWN COUNCILLORS, QUITE WITHOUT KNOWING THE FULL IMPACT, CHANGED TOWN HISTORY FOR BETTER OR WORSE; BY, IN GRAVENHURST FOR EXAMPLE, CREATING THE COMMERCIAL /RECREATIONAL NODE OF "THE WHARF"; THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ON MUSKOKA BAY, AND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF TOWN, THE PLAZA AREA IN THE SOUTH END. IN BRACEBRIDGE, THE FIRST HISTORY MAKER WAS THE CREATION OF THE WELLINGTON STREET BRIDGE, WHICH OPENED AN ALTERNATIVE TO MANITOBA STREET AS THE HISTORIC MAIN STREET CORRIDOR, AND THE BALL'S FLATS (MONCK BASIN) COMMERCIAL AREA; THE SHIFT OF BRACEBRIDGE AND MUSKOKA LAKES SECONDARY SCHOOL NORTH OF THE URBAN AREA OF TOWN; A BOX STORE PLAZA AREA, ON A NORTH EAST CORNER, AWAY FROM THE TRADITIONAL URBAN AREA; AND THE MOVE OF THE TOWN HALL IN THE SAME AREA, ACROSS HIGHWAY 11. THE BASEBALL DIAMONDS ONCE WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE, IN THE URBAN CENTRAL JUBILEE PARK, (THAT WAS SOLD BY THE TOWN, FOR A UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE CAMPUS), IS ALSO IN THIS NORTH-EAST SECTION OF THE TOWN, SITUATED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. EVERY ONE OF THESE CHANGES, AS TO THE TRADITION OF THE WAY BOTH HISTORIC TOWNS OPERATED SINCE THE LATE 1850'S, IMPACTED DRAMATICALLY, ON THE HERITAGE-CHARACTER MOST LONG TIME CITIZENS KNEW, UNDERSTOOD AND APPRECIATED. I REMEMBER TALKING TO COUNCILLORS ABOUT THESE URBAN SHIFTS IN THE PLANNING STAGES, AND NOT ONE OF THEM, HAD ANY REAL CONCEPT OF WHAT I WAS TELLING THEM, ABOUT "HISTORY CHANGING DECISIONS." THIS IS WHAT BOTHERED ME MORE SO, THAN WHAT I SAW AS JUST POOR PLANNING PREPARATIONS. CONSULTING REGIONAL HISTORIANS WASN'T CONSIDERED NECESSARY. THE FACT THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE, THAT WHAT THEIR OWN STROKE OF THE PEN, THEIR VOTE, WAS ESTABLISHING, WOULD HAVE ANY REAL IMPACT ON TOWN HISTORY, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE, MADE ME WONDER THEN, AS IT DOES TODAY, ABOUT A SERIOUS SHORTFALL OF INTUITION. EACH TOWN COUNCIL WILL ADMIT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF ECONOMIC PROBLEMS KEEPING RETAIL SPACE FILLED ON THEIR RESPECTIVE MAIN STREETS, BUT WHEN ASKED IF THEY SHARE ANY OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS NEGATIVE OUTCOME, WOULD DENY VEHEMENTLY THAT PROGRESS, AS THE VIEW IT, WOULD HAVE THIS KIND OF COLLATERAL DAMAGE. HISTORIANS STAND WITH MOUTHS GAPING-OPEN A LOT, BECAUSE WE'RE NOT TRYING TO TEACH ROCKET SCIENCE. JUST SOME BASICS ABOUT URBAN STRATEGIES, AND CHANGES TO NEIGHBORHOOD TRADITIONS. WE GET A LOT OF STARES IN RETURN. VERY FEW OVATIONS OR PATS ON THE BACK. JUST A LOT OF STARING AND THEN LOOKING-AWAY, SO WE'LL GET THE MESSAGE, IT'S TIME TO DON OUR TOP HATS AND GET LOST.
