"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

Saturday 3 January 2015

We all have our priorities

News headline  this morning ...Police detonate suspicious package in Dundas Station.....subway service was shut down. ..streetcars diverted... Shortly after 1a.m. a muffled bang was heard when  detonator was triggered.

Shortly after service returned to normal.

Nothing further.

An image presents.....police in  protective gear...bomb squad on hand ...vehicles and equipment ....area evacuated  ..emergency  alert.

Then nothing .. Pop.. Then nothing

Was it a terrorist attempt?

 Or just a package of cold  cuts  and stale buns left over from a party .....or an unappreciated Christmas gift.

Another headline  yesterday alerted  us that bad weather halted "rescue efforts? In the Airasia  disaster...a plane was missing for two days...wreckage was found and identified . No mention of survivors. .. who was being  rescued?

Why does it matter? because people pay attention ...and hope against hope.

A week ago....an advocate of child abuse was reported to have made the Canada Honours List.

Why was an advocate of child abuse be honoured ? Why not arrested and behind bars?

The headline was repeated  for several days without correction.

If proficiency in the national language is not to be expected in the national airwaves .....then where?

Is not the power of words to inform.Do not children learn how to use words be learned by hearing them used ?

Yesterday I received a slightly salacious comment. It was ....well...startling.

My finger hovered  between publish and delete.
It would of course stimulate interest.

Discretion became the better part of valour and it landed on delete.

The comment was from a contemporary of Dan Hill one of the performers billed at the Culture Centre in 2015. Made possible by a purchase of culture  agreement  by the municipality.  An
expensive purchase paid for with taxes collected from people who were not asked and have expressed themselves unwilling to pay.

Entertainment provided by Dan Hill and Sylvia Tyson and Dala (who are they) to no degree qualify as a service to property.

The  salacious tidbit  received raised the question of facilities provided for artists to prepare for a performance.

There are none.  Tickets  are accepted at a card table at the door of the room.

A patron of the Culture Centre, thinks it's terribly progressive to be able to offer this calibre of art in Aurora  and save officionados the trouble of travel to Toronto.

I'm just not sure why anyone would feel so compelled.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Those who support the centre will argue that there is no requirement for Aurorans to use the facility or to attend any of their functions.
That is accurate, as far as it goes.
But if a large - I have no idea how many - pod of residents is not availing themselves of the services provided there perhaps there is a problem.

Anonymous said...



Can you not wean yourself from the ACC?

It's probably bad for your blood pressure and no doubt raises that of everyone who reads about it.

Dan Hill is a one-song performer and even that became tiresome.

Anonymous said...

19:52- When the Town starts weaning the SCC off all that money...I can maybe understand weaning off the discussions, but understand that this is Evelyn's blog an clearly people want to discuss it.

Anonymous said...

"...people who were not asked and have expressed themselves unwilling to pay."

Should the half-dozen or so carpers here really hold much sway?

Anonymous said...

It is going to be up to the new council to determine if the centre continues to get its annual subsidy without any evidence of trying to reduce its drag on the budget. Given that usage of all other town facilities is steadily increasing with more pressure on staff and resources, it could be an interesting encounter.

Anonymous said...

20:07- How many? Really? It's the same handful.

Anonymous said...

@19:52
I am not a great admirer of Mr Hill but you are incorrect about his list of numbers. Perhaps you should google him and check out the material ?

Anonymous said...


If one wants to elevate blood pressure, that's fine...

Anonymous said...

And exactly how many do you figure should sway council to spend $ millions for the handful of Aurorans that belong to the SCC?

Anonymous said...

I would like to know how many Aurorans donated for a museum.I even remember an article Mr.Heard shared where Wimpey Homes donated specifically for " a museum at Church Street School".Thats pretty clear the building was taken.

Anonymous said...

23:25, it is for ALL Aurorans. Don't fall for the private club/secret society crap that is spread here.

Anonymous said...

It is interesting that we see comments about " belonging " to the Centre. I know people who have " joined " the Legion which presumably allows them certain privileges. Maybe just that of association to spend an evening there.
Seeing how often councillors have to appear at the numerous events scattered all through town, it seems joining might cut down on their bills. Which must mount up. $30.00, $50.00, even occasions costing $100.00 or more.
Unless politicians receive a special deal ?

Anonymous said...

I could be wrong but I don't believe the legion receives any funds from the Town. And as far as councilors paying a membership to this center they can do that from their own money and not more of taxpayers money.

Anonymous said...

9:58 Then why is it that there are programs being run by non Aurorans?

Anonymous said...

I asked about rental of the piano room.I was told there was a special price if I became a member.I wonder if I would have learned the secret handshake.

Anonymous said...

14:41
Thank you for that dose of cold water - it was needed. There definitely is a membership structure in place although it is being denied all over the place. We first saw it when only selected individuals received notice of the meeting at the town hall that started the entire mess.

Anonymous said...

I have been reading through the comments from the past while. It would appear the Centre had a public meeting which no one attended.
To prevent a repeat, may I comment that on Tuesday evening there is a gathering to discuss what is required to be on the Library board ?

Anonymous said...

19:43 The Library didnt rip off a building and duplicate services.Not even a close comparison.

Anonymous said...

22:38
I think that comment on the library board might have been an attempt to point out that people will attend that meeting whereas it seems the centre one was boycotted if anyone even knew it was scheduled in the first place.

Anonymous said...

"Not even a close comparison."

True, 22:38, in one aspect. Not that I have a problem with it, but as a point of reference and comparison, the cost to the Town of the Library is about 10 times more than that of the cultural centre.

Anonymous said...

Christopher

Anonymous said...

"...whereas it seems the centre one was boycotted..."

Yes, there was a massive, concerted effort by all the outraged, committed complainers to do nothing but continue to restrict their bitching to the confines of this blog. Frankly, it was easy to organize the half-dozen or so constant carpers.

Anonymous said...

Fantino has been ousted

Anonymous said...

12:55
But just to be on the safe side, you invited no one ?
That does not make any sense.

Anonymous said...

Fantino shuffle timed when house is not sitting
Globe