"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Sunday 22 April 2012

Valhalla

The building I visualise  for  Victoria Street site is not simply a youth centre.

To make best use of the site, it would be several storeys high and divided into studio sized spaces.

It could accommodate dance, music, writing. a Shakespeare Club,  Art, Chess, Bridge, Whatever space  might allow people to achieve excellence in a chosen  field in much the same way they currently  do in  hockey, figure skating, baseball,soccer,swimming and whatever other sport comes to mind.

It might include a small theatre.

An internet coffee shop aimed at youth or whatever else might
catch their attention.

The thing is, we sold our Hydro asset. It was a hard decision to make.

It  would  make eminent  sense, if we replace that asset  with another. 

The fund has grown from $24  to $33 million.

I believe it should be used to enrich the community with a facility  that could never even be contemplated, if it had to be a burden on the taxpayers.

I  believe having a  hub, a place where people gather in the heart of the town can only be a good thing.

It's not a new thing. It would simply restore what was lost.

We have the beginnings of it now with the library and Church Street School. Many of the activities I'm talking about are already happening in those two facilities.

How much better could we do it  with a building designed for the purpose .

As the town grows it could be woven into its  fabric. A weaving studio another possibility.

Yes indeed, I'm allowing my imagination to run wild. Deliberately.

It's a golden opportunity.

When the court house was built in Newmarket, they said lawyers would come.  We had two legal firms in Aurora and not many more in Newmarket. Lawyers came.

When the hospital had its first expansion , they said specialists would arrive  And they did . Hordes of them. Davis Drive is lined with Medical Arts Buildings.

If we build a facility for the arts, open to anyone with a penchant  a dream or a natural ability, who is to say what impact that might have on this  place we call home?

Who is to say we could not take charge of our own future and the opportunities for our children?




8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I hope the town decides to see your dream come true.

Anonymous said...

If we build it they will come even if we are not around to appreciate it. Go, girl !

Anonymous said...

Please, could we have a place where kids talked about their aspirations and someone advised them how to achieve them> Maybe a David Heard?

Anonymous said...

Lets buy the old trio restaurant the Spatsopolous Bros are probably ready to cash it anyway , rip it down and add it to the mix , once we own the entire block then we can truly create something Unique ,Inviting, Purposeful and yes maybe even profitable , just keep the consultants and the strategic visionaries out of it and you'll be fine

Anonymous said...

Isn't the present discussion about a youth centre? Even you admit that your "vision" sounds redundant.

Anonymous said...

What have you done with our Evelyn Buck?! You know, the pragmatic and prudent one. This scheme seems all rather "pie in the sky" to me.

Anonymous said...

"We have the beginnings of it now with the library and Church Street School. Many of the activities I'm talking about are already happening in those two facilities."

So, why exactly do we need the "Buck Building"?

Anonymous said...

Yes we have all sorts kids that want to do Shakespeare or Chess or Bridge.... Is this 1912 or 2012?

I have a child at Williams SS. Those things exist there already, why do we need to duplicate it.

Why did The Hotspot close? It had nothing to do with the venue (or lack of). Kids today don't want to participate in those activities.

We need to strike a committee that can find the true needs of the youth in Aurora. I would suggest that those on the committee should not be over 40. We are dealing with people that have no concept of black and white TV,no internet, no cell phones, etc.