IN GRAVENHURST, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHARF COMMERCIAL NODE, HAS CERTAINLY IMPACTED THE HERITAGE CHARACTER OF THE COMMUNITY; AND HOW CITIZENS PERCEIVE IT, AS RELATES TO THEIR TRADITIONS, AND VISITATIONS. WOULD IT SURPRISE SITTING COUNCILLORS TODAY, TO FIND OUT THAT A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF LOCAL CITIZENS DO NOT VISIT THE WHARF, BECAUSE IT IS SEEN AS BEING A TOURIST THEMED ESTABLISHMENT? THE "NOT FOR US, CAUSE IT'S FOR THEM," SCENARIO, THAT IS SO REAL YOU CAN ALMOST TOUCH IT! WOULD IT BE SHOCKING TO UNCOVER THE HARD FACTS, THAT ONLY A TINY PERCENTAGE OF LOCAL RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ON ANY OF THE SHIPS OF THE NAVIGATION COMPANY, (PARTLY DUE TO EXPENSE OF TICKETS) OR HAVE VISITED THE MUSEUM WE KIND OF OWN. THEY REALLY SHOULD HAVE THESE STATISTICS, AS A DUE DILIGENCE PROTOCOL, BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE QUITE REVEALING, AND ALLOW MANAGEMENT TO ADDRESS THE SHORTFALL, IN A MORE EFFICIENT MANNER. IF INDEED, THIS IS DETERMINED TO BE TRUE. AT A TIME WHEN REVITALIZING THE "NEW" WHARF PROJECT HAS BECOME AN ELECTION ISSUE, IT'S KIND OF IRONIC THEN, THAT I'M NOW ABLE TO INTERVENE AT THIS JUNCTION, TO POINT OUT, THAT MANY OF US "LOCALS" KNEW THIS DISASSOCIATION WAS GOING TO BROADEN, SHORTLY AFTER SEEING THE PLANS FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT. THIS WAS BUILT AS A TINY BUT SIGNIFICANT TOURIST MECCA, FOR THOSE OF MEANS; AND THOSE WITH MODEST MEANS, HAVE UNDERSTANDABLY HAD A STANDOFFISH POINT OF VIEW. IT'S A PERCEPTION MORE SO THAN A REALITY. BUT IT'S JUST AS DAMAGING. IF THOSE WHO BACKED THE WHARF PROJECT, HAD THOUGHT IT WISE TO SERIOUSLY UNDERSTAND THE TOWN'S HERITAGE, AND THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WERE EXPECTED TO SUPPORT IT, THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN A LITTLE MORE PERCEPTIVE ABOUT HOW THE CITIZENRY WOULD ATTACH TO THE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS, THAT WERE GOING TO LOCATE ALONG THIS IMPORTANT SHORELINE.
THE FUNDAMENTAL ERROR, WAS THAT THE CITIZENRY WAS OF MUCH LESS IMPORTANCE THEN, TO THE PLANNING AND BUILDING OF THIS LAKESIDE COMMERCIAL POD, THAN THE SPARKLE OF INCOME POTENTIAL, FROM THE ANTICIPATED PATRONAGE OF OUR SUMMER SEASON VISITORS. SOMEONE ONCE SAID TO ME, "IT'S LIKE THEY PICKED UP A WHOLE THEME PARK, TRANSPORTED BY AIRCRAFT, AND DROPPED IT ONTO THE SHORE OF MUSKOKA BAY." THE IRONY HERE, IS THAT COUNCIL, IN THE COMING TERM, WILL LIKELY PURSUE THIS PREMATURE REVITALIZATION, CAUSED IN LARGE PART, BECAUSE PROPONENTS MISSED THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF ALL; LOCAL ACCEPTANCE. WHO FROM THAT PERIOD, WOULD HONESTLY STATE, THAT THE WHARF DEVELOPMENT WAS BUILT FOR THE BENEFIT OF LOCAL RESIDENTS? WE WERE TOLD WHAT WE NEEDED, AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT'S DOWN THERE TODAY. SO AS FAR AS SPENDING OUR TAX DOLLARS, AND LIKELY MAKING THE SAME MISTAKES A SECOND TIME, THERE MAY BE SOME OPPOSITION TO ANY MORE RECKLESS HISTORY ALTERING, WITHOUT SOME PRETTY SERIOUS LOCAL CONSULTATION. IF THERE HAD BEEN A RESPECT FOR HISTORY, AND I'M REFERRING TO LOCAL HISTORY HERE, THERE CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN SAFEGUARDS IMPLANTED; IT'S WHERE THE PUBLIC POOL SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOCATED, FIRST OF ALL. THIS WAS THE PLAN, WAS IT NOT? IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ATTACHED TO THE ARENA. TALK ABOUT HISTORY CHANGING DECISIONS. THERE'S A DANDY? WHAT PERCENTAGE OF LOCALS USE THE RECREATION CENTRE AND POOL, AS COMPARED TO OUT OF TOWNERS, SUCH AS THOSE FROM BRACEBRIDGE? OUT OF THE POPULATION OF LOCAL YOUTH, WHAT PERCENTAGE ATTEND LOCAL PROGRAMS, AND PUBLIC SWIMMING. IN THE WINTER SEASON? AND IN THE SUMMER? DO MORE LOCAL YOUTH PREFER TO SWIM AT GULL LAKE PARK? WHY?
