The brain trust at city hall has opted to wait until they receive a police report before examining the crosswalk where Harold Leslie Hill was killed last month.
A wise move at first glance. Except our municipal officials, and those who sat on the previous council, are well aware of the dangerous situation created by the questionable status of these crosswalks.
In fact, this corner clearly remembers a council meeting several years ago when the mayor and alderman were apprised of the fact a similar crossing on Fairview Avenue, between Wellington and Talbot streets, was not properly signed as per provincial regulation.
The addition of a yellow “stick man” sign at the hospital crossing merely indicates pedestrians are in the area. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Alma College
Homes of reading and writing should now be rehabilitated
Awareness may be the sole ray of sunshine arising from the rubble and ruin of Alma College.
And, how appropriate in the same week two teenaged jokesters were slapped on the wrist for torching the main building at the former school for girls, the St. Thomas-Elgin branch of Architectural Conservancy of Ontario warns a similar fate of destruction by neglect could be in store for other educational facilities in the city.
The local ACO branch was established earlier this year to counter the lack of will from all levels of government to protect heritage properties in St. Thomas and Elgin.
At a public forum held Tuesday, it was noted a half-dozen city schools have either closed or will do so in the near future.
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Don’t forget this in the inventory of places of worship
From Bob Foster in Brampton:
Minister Aileen Carroll,
In a recent news release on the CNW Group website,it was reported that the Ontario Heritage Trust was taking inventory of places of worship.At first I was taken aback, because for 15 months we have been trying to convince your ministry to recognize a quaint little chapel located on the grounds of 96 Moore Street in St.Thomas,Ont.The chapel was a huge part of Alma College and the thousands of student who passed through the granite gates of the college would eventually enter the chapel at some point to pray,as it was a part of their daily routine.We lost Alma College to fire in May 2008,however the chapel survived,as did the music building and outdoor amphi-theater.It would be a fitting tribute to the great legacy of Alma College,if the Ontario Heritage Trust would recognize the chapel as a place of worship,and it would also be fitting if the ministry of culture would give provincial heritage designation to 96 Moore Street,so the chapel,music building and outdoor amphi-theater would be protected from any further neglect.The Alma supporters are formally asking your ministry to recognize 96 Moore Street.I’ve included a few photographs of the chapel,and if your ministry is serious about taking inventory of places of worship,starting with the chapel at 96 Moore Street,would be a great start.The chapel may not be a grand old church,but many a student prayed inside her walls,and the chapel brought piece and comfort to all those students who came to study at Alma College,from all across the globe.Alma College gave to our province for well over 100 years,it’s now time for the Ontario government to give back with provincial heritage designation for 96 Moore Street St.Thomas,Ont
Bob Foster
Brampton,Ontario
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Culture Minister Aileen Carroll’s 15 months of shame
Aileen Carroll
Posted by Bob Foster
Dear Mr.Premier,
Today marks exactly 15 months to the day that we lost beautiful & historic Alma College in St.Thomas.The Alma supporters thought our culture minister would surely step forward after the horrific fire and designate the property to protect the 2 remaining buildings and outdoor amphi-theatre,but sadly we were mistaken.Aileen Carroll has FAILED to do anything of importance,when it comes to Ontario’s built heritage.Countless buildings have been demolished on her watch,and with 14 months left before the next provincial electon,we are sure to lose many more before Ontarian’s realize what a failure this Liberal government has been,on so many fronts.Aileen Carroll was recently voted the 2nd most invisible provincial cabinet minister by the people in her own riding.Letters were sent to the editors of several newspapers by the voters in her riding,claiming she does not respond to e-mails,letters or phone messages.A spokesman for Carroll claimed she likes to work quietly behind the scene to get things done.Now that statement is laughable,Minister Carroll doesnt work quietly,in fact she doesnt work at all,at least not for the protection of built heritage.I’ve seen Minister Carroll on the evening news,at the opening of several art galleries and other regal events,but have yet to see her do anything of significant value in the area of built heritage.96 Moore Street has always been a candidate for Provincial Heritage Designation,and the Ontario Heritage Trust recommended such designation,but the ministry of culture hid the OHT report for months,letting the “demolition by neglect” to continue,until the college was burned to the ground 15 months ago.Will Minister Carroll now give 96 Moore Street the honor it so deserves,will she finally recognize the contribution Alma College made to our province for well over 100 years,or will she continue allowing historic buildings and properties to be demolished and bulldozed.The Alma supporters await designation for this historic property,anything less would be an insult to 100 years of service.We await a response,but according to voters in her own riding of Barrie,responding is not a top priority for Aileen Carroll.
