The Debate Continues...History Versus Culture...What!!

David Griffith's letter to the Mayor and Council appeared in both local newspapers last week.One gave it a heading of The Jewel in Aurora's Crown.

I printed the letter in a previous post. It applauds  use of the Church Street School as a centre for culture.

Church Street School is situated next to Aurora's library which is relatively new and  heretofore considered by many,  to be the  Jewel in Aurora's Crown. I guess we  have two jewels.

The  question is, can we afford two jewels doing the  same thing.

This week's notice board has a number of programs from the town's leisure services and the library  relating  to that question.

Last night, dinner and  a movie  suitable for ages 11 to 14 was offered at the library for $3 admission.

During  March Nancy Newman & Linda Welch are exhibiting in the Skylight Gallery of the Aurora Town Hall.

High school students, a  growing population in Aurora are invited to participate in a first ever Art in the Park event. Picnic tables will be painted and the completed tables will be judged and placed in parks for the community to enjoy.The program was initiated by Chris Catania, youth co-ordinator  on  town  staff for at least eight years

Currently on display  until April 23, at the Colleen Abbott Gallery in the library, is an exhibit of floral and landscapes by award winning  Aurora artist Nancy Newman.

Again at the library, every Thursday from March 31 to April 21 and from May 5 to May 26 is a Splash into Spring event where youngsters can learn to watercolour with award winning Aurora painter and teacher Alana Biasi. The program is for beginners and advanced students.

On March 24th , beading  and  fashion a suede bracelet is being taught to 9 to 14 years old at the Aurora library.

The library is a beautiful facility. It can only  be described  as uplifting. I believe it was built in the tradition of Aurora but it was and is being paid for in large part by development charges.

In  early days of Ontario, the only functioning  level of government was local. Council members came from  local employers. They had little  inclination for children of the labour force to be educated.Their own children went  abroad to boarding schools.

Subsequently. the senior government took responsibility for education away from local councils. They created school boards  and gave them authority to requisition  funds needed from the council..

Aurora's early families were English, Scottish, Welsh, Quakers and  Dutch. Church Street School, we have heard, is unique in Ontario. This community, unlike others, valued education for itself. That was a Scottish tradition.
 
A scan of  town  history reveals education was not the only art appreciated.The town has always been progressive.And  always in a competition with its neighbour, Newmarket.

If David Griffiths  doesn't  know that he should.

The entire world  knows  the beauty of  the Welsh Eisteddfod, a tradition in Wales that dates back to the 12th century.

The  families Griffiths and Davis, both Welsh, have  spread like the  roots of an almighty tree in the history of Aurora.

Collis Leather and  Davis Tannery in Newmarket  were only the  latest survivors of hundreds of small  tanneries that existed at one time or another on Tannery Creek. Tanners were  possibly brought  from the same place as the founders of the industry. It was how settlement happened in the early days.It was how the country grew.

Aurora doesn't need to take a back seat to anyone in terms of appreciation the lively arts. The town wasn't waiting for the renovation of Church Street School  to be exposed to the arts.

What disturbs me most about the dispute, is the  lack of awareness of what actually goes on in the community, by the people who should know  but made the decision the facility should not be used for the purpose intended.

The library has always provided arts programming.  Leisure Services have done the same. Our little theatre company has been providing performing arts, including musicals  for at least fifty years.

Local churches have sponsored musical performances. The artist community has been vibrant, well supported and facilities provided for almost as long.

Where did the idea come from that the town needed to support with half a million  dollars of our taxes  an arts program at the Church Street School  at  the exclusion  of the town's museum ?

Last week, I heard of an all day  training session for department heads at the Church Street School.

The week before I heard of the facility being used for a meeting of a commercial association. What are the implications of that to businesses in town offering the same service?

Are we competing for business with tax funded facilities with business who are carrying the burden of the taxes ?

How fair or logical is that?