BROCK’S BANTER: Let’s Make Some Noise!

June 27, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Brock Weir

Among some of my grandparents’ more colourful expressions was the old put down, “You couldn’t get him/her excited/to pay attention/to listen if you stuck a firecracker up…”
They didn’t trail off, but filled in the blank with their orifice of choice.
I neither condone, nor encourage you to do the same.
However loud the fireworks will be this Monday emanating from Lambert Willson Park, the Town could do with a bit of volume.
No matter how loud Aurorans – including its lawmakers – are, it seems that our voices are lacking gravitas where it truly counts. On the other hand, perhaps it is status quo and we’re just now starting to notice.
I am not referring to people having their voices heard by Councillors. They hear you loud and clear – after all, their jobs depend on it and at this time next year we will be midway through an election campaign which has all the makings to potentially be one for the ages.
The problem, however, is what comes after them.
Take the building just east of Yonge and Wellington, now proudly emblazoned with a “sold” sign, presumably to the relief of Canada Post.
Post office employees claimed the decision to shut down the operations and move them to Newmarket was already a done deal by the time Canada Post tentatively stuck its big toe in the water to gently ease its customers into life without a local post office.
Nothing was definite, they said, but they were just gauging public opinion on a possible closure. The majority of people who bothered to respond to public surveys, letters to local newspapers, and pleas to local politicians gave a resounding – although not unanimous – no. These no votes were carefully packaged and lovingly dispatched to Canada Post both by Mayor and MP stating residents’ cases.
When the future of the Aurora Post Office was solemnly announced, residents were left scratching their heads further by proposals coming down on the Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission planning to split Aurora’s Federal ridings in two.
Again, the majority of residents were against the plan. The Commission argued that it was a necessary numbers game, and some residents agreed. Others, including the Town, made seemingly sensible recalculations to keep Aurora intact. They advocated to keep the riding whole, as did Ms. Brown, and MPP Frank Klees joined the chorus.
The result? Welcome not one – but two! – Members of Parliament representing Aurora’s interests in Ottawa beginning in 2015.
Now, we have the cell phone debacle. Whether you think the cell phone tower, well, towering over Aurora homes from adjacent King is an eyesore or a necessary evil in making sure our now ubiquitous cell phones are in full working order, it is a little bit disconcerting when you can barely get the people behind the Tower on the phone and your only recourse to make a difference, Industry Canada, is similarly resigned.
“It is clear that Bell and their consultant had no interest in a meaningful dialogue with us, nor with its residents,” said Aurora CAO Neil Garbe.
People with an appreciation for dark comedy might appreciate the irony in not being able to communicate with a telecommunications giant over an edifice planned to better communications in the area, people who had their hopes up are somewhat deflated.
If the trend continues, Aurorans could run the risk of developing an inferiority complex.
If ever you need the name of someone to help with that, names of therapists are simply a 411 call away. I hear the reception in West Aurora is terrific!

PARTY LIKE IT IS 1863!
As someone who has sat through, err, taken in the majority of their 20 planning meetings going into Aurora’s 150th birthday, I’m very much looking forward to seeing everything that is in store this weekend.
After two showpiece events so far this year, this will undoubtedly be the climax of the celebration as the Committee, the Town, along with local service groups such as the Rotary and Optimist Clubs of Aurora, businesses – and Much Music come together to throw down the party gauntlet.
They don’t call Aurora “Canada’s Birthday Town” for nothing. If you’ve ever found yourself perplexed on how the Town got this colourful – and ballsy – moniker, perhaps this weekend will inspire you to cast aside all doubt and simply go with the flow – and there will be something for everyone.
The young’uns get their chance to party down at the Aurora Community Centre beginning Saturday at 4 p.m. (that’s when the really good parties start!) with a showcase of local youth bands from across the area, brought to the stage by the brains behind the Aurora Winter Blues Festival.
Following the showcase, the party continues from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. with the Much Music Video Dance Party, even featuring a winner or two from the recent MMVAs.
Town Park will be turned over to the more seasoned party-goers on Sunday for the Dance in the Park event, hosted by the Rotary Club of Aurora. Kicking off with live entertainment from 2 p.m., the climax of the dance will be an appearance by Canadian music icons Lighthouse from 9 – 10.30 p.m.
Organizers of the event booked Lighthouse as a group that would connect with people of all ages, so, if you’re asking yourself, “Who?” go ask your parents or, better yet, come out and broaden your musical horizons.