The Other Part of the Question

Church Street School has been Aurora's Museum complete with curator, classroom visits,summer history camps,Victorian Christmas Teas, special events and historical research service for town residents and planning staff for nigh on thirty years.

Artifacts purchased by the town and donated by Aurora families make up the collection. Bequests have been received for the purpose of a museum. Financial donations solicited and received over many years contributed to the museum.

The Aurora Historical Society launched a fund-raising drive to professionally design and complete renovations for a museum. The community contributed $750,000.for the purpose. Project estimate was $1 million.

A specialized sprinkler system was installed to protect the collection.

Over the years,the town spent hundreds of thousands. probably millions,to keep the building upright, foundation walls intact and the roof enclosed .Authentic single-diamond glazing was installed in the windows. Internal upright support had to be replaced. An addition was constructed to provide elevator access between floors.

During the 2003/6 Council term, the Historical Society demanded a prior agreement with the town to protect their financial interest in the building.Their lawyer sat down with the Town's lawyer and a long term agreement was signed and as of this date has not been rescinded.

The town approved the project with an estimate of $2.3 million dollars. It was completed.

The Historical Society had previously commissioned plans for a state of the art museum. The architects made an enthusiastic presentation to Council. Council adopted the plans without consideration of any changes to suit any other function. The project proceeded.

In the meantime, the Town Treasurer, experienced in a restored venerable building converted to modern use, recommended an arms length board of management to ensure no drain on tax revenues for operation.

The building's purpose is long established. No opposition was expressed when the decision was made to fund the renovation at a cost of $2.3 million.

In the circumstance, a Council is entitled to assume community support. $2.3 million is no small potatoes. It could not be expected to pass without notice. As the mover of the motion, I expected negative reaction. There was none.

An Ad Hoc Committee was established to create the management structure. The newly appointed curator, Cathy Malloy was expert resource on the committee.

Ms. Malloy successfully processed a grant application to Heritage Canada and further funding of $700,000 was obtained for the purposes of a museum. The funds paid for the HVAC system(heating and environmental control).Interior storm windows were installed and still further museum attributes.

Suddenly and unexpectedly,the newly appointed curator,took her leave from the town and took up employment elsewhere.

Mr. Whitehurst, a friend of the former Mayor, without known expertise in museum matters, was appointed in her place as resource person.

A board was incorporated. The Ad Hoc Committee was disbanded.A formal agreement identified the building as a Cultural Centre. The agreement is somewhat ambivalent in its terms and eventually, with the failure to respond to inquiry, it became apparent a museum would not be accommodated.

In a nutshell:

We have a collection of artifacts representing substantial community interest and investment. Three million dollars invested to provide a perfect environment and home for the collection. We provided a budget of half a million dollars from tax revenues for operation of the building and it's maintenance. We provided an annual grant of $50,000 to the Aurora Historical Society. For a curator. To organise, display and make available the town's collection of artifacts. To assist in the education of our children in their community's history, values and traditions, To illustrate our respect for the people who came before us, whose hard work, serious endeavour and sacrifice created this place we are now privileged to call home.

And none of that is happening.

We do not find that acceptable.