THE SOUTHEND DEVELOPMENT BEAT THE CRAP OUT OF THE MAIN STREET, IN GRAVENHURST, BUT THIS IS A KINDRED STORY TO ABOUT A HUNDRED THOUSAND COMMUNITIES IN NORTH AMERICA, FROM THE MALL CONSTRUCTION ERA OF THE LATE 1960'S. THE DECENTRALIZING OF THE TRADITIONAL MAIN STREET BUSINESS CORE, CREATES RETAIL COMPETITION AND ALL ITS STRESSES. THE GRAVENHURST MAIN STREET WAS IN A TRANSITIONAL STAGE AT THE TIME, THE SOUTH END PLAZA AREA WAS INITIATED, AND THEN LAUNCHED, AND THERE WAS NO WAY OF LOSING A MAJOR DEPARTMENT / HARDWARE STORE FROM DOWNTOWN, A GROCERY STORE, THE LIQUOR STORE, WITHOUT ECONOMIC FALLOUT. IT WAS OBVIOUS BEFORE THE FIRST SHOVEL HIT THE GROUND IN THIS AREA, THAT THE DOWNTOWN (NOW KNOWN AS UPTOWN) WAS GOING TO BE IN A LONG, PRECARIOUS BATTLE TO KEEP ITS MARKET SHARE. BUT TELL ME SOMETHING. COULD THERE HAVE BEEN ANYONE AT TOWN HALL, ELECTED OFFICIALS OR STAFF, WHO WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN HISTORY WAS BEING MADE DURING BOTH OF THESE MAJOR TOWN PROJECTS? IS IT POSSIBLE, COUNCILLORS WHO VOTED FOR THESE DECENTRALIZING PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE RE-LOCATION OF TOWN HALL FROM THE DOWNTOWN, WHO DIDN'T SEE THEMSELVES AS SHAPING THE TOWN'S FUTURE. WHICH MEANS, OF COURSE, HISTORY MAKING. THESE TOWN COUNCIL DECISIONS, GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO ITS FOUNDING, ALL TOLD, HAVE PROFOUNDLY ALTERED THE WAY GRAVENHURST HAS FUNCTIONED AND EVOLVED, FOR THE ENTIRE PERIOD OF ITS HISTORY. THIS ISN'T A CONDEMNATION OF MAKING CHANGES, AND EVEN THOSE OF PROFOUND PROPORTION. BUT THERE IS NO ESCAPE YOU SEE, FROM HISTORY, LIKE IT OR LOATHE IT. THE SAME IN BRACEBRIDGE. COUNCILLORS MIGHT NEVER HAVE THOUGHT OF THEMSELVES AS HISTORY MAKERS, BUT IN THE PAST TWELVE YEARS, THE CHANGES THEY HAVE VOTED IN FAVOR OF, HAVE DEFINITELY TURNED THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES AWAY FROM THEIR TRADITIONAL GROWTH PATTERNS, AND CHARACTER FUNCTIONS; IN THE CASE OF BRACEBRIDGE, TRADITIONS AND COMFORTABLE COMMONPLACES THAT I GREW UP WITH.
