|
Paul Jenkins
Let us not talk about what Alma once was,
but what the college can be in the future Thursday February 21, 2008 Editor:
The Ontario Municipal Board’s recent approval to demolish Alma College makes me nauseous. The silence of our local politicians deafens me.
Where are the leaders of our community when we need them the most? Why has no one articulated a vision of what our city might be? Is this, then, the end of one of our nation’s most impressive pieces of architecture?
Not only does Alma College deserve a better fate than that engineered by the combined Scrooge-like forces of city council and the Zubick family, so too do the most important stakeholders in the OMB’s decision -- the citizens of St. Thomas.
To say that Alma College is past repair is simply a lie -- you don’t have to be an engineer to see that. Council’s frugality does not make reconstruction impossible.
The Zubick family’s absolute ignorance of our city’s heritage does not necessitate the arrival of the wrecking ball.
Understand, if the prime minister of Canada or the premier of Ontario announced our college must stand, it would. It is obvious political will is the best way to preserve Alma College.
To motivate political action, one requires populist backing. If we want to serve our city in the twenty-first century, we must consolidate our voices.
Let us not talk exclusively and nostalgically about what Alma once was, but instead have a conversation of what next she can be.
Today, I’m interviewing Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Steve Peters and I’ve created an online platform to facilitate a discussion on Alma’s fate at http://ouralma.pbwiki.com.
Join in the conversation and allow our city’s history to live long into the future.
Paul Jenkins
Toronto
(former St. Thomas resident) |
