"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

Monday 30 September 2013

A Hall of Mystery and Confusion

If  you were one of the thirty people who watch Council in Action that Councillor Abel refers to, you may have noted an exchange between the Chair and myself at the last meeting.

I was speaking to a recommendation from staff for a  $3,000, Gold Sponseship for the Sports Hall of Fame  Induction Dinner to be held at St Andrew's College.

I spoke of  Sport Aurora being provided with office space to assist in processing an application for a Trillium Grant .

The Mayor said  Sports Hall of Fame was separate from Sport Aurora.

I'd heard from the spokesperson a week earlier  the Mayor had been involved in the organization of the organization.

I accepted the  information he provided.

It was noted Councillor Abel and the Director of Recreation and Parks were voting members of the board.

The vote to provide the sponsorship lost in a tie.

Councillor Humfryes was quite upset. Noted the importance of municipal support for a Trillium grant application.

We heard that previously when a $25,000 grant went to another organisation that claimed local status.

Trillium grants are funded from lottery revenues.

I expect the issue to  return for a new vote  after Councillor Abel's resignation from the board and no longer feels he has to declare a conflict of interest.

This morning , Councillors  were joyfully informed  Sport Hall of Fame has received a $5,000. grant  uppn  request, from the Mayor's Charity Golf Tournament.

Sale of tickets to the dinner was also being promoted with no price given and a change of  venue from St. Andrew's College to a business in Aurora .

That was a Gold Sponsership of $3,000  from the town towards the Induction dinner.

An application for a Trillium grant  with support  from the town to ensure success.

$5,000. from the Mayor's Charity Golf Tournament.

And sales of  an unnamed number of tickets at an unnamed  price.

I'd say Sports Hall of Fame is touching all bases.

The benefit dinner was to  be held  at St. Andrew's College who don't do commercial catering. Then  the venue was changed but still in St Andrew's with assurance of no discord.

Then not in St. Andrew's at all.

And I  still don't  know what the organisation is about.

Olympic Gold medallists champions of yesteryear have been named  to beinducted   into the Hall of Fame . It's a corner of an upstairs lobby at the town hall where few people hang out.

What's it all about  Archie?

Why  do they need  any funding at all?

And  will there be accountability?






9 comments:

Anonymous said...


There is probably nothing wrong in providing financial support to assist in the creation of something that serves as an attraction, a place to visit, by both Aurorans and those from out of town.

But it has to have a meaningful size and place, not stuck in a corner of an upstairs lobby at the town hall. Or is this just a temporary thing until many more fund-raisers and grants in order that the project will have some legitimacy?

There is a Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame.

Are we trying to emulate it?

Why do we need all these "destination projects?"

Let's spend more on ridding our roads of pot-holes.

Anonymous said...

Ah, just let them play with their smoke & mirrors. A bunch of novices. Watch the US & Italy. We aren't that bad - yet.

Anonymous said...

15:17
Perhaps we should try & entice a hotel that is decent enough for friends & relatives before we aim to be ' destination '. We couldn't even find spaces for the Special Olympics which was a damn shame.

Anonymous said...

None of this has anything to do with generating income for the town. There is nothing for resident taxpayers. Nothing to reduce the budget. Just cosmetics.

Anonymous said...

I really try not to be cynical but it would appear that Auroran taxpayers are paying forward on the next election. Either through legal fees incurred during court cases involving trees or in spectacles involving wining and dining.

Anonymous said...

Meanwhile the Americans are re-fighting the Confederate War !!!!!

Anonymous said...

And in Toronto, there is an expensive proposal to ban smoking in outside patios of pubs and restaurants. Soon you will get fined for burping.

Anonymous said...

Mr Watts has provided some light entertainment for those weary of Council's antics.

Anonymous said...

"Mr Watts has provided some light entertainment..."

He always does...with his spelling and grammar.