WHEN BRACEBRIDGE TOWN COUNCIL VOTED TO BUILD THE WELLINGTON STREET BRIDGE, ACROSS THE MUSKOKA RIVER, NO ONE AT THE COUNCIL TABLE AT THE TIME, DENIED IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, TO RELAX THE TRAFFIC ISSUES FACING THE TOWN AT PEAK TIMES. COUNCILLOR ROSS MILLER, WAS THE ONLY ONE, WHO PAINTED A REALISTIC PICTURE OF WHAT WELLINGTON STREET COULD LOOK LIKE TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, WITH NEW COMMERCIAL STRESSES, FROM THE CONVENIENT BRIDGE, ROUTING TRAFFIC TO THE JUNCTION WITH HIGHWAY 118, IN THE CURRENT PLAZA AREA. HE POINTED OUT, VERY ASTUTELY, THAT THE TRADITIONAL DOWNTOWN WAS GOING TO TAKE A SERIOUS BEATING, AS PLAZA DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE GIVEN A BOOST BY THE TRAFFIC DEVIATION. HE ALSO NOTED THE TRAFFIC IMPACTS ON GENERALLY QUIET SIDE-STREETS, LIKE DILL AND ONTARIO STREETS, THAT MOTORISTS WOULD USE AS SHORT-CUTS, TO CONNECT TO AND FROM WELLINGTON STREET. MY WIFE AND I LIVED ON ONTARIO STREET, JUST BELOW THE HIGH SCHOOL, AND I CAN ATTEST TO THE HUGE INCREASE OF TRAFFIC VOLUME, IN THE YEARS AFTER THE BRIDGE WAS OPENED. THE CHARACTER OF A LOT OF THESE ONCE QUIET SIDE STREETS WAS CHANGED FOREVER, AND IT WAS THE DIRECT RESULT OF A COUNCIL DECISION TO OPEN A TRAFFIC ALTERNATIVE. CONSIDER THE FACT, MANY LONG TIME RESIDENTS AND EVEN NEW RESIDENTS, PREFERRED THESE STREETS BECAUSE OF THEIR LOW LEVEL OF TRAFFIC. SUZANNE AND I, WITH NEW SON ANDREW, WHO RAN BEFORE HE WALKED, DECIDED WE COULDN'T TAKE THE RISK OF LIVING ON SUCH A HIGH TRAFFIC STREET, ESPECIALLY AFTER MY MOTHER, SUZANNE AND ANDREW, WERE NEARLY RUN OVER AT THE BOTTOM OF TANBARK HILL (NEAR OUR HOUSE), WHEN A CAR TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, AND NEARLY HIT THEM ON THE SIDEWALK. NOW THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROFOUND CHANGE OF FAMILY HISTORY. WOULD COUNCIL HAVE ASSUMED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ROLE THEY PLAYED, IN CHANGING THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN, BY OPENING THE BRIDGE; AND THUS CONTRIBUTING TO OTHER TRAFFIC DILEMMAS, AS COLLATERAL IMPACT. I DOUBT VERY MUCH WHETHER THEY WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD THIS, LET ALONE TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY. ROSS MILLER WAS THE ONLY COUNCILLOR, I RECALL, ABOVE THE REST, WHEN I WAS COVERING THIS STORY FOR THE HERALD-GAZETTE, WHO PREDICTED MUCH OF WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN; AND HE WAS IN ALL STATEMENTS, BACK THEN, QUITE ACCURATE IN THE WAY HE SAW COLLATERAL IMPACT. AND WHAT HAS OCCURRED SINCE. FROM AN EDITORIAL POINT OF VIEW, OUR NEWSPAPER BACKED THE COUNCIL DECISION AS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO, AND BECAUSE OF THIS, WE WERE CHASTISED BY SOME OF OUR ADVERTISING CLIENTS WHO HAD DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES. YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYONE. BUT WE ALL KNEW, THAT GROWING PAINS WOULD MEAN SOME BUSINESSES WOULD FAIL AS A DIRECT RESULT OF APPROVING THE BRIDGE. I SUPPOSE IT WAS CONSIDERED "ACCEPTABLE LOSS," BY COUNCIL, IN ORDER TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN URBAN ADVANCEMENT.
