The Campaign Is Underway

A  Citizen's Letter To Council 

To Aurora Council March 10, 2011

This letter is in response to an article written by Sean Pearce dated March 8, 2011. in which he states that Councillor E. Buck has requested a review of the Aurora Cultural Centre operations with the hope of establishing a museum there.

A bit of history…In 2002 The Aurora Museum closed. In August of 2003 the Church Street School was leased to the Aurora Historical Society for the creation of the Aurora Heritage Centre. In 2007 Council approved the assumption of the Aurora Heritage Centre project. In May of 2008, the building lease was given back to the town by the Historical Society.

In July of 2008, Council adopted the Novita Report to create a cultural center in the school. The only councilor voting against this action was Evelyn Buck. The resulting contractual agreement with the Church Street School Cultural Centre Inc. runs until December 2013 and there has bee no "cause" to cancel this agreement.

There is no mention of a museum in this report and the financial agreement states that the money given is to be used for the development of arts, cultural and heritage services.

Surely, anyone who has visited this facility has seen that these obligations are being adhered to.

How fortunate we are to have our own center where we can go and hear world class musicians, view various forms of work by nationally known artists and artisans. It is a place where our children can receive instructions in art, music and media. A place where adults can find instruction in playing musical instruments, song writing, art, dancing, etc.

From the historical side, one can view many of the town's artifacts that are featured on a rotating basis and learn about them at information seminars. Recently, we had the opportunity to attend evenings with Jackie Stuart and discuss Aurora in its past and present.

Only someone who has not experienced our Cultural Centre could think about turning it over to town management and put the future of this facility in jeopardy.

More than 11,000 people attended activities at the Centre during the year 2010, and more than 3,000 during the first 10 weeks of 2011.

Without the past, there would be no future, but living in the past offers no future.

David Griffith,

 Aurora Councillor, 1991 - 2003

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In 2002 the Aurora Historical Society took it upon themselves to pack the museum collection into boxes and proceeded, without  authority, to  gut the building in preparation for renovations. 

 A usable facility  was rendered useless for several years  by that decision. 

A fund-raising campaign had been  launched in the community  to pay for  renovations. 

In 2004, the Society came to Council and demanded a legal agreement to "protect" their financial investment 

in  the town-owned facility.

In 2006. I took the initiative and moved a resolution for the town to make up the difference between the funds raised and funds needed to embark upon the renovations. 

The Society were paying  a consultant, Don Knight  to advise  them on the project. Estimated cost was one  million dollars.

Funds donated from the community  were $750K.  The Shortfall was $250K

Council approved the resolution. Town staff became involved. Estimated cost for the project was revealed to be  $2.3million.

Prior to town involvement, the Historical Society retained and paid an  architect for plans for a state of the art museum. The town received a presentation from the architect firm  and adopted the plans.

The project  commenced.  The Historical Society represented by President Helen Roberts withdrew from their commitment. Their numbers were too small  for the responsibility we were informed. 

At the same time Ms Roberts  requested consideration of a budget on the same terms as Aurora Library Board. 

Also  the Society  ceased to contribute from funds  raised for the project, to the project. 

Final cost of the project was $2.6 million. 

It's understood more than $400Ks of funds raised are still in the hands of the Society.

A curator had been appointed to replace J.Stuart, retired curator, in preparation for an operating  museum. 

Said curator successfully processed a grant application in an amount of $750K which provided a new HVAC system and interior storm windows for the facility whiich contributed significantly to the controlled environment needed for a museum.

The Curator was also the resource person  to the Arts and Culture Committee appointed by Council to prepare for the appointment of an arm's length board and terms of reference for operation of the facility.

The Curator resigned. 

A member of the committee , who also happened to be the former Mayor's campaign manager in the previous election,  took  the curator's  place even while retaining membership on  the committee.

He was paid $60 per hour  as a consultant.  The question was raised about qualifications and conflict of interest. 

Helen Roberts, President of Historical Society wrote a letter to The Auroran  vouchsafing for the credentials of the former election campaign manager without precisely stating what they were.

He continued in the  dual function. 

Mr Griffiths ,who presents as  a Councillor until 2003. notes I was the only opposition  to the agreement  when it was presented to Council.

 I am often a lone dissent on Council. It doesn't trouble me.  But  those who draw attention to the fact seem compelled  to overlook that  I do have authority to speak for others.

A solitary vote, it seems, is easily dismissed.  If I recall correctly, it's unlikely Mr. Griffith's  ever claimed the distinction.

He appears  not to have noticed those who  contrived to deprive the museum of its rightful place were 

not, in the main, re-elected  to office in 2010. 

In much the same way Mr. Griffith's did not succeed in 2003.  In fact, to be precise, it was myself who took his place.

It's clear to me Mr. Griffith's has been recruited to join the campaign to keep the museum out of the Church Street School.  I find no fault with anyone who stands up  for what he believes. 

It 's just a pity Mr Grifiths  did not satisfy  himself  as to the accuracy of the facts and chose to distort those he had, before allowing  himself to be persuaded to stick his neck out while others lurk behind him in the shadows.