"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

Tuesday 2 November 2010

Museum

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Treasuring Our History":

I thought the Aurora Cultural Centre was set up as a corporation, an entity very much removed from the influence of Town Council.
I understand about a hundred applicants were interviewed before their director was hired.

I thought the museum is renovating its own nearby building.

Can you add to my understanding?

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The Church Street Heritage and Cultural Centre was set up as a  separate entity to the Council. The theory  was for it to  become economically self-sufficient. Being  autonomous would allow  that  to happen It was expected to wean itself from financial support from the town  at a rate of $100ks a year

Now there is  funding of $340.Ks with a commitment for an annual increase of  3%.  $170Ks was unspent  at the end of 2009.  It was carried over   into 2010. So...  $340ks plus $170.ks. was provided
in 2010.

My understanding of the Financial report is as  a Councillor not an auditor. The Financial Statement was presented on September 28th when the Agenda included a  twenty minute presentation by The St; Kitts woman , approval of three planning documents not supported by many stakeholders and neither the opportunity nor the circumstance for  the statement  to be explained.

I know nothing whatsoever about the process for hiring or terms of reference for various jobs. The Board was  given  autonomy remember; sufficient autonomy to interpret the contract to mean there is no obligation to provide space for a museum.

I know nothing of  "the museum" renovating its own nearby building.

As the mover of the motion to provide the funds to complete renovations for the Church Street School to become a state of the art museum, which were $2.3 million plus $700,000 granted from Heritage Canada , I am completely perplexed as to how it happens we do not now have that which was intended.

That money was not provided for a separate and autonomous board to purchase culture and squeeze out the museum.

In answer to the question about who owns the artifacts and would the town be prepared to buy them?

In fact many artifacts were purchased by the town. Many others were donated to the museum for stewardship  and community appreciation.

I don't think a dispute about who owns the artifacts at this time would contribute much to the debate at hand.

Furthermore, if a particular party is claiming ownership, I would  require  to see  bills of sale to support the claim.

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My Post on St, Maximilian Kolbe High School  was not  referring to Wells St School. It was referring to the battle to stop the public school board from building a new high school to replace Dr.  G.W.Williams.

I'm supposed to be the one who can't let go of the past.

I'm suggesting to public school parents is they might like to check out St. Max. See what a new school looks like. See how it fits with how  kids need to be equipped to face the world.Not your world. Their world.

What teachers need to stay  current . What everybody needs to stay fresh and invigorated and hold the kids interest.Which is surely what education needs to be.

Clinging  to nostalgia of the past, is not  about your kids' future? It's  just about nostalgia ?  And wanting to re-live your childhood through your children?

I'm just saying.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a parent of a Williams student, I can tell you that with the exception of the "religious training", the same courses are offered as Max. I think that is the whole point behind the Province's curiculim, isn't it?

I did not grow up in Aurora so I have no ties to Williams. I did grow up in a similar sized community and went to a similarly aged secondary school. I would feel a little sorry if they tore down my school but I understand that things change - sometimes for the better.

There comes a time when all old things must be retired and replaced. We need to understand that and not fight it.

Anonymous said...

There have been comments from an individual from Stouffville to which artifacts from Aurora were going that way.

This is very concerning and fact that it was said.

It was overheard after a council meeting in Aurora.

Anonymous said...

I had the pleasure of attending one of The Spirit Walks on the weekend.
There is no doubt Mr Heard is very passionate about this community.
There was history,some spooks and my children and I loved it.
What a gem for Aurora this will be.

Anonymous said...

To Anonymous, Nov 2 at 9:27
Perhaps, if this is true, Stouffville would like to also take Petch House off our hands. It was, after all, originally theirs.