Bob Foster
Brampton,Ontario
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Looking for heritage roadblocks? Start with the legal community.
During its August meeting three years ago, city council denied a permit application from the Zubick family of London to demolish the remaining buildings at Alma College.
What appeared at the time to be a bold move by our municipal representatives was, in fact, nothing of the sort. With a trip to the polls just three months distant, our elected officials were just protecting their political assets.
Following the November vote, it was business as usual and a collective ho-hum to the city’s rich heritage.
To be fair, however, the finger of blame also needs to be pointed in the direction of culture minister Aileen Carroll, who appears to be missing in action when dealing with the province’s built heritage.
Or as faithful reader Bob Foster in Brampton notes, should you wish to corner Carroll, you are best to attend regal gatherings where there is no shortage of wine and cheese.
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“You dont change the course of history by turning the faces of portraits to the wall”
Posted by Bob Foster:
Ms.Aileen Carroll,
On a warm and breezy August day I drove the 2 hours from my hometown of Brampton,to the city of St.Thomas where beautiful & historic Alma College stood for 130 years,sadly the college no longer towers over St.Thomas,for all the political posturing and lack of leadership at every level,allowed this masterpiece to sit neglected,until a fire eventually brought her down in May of last year.The property is historical in its own right and one would think our culture minister would see the historical value,considering 2 buildings remained standing after the horrific fire and are now facing demolition,unless someone from the Ontario government steps to the plate and gives provincial heritage designation.Are we to simply walk away from 96 Moore Street,do we just forget the contribution the college made to our province,or would the culture minister prefer the 2 buildings that have withstood the hands of time,be brought down with the wrecking ball,like so many on her watch.I’m reminded of a quote I recently read by Jawaharlal Hehru:
“You dont change the course of history by turning the faces of portraits to the wall”
This saying couldnt be more true,for if we simply turn our back on 96 Moore Street,does this mean we can just go on like we’re not to blame.We are all responsible for allowing the poor treatment of this magnificent structure to continue for so long,but we now have a chance to keep the memory alive.Will Aileen Carroll give provincial heritage designation to 96 Moore Street or will she simply turn the portrait of Alma College to the wall?
Bob Foster
Brampton,Ontario
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Falling through the cracks — the innocent victims of futility
Elizabeth Dye is a strong-willed woman — whose sense of pride and work ethic prompted her to write this corner to urge the time has come to stop judging and start helping others.
She speaks not of herself, in spite of the fact she has had to “downgrade everything,” but instead for those she notes, “who don’t fit into the neat little categories society sets out as the norm.”
Those neither sick enough to be hospitalized nor healthy enough to function effectively in our society.
“They are cast aside and fall through the cracks,” she advises. “In short their family, friends and advocates just fade away when they realize the futility of the fight.”
The RPN, off work for two years dealing with her own emotional issues, wishes to draw attention to the pitiful sum handed out monthly via the Ontario Disability Support Program.
Especially in light of the fact, whether physically or psychologically unable to work, no one sets out to be in this position.
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A bottle of wine and block of cheese for culture minister Aileen Carroll
The chapel at Alma College
Ms.Carroll,
For exactly 14 months,the supporters of 96 Moore Street in St.Thomas have been trying in vain to obtain provincial heritage designation for this historic property,but have yet to get a response from the culture ministry since the horrific fire that completely destroyed Alma College in May of 2008.The property has 130 years of rich history behind it,and 2 of the original buildings (the chapel & music building) still remain standing,and are in need of protection from the Ontario government.
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Time to recognize the architects of Alma
Posted by Bob Foster –
Dear Mr.Premier,
Recently the Heritage Canada Foundation released it’s 2009 top ten endangered places and worst losses list,and it’s no surprise the worst loss of 2008 was beautiful and historic Alma College in St.Thomas,Ontario.The college was set ablaze on Wednesday May 28th,2008 at exactly 12 noon.The dreams of seeing this magnificent structure fully restored were now over,however once the smoke cleared we were given a renewed hope,because TWO historic buildings on the property survived the intense inferno,giving us a chance to save a small part of the 130 year legacy of Alma College.
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