WHEN BMLSS WAS MOVED OUT OF TOWN, LOCAL BUSINESSES SUFFERED. THE TOWN DECIDED COLLATERAL DAMAGE, IN THIS CASE, WAS ACCEPTABLE AND MINIMAL. WHEN THEY MOVED TOWN HALL, AND ESTABLISHED A NEW PARK SITE, (BASED ON THE LOSS OF JUBILEE PARK), ACROSS HIGHWAY 11, THEY CREATED NEW ACCESS PROBLEMS. THEY SLOUGHED IT OFF, AS THEY DO TODAY, AS BEING THE GROWING PAINS OF PROGRESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. A FEW OF US SEE THIS DIFFERENTLY, AND "HISTORY CHANGING" BASED ON THE OPINIONS OF THE MINORITY; JUDGING THAT THE MAJORITY WOULD SOON ADJUST TO THE NEW NORMAL. THEY CERTAINLY WON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHANGING EC0NOMIC FLOW, AND THE SHOPPING TRADITIONS OF THE LOCAL POPULATION. THIS ISN'T TO SUGGEST THAT CHANGE SHOULDN'T OCCUR, BECAUSE IT MIGHT AFFECT THE TRADITIONS OF TOMORROW, BUT IN THE CASE OF THE WHARF, IN GRAVENHURST, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY SENSIBLE, TO HAVE ADDRESSED LOCAL SENTIMENT BEFORE INVESTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, TO MAKE A JEWEL ON THE WATERFRONT; WHEN ALL GRAVENHURST RESIDENTS REALLY WANTED, WAS TO HAVE THE SAME ACCESS TO THE WATERFRONT THEY'VE HAD FOR RECREATION, EVEN MODESTLY, FOR MANY DECADES. IT'S EVEN SPAWNED URBAN LEGENDS, LIKE THE ONE WHERE LOCAL ANGLERS, ARE ASKED TO VACATE THE DOCKS, BECAUSE THEY ARE FOR BOATERS ONLY. I'VE HEARD THIS SAME STORY HUNDREDS OF TIMES NOW, AND ALTHOUGH IT'S LIKELY A TALL TALE, IT STILL REFLECTS ON HOW LOCAL PEOPLE FEEL ALIENATED FROM THEIR OWN LAKESHORE.
THE INCOMING TOWN COUNCILS, IN BOTH TOWNS, REALLY NEED TO COMPANION WITH AN HISTORIAN NOW AND AGAIN, TO LEARN A FEW THINGS ABOUT HISTORY ALTERING DECISIONS, AND THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS THAT CAN RESULT, FROM WHAT IS TOUTED AS THE BEST DECISION FOR THE WHOLE DAMN TOWN. NOT ALWAYS. LIVING CONSEQUENCE FREE JUST ISN'T POSSIBLE. BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO MITIGATE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT. A LOT OF HISTORY IS BEING MADE, BY THOSE WHO HAVE NO USE FOR HISTORY. ISN'T THAT CRAZY-IRONIC? ABSURD, RIGHT? BUT IT IS THE REASON, I MAKE THE EMPHATIC POINT, THAT TOWN COUNCILLORS, DESPITE THEIR OPINION ABOUT MUSTY OLD HISTORIANS AND THEIR ILK, AND THE BURDENS OF THE PAST, NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY HAVE NO MORTAL OR RIGHTEOUS POLITICAL CAPABILITY, OF DISTANCING THEMSELVES FROM HERITAGE; SEEMINGLY ATTACHED LIKE A HELIUM BALLOON ON A LONG STRING, TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD. AND IT IS CRITICAL, IN THIS REGARD, THAT THEY UNDERSTAND, HOW DANGEROUS TO OUR FUTURE WELL-BEING, A BAD OR POORLY THOUGHT-OUT PLANNING DECISION, CAN CHANGE THE CHARACTER AND TRADITION OF THE HOME TOWN AND REGION OVER THE NEXT CENTURY. THEY ARE OUR HISTORICAL STEWARDS LIKE IT OR NOT; AND THIS ISN'T JUST THE ANTIQUITIES WE HAVE TRUSTED TO THEIR CARE. AS THEY ARE LIKELY, IN THEIR TERM OF OFFICE, TO MAKE MANY HISTORY CHANGING DECISIONS, MINOR AND MAJOR, IT SEEMS ABUNDANTLY PRUDENT, THAT THEY SHOULD KNOW THE HISTORY ALREADY ACHIEVED; SO WHEN THEY COME TO CHANGE IT, THEY'LL AT LEAST APPRECIATE ALL THE CONSEQUENCES FIRST. NOT IN RETROSPECT. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR OR READ A QUOTE LIKE, "IF ONLY WE KNEW THEN, WHAT WE KNOW NOW!" FOR GOSH SAKES, THEY CAN, BUT THEY HAVE TO SEEK IT OUT.
