A Stunning Revelation

A couple of month's ago, in a council meeting, I queried the names for a Town Park.

Naming rights had been sold in a fund-raising auction for the hospital.

 I was questioning the practice.

The Mayor responded, the same principle was the same as naming a park after Herb MacKenzie.

A parkette is named after Herb. It's on the curve of Murray Drive entering the neighbourhood where Herb lived for forty years. An appropriate tribute to someone who lived in and loved the town his entire life. Herb wore his heart on his sleeve. A most gentle and kindly man who served several productive terms on Aurora Council.

The Mayor's response was stunning. It left me speechless. Most would agree that's not easy.

If it is appropriate to name a park in tribute to a person who has made a significant contribution to the community.... Should such opportunities be a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder?

We have sold naming rights to the Stronach Recreation Centre. To help pay for the facility.

Room names were sold in the Senior's Centre for the same purpose.

But even if a tribute could or should be bought and sold, should the funds derived not contribute to the development of the park being name?

The funds for naming a park went to the Southlake Health Centre.

During the naming debate, Councillor Gallo, apropos of nothing, asked how I would feel if my name was removed from the street bearing it?

I was reminded of the morning after an election when losing candidate Gallo called to request I
step aside from the seat to which I was elected and allow him to have a seat to which he was not elected.

My mother used to say, you can't know a person until you've lived with him.

She was partly right.

Watching quick-change artists perform in Council politics is also enlightening.