Letter To Mayor and Council . Number 2

The first Letter to the Mayor and Council came  from the  Head of The Arts Department of Sacred Heart High School in the Town of Newmarket.It's three pages long .

It's  not clear the York District Catholic School Board  intends  involvement  in the merits of  Aurora using  a facility that cost three  million dollars in capital construction for a purpose other than  intended.

The museum  was squeezed out of the facility by the Culture Centre Board , Not the other way about.

The letters are undoubtedly  part of an ongoing  campaign launched by those at  the cultural  centre with  interests to protect. Giving free space to individuals to promote their  commercial advantage no doubt entices a loyal  following. Nothing like giving money away to draw a crowd

If there is envy in neighbouring municipalities, I doubt it comes from the municipality itself. 

The people who hatched the scheme are no longer in charge Mr Griffith or have you not noticed. .

Mr.Griffith comments I have voted negatively on anything positive to do with the Cultural Centre.

 I am  aware of  one vote.

It was for approval of half a million dollars  to be spent without  accountability to the people who foot the tax bill. 

I  voted against that.  I will do it again in the next budget debate.

I may not be alone on Council.  I am certainly not alone in the community.

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To: Mayor Dawe and Aurora Councillors

September 21, 2011

Here we go again with Evelyn Buck and her museum. She has cocooned herself on Aurora Council by voting negatively on anything positive that has to do with The Aurora Cultural Centre. If she really wants to shrink The Cultural Centre in favour of a museum, then let the tax payers see some numbers first. No responsible organization would embark on a project like this without a lot of research into its viability, how much it would cost tax payers and how many people could be expected to visit it.

If our neighbouring municipalities, with museums, are any indication of visitations, it deserves a long hard look. I did some research on my own and was astonished at the few “ Open ” hours they can justify. Also, it should be noted that these museums offer more than artifacts in one building. They also have old houses, one room school house, railway station, etc. that can be toured.

Presently we have a vibrant Cultural Centre that has by far outperformed all expectations of it. During the first six months of this year more than 9000 people have participated in its extensive activities. That is an increase of 3000 over the same period last year.

[ doesn’t sound like just a Culture Club to me. ] If a person has never visited or taken in some of these activities, they have no idea of what it is doing for our community of Aurora. I would suggest that Council Members go to the Centre and talk to the staff about the variety of programs that are offered to all ages from pre-schoolers to seniors.

There is designated space for atifacts to be displated at the Centre, and I’m sure more can be acquired if needed. It should be up to The Historical Society, who owns these items, to see that artifacts are displayed, on a systematic basis, so they can be enjoyed by the thousands of people visiting The Centre.

The success of any venture requires more than a warm fuzzy feeling by a few people.

If you listen to other people, you will find that our Cultural Centre is envied by many other municipalities.

David Griffith

Aurora Town Councillor 1991 to 2003

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Mr. Griffiths lost his seat  when  a   former Mayor, septuagenarian candidate,  after a fourteen year absence  from council was elected.

I think I may presume  to speak for others besides myself.