Roger Varley has been in the news business almost 40 years with The Canadian Press/Broadcast News, Uxbnridge Times-Journal, Richmond Hill Liberal and Uxbridge Cosmos. Co-winner with two others of CCNA national feature writing award. In Scout movement over 30 years, almost 25 as a leader. Took Uxbridge youths to World Jamboree in Holland. Involved in community theatre for 20 years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager etc. Born in England, came to Canada at 16, lived most of life north and east of Toronto with a five-year period in B.C.
What's going on at council?
What's in a name?
Last week, Councillor Pat Molloy expressed his concerns over the sign at the new skate park at what continues to be called Kennedy Fields.
The signage identifies the park as the Uxbridge Rotary Club skate park. Mr. Molloy said he worries the residents of Uxbridge aren't receiving enough due for the money they donated to the park's construction, let alone the Township of Uxbridge, which contributed the lion's share of money.
I have not been happy with the Rotary Club name being attached to the park since the decision was made some time ago.
I have no quarrel with the Rotary Club. As is any service club in town, Rotary's membership is made up of good people who see their club as an opportunity to do good things for their community and beyond. But Rotary appears to have more money than any of the other service clubs, and the fact they could throw in a bigger lump sum cash payment to the park should not, in and of itself, deem them more worthy of attaching their name to the facility than any other group.
For example, the Optimist Club of Uxbridge has put in a lot of hours working for the skate park. Indeed, one of their members has been on the Youth Centre committee from the time before there was a Youth Centre. And the Youth Centre has been a prime driver of the skate park. The kids who belong to the youth centre have also worked hard, putting on fund-raising concerts and skateboard events, selling wrist-bands and bumper stickers at the Fall Fair and other events. They probably didn't raise anywhere near the amount of cash that Rotary donated, but their effort and hard work is just as commendable.
The Township itself donated a lot more money to the park than Rotary. So what's wrong with calling it the Township of Uxbridge Skate Park?
The naming of the park reminds me of Councillor Jacob Mantle's idea, when he was running for office, that we should consider selling naming rights to some of the town's facilities, such as the arena. He saw it as a way for the township to raise some much needed money. Mr. Mantle has proven to be a most capable and diligent member of council, but happily (so far) his naming idea has not resurfaced (although, given the nature of some of the large capital projects being proposed for the township over the next few years, it could).
As I said during that same municipal election campaign, I don't want to see Uxbridge being the home of the Walmart: We Sell For Less Arena. The arena, and most particularly the second ice pad, were built as a result of the hard work and generosity of the people of Uxbridge. Walmart, Boston Pizza, A&W or any other of the giant corporations weren't even in town when the arena was built, and even the Canadian Tire store was much smaller than it is now.
The Sky Dome in Toronto was built by the citizens of Toronto and Ontario and was named following a major contest. It was, I believe, the first ever stadium with an operating retractable roof and the name reflected that. But along came Rogers with fistfuls of cash, made, I might add, from those same residents of Toronto and Ontario, and voila! no more Sky Dome. Say hello to Rogers Centre!
Another example: the Toronto Maple Leafs play at the Air Canada Centre. About the only connection I can see between Air Canada and hockey is that Air Canada has probably lost untold numbers of passengers' hockey bags.
And so it is with the Rotary name. Generous as they are, I don't think many Rotary members would know the difference between a goofy-foot and a nose grind.
It seems to me that just because one has more money to spend on a project than anyone else shouldn't automatically entitle said donor to have the project named after them. I think that honour should be reserved for the pesky little skateboarders who badgered the township for years to provide a skate board facility and refused to take no for an answer.
Tell me, am I wrong?