SUZANNE AND I USED TO WALK ALONG MUSKOKA BAY AT LEAST TWICE EACH WEEK, BEFORE THE WHARF WAS OPERATIONAL. WE RATHER LIKED WHAT IT DIDN'T HAVE, BUT THEN WE ARE MINIMALISTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE URBAN DYNAMIC. WE HAPPEN TO LIKE SMALL TOWN LIFE. WE ACCEPTED WHAT THE TOWN AND DEVELOPMENT PROPONENTS HAD IN STORE, FOR THE LAKEFRONT, AND AS WE ARE REALISTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE TOURIST INDUSTRY, BOTH HAVING SERVED MANY YEARS OF OUR LIVES FOR ITS BETTERMENT, AND KNOWING FULL WELL WHAT WE NEED TO DO, TO BULK IT UP, FOR THE COMMON GOOD, WE GAVE IT, THE NEW WHARF, A TRY, DIDN'T CARE FOR IT, AND INSTEAD, RE-INVESTED OUR TIME AT GULL LAKE PARK. THIS IS THE WAY MANY PEOPLE WE KNOW FELT ABOUT THE TWO PARK AREAS; GULL LAKE WAS FOR THE LOCALS, THE WHARF WAS FOR THE TOURISTS. IF THE INCOMING COUNCIL WAS TRULY INTUITIVE, AND COULD GET BEYOND THEIR STUBBORN MINDSET, AND PHILOSOPHICAL BLINDNESS, THEY WOULD REALIZE THAT IN ORDER TO MAKE ANY SERIOUS CHANGE TO ITS ECONOMIC FUTURE, LOCALS HAVE TO BE ADDRESSED MORE SINCERELY THAN THE FIRST TIME AROUND.
I REMEMBER BEING INVITED TO A SPECIAL EVENT AT A LOCAL MUSEUM, A LONG TIME AGO; THE CARD SENT, BEING ADDRESSED TO "TED CURRY." THIS MADE ME FEEL A TAD DEFLATED, SEEING AS MY LAST NAME IS SPELLED "CURRIE." SMALL THING, WITH A BIG IMPACT. SO I DIDN'T ATTEND. AS A REGIONAL HISTORIAN, WITH ABOUT TEN THOUSAND BYLINES BEHIND ME, AND A COUPLE OF BOOKS TO MY CREDIT, I FELT THEY COULD HAVE RESEARCHED THE CORRECT SPELLING OF MY NAME. THINGS LIKE THIS ARE NOT SMALL BREECHES OF PROTOCOL. IT'S HUGE, TO ME! SEEING AS I WRITE REGIONAL PROMOTIONS OF MUSKOKA, AND ITS COMMUNITIES, FOR A REGIONAL, PROVINCIAL, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE, EVERY SINGLE WEEK OF THE YEAR, WITHOUT ANY COST TO THOSE I HIGHLIGHT, YOU MIGHT THINK, GETTING MY ENDORSEMENT, BY SPELLING MY NAME RIGHT, WOULD SEEM IMPORTANT. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, I HAVE NEVER WRITTEN A SINGLE PROMOTION OF THIS SAME MUSEUM; SIMPLY STATED, BECAUSE I'VE NEVER FELT WELCOME THERE. THERE WAS ONE OTHER TIME, WHEN THEY NEEDED A GUEST SPEAKER, DUE TO A LAST MINUTE CANCELLATION, AND PHONED SUZANNE TO ASK IF I COULD SPEEDY-QUICK, TAKE OVER THE EVENING'S LECTURE. WELL, I SUPPOSE IT WAS NICE THEY THOUGHT OF ME, BUT THEY NEVER THOUGHT OF BOOKING ME ANY OTHER TIME. SO NO, I DIDN'T TAKE OVER THE VACANT SLOT.
IF MORE TAXPAYER MONEY IS GOING TO BE USED TO REVITALIZE OR STIMULATE THE WHARF, IN THIS COMING COUNCIL TERM, THE TOWN HAD BETTER MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF LOCAL SUPPORT; AND THEN, THEY MIGHT ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO CORRECT A WRONG OF HISTORY. WOULDN'T THAT BE NICE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED INITIALLY, BUT THEN, WELL, THERE WERE BUILDING SCHEDULES TO KEEP, AND HYPE TO KEEP INFLATED.
IF COUNCIL HOPEFULS STILL DON'T CARE ABOUT HISTORY, AND THEIR FUTURE ROLE AS ITS CREATOR, THEN THEY ARE FOOLS, AND WILL LIVE WITH THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE, IN A FOOLS PARADISE.
OUR COUNCILS NEED TO LISTEN TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS; ALL OF THEM, SEASONAL AND PERMANENT.
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