One time, I looked at the side walls of the Aurora Cultural Centre and thought, “What are these diagonal scratch marks on the wall?” In fact, they were on both sides.

It never occurred to me that they marked where the fire exit stairs used to be. I guess with all the renovations and safety route updates in the building, those stairs are no longer needed. One puzzle piece solved. But there’s more…

I don’t know if it’s just me, but lately The Auroran, our local newspaper, hasn’t had anything particularly interesting. Not that it’s the newspaper’s fault—just nothing that caught my attention. I was, however, glad to see Bonnie Tiffin back with her Letter to the Editor a few issues ago.

I thought the next issue might have something interesting, and it did.

I was intrigued by two Letters to the Editor: “Cultural Centre should stand on its own two feet: reader” by Matt Maddocks and “Aurora High teacher has made good use of Cultural Centre” by Richard Markie, Head of Drama at Aurora High School.

Both letters were very valid. Matt’s letter is an eye-opener for taxpayers, while Richard’s—well, I’m not sure how to categorize it, but it’s encouraging to know that the Centre is beneficial to so many. No doubt, I’ve seen for myself how effectively the Cultural Centre is being utilized.

However, between these letters, something is missing: perhaps some financial transparency from the Aurora Cultural Centre.

Matt wrote, “In my experience, I’ve learned that when a business starts spending significant marketing dollars, it usually means profits are up. It can also mean the business anticipates growth.”

I’d like to add, ‘Maybe they just received a good chunk of taxpayer dollars and needed to justify the spending. A full-page thank-you was a bad move and angered many of us.’ But of course, that’s just my assumption. By the way, Letters to the Editor cost nothing, and some people write them just to thank others—here’s a hint.

Well, the list doesn’t end there. In early February, I was invited to photograph the SOYRA show and sale event. It turned out to be a very successful show.

During the same event, upstairs in one of the rooms, it was the last day of the art show for Luisa Capelet’s Grade 12 Visual Arts Class of Sacred Heart Catholic High School. The artwork for that show was inspired by Canadian Abstract Expressionist Cesan D’Ornellas Levine. There were paintings, but there were also other art objects on display.

During the same event, upstairs in one of the rooms, it was the last day of the art show for Luisa Capelet’s Grade 12 Visual Arts Class at Sacred Heart Catholic High School. The artwork for the show was inspired by Canadian Abstract Expressionist Cesan D’Ornellas Levine. Along with the paintings, there were also other art objects on display.

“Trust, honesty, humility, transparency and accountability are the building blocks of a positive reputation. Trust is the foundation of any relationship.”

Mike Paul

COMMENTS

Marvin said: February 18, 2012 at 07:50

“Ha, I thought you were going to say that “culture” was missing.”