The Day Brantford Bulldozes History

If you're not a fellow resident of Brantford then you can read about the major events happening in our downtown today here or here or here, but if you do live here, a quick jaunt downtown will subject you to what may go down as a very infamous moment in our city's history. Of course, I discussed what was happening and my own feelings of the possible repercussions on this blog before. Though these thoughts were before everything was official and unchangeable, but I'd say a big ol' wrecking ball through a wall is pretty unstoppable at this point. I’ve had several weeks to reflect upon and discuss with others about this event, and now that it is inevitably happening, I have some additional thoughts and views.

This is considered a very sad day for many who have been fighting hard to keep the block of buildings on the south side of Colborne street. One person put it best when they stated this isn't just a loss of historic landmarks, but rather destruction of stories (I'm paraphrasing, but his sentiment remains intact). I will never be able to take my future son or daughter downtown and point out what was once the office of Alexander Graham Bell, or the place where the seeds for Agnew-Surpass were planted, or a building that held one of the first grocery stores in Ontario, or a place that housed a man who played a huge part in the Great Western Railway and first telegraph line in Canada. These are stories that can give my (hypothetical) child, or any resident of Brantford, some pride in the part our city played in history. Though these stories and historic events are not erased, there physical reminders will forever be lost. I know I am being a little overly sentimental and nostalgic here. I am a storyteller and one who loves history, but I firmly believe it is important that we don't proactively try to forget our histories, and more importantly, not forget how stories have always shaped our culture and society. Though I understand that if these building where the derelict monstrosities claimed by some Brantford council members, then I would accept that their fate needed to be destruction, but the real tragedy is that was never the case.

I view one of the major issues in this whole debate is what has come off as dishonesty and deceit from some members of the council and this city. As I stated in my previous post, the reality is these building have not been condemned rat havens for the last 25 years like some would claim. There have been thriving businesses, and residents in many of those buildings. The only reason they aren't there now, is because they've been kicked out. A man lived 25 years in one of those buildings where he maintained a large garden, but is swiftly given the boot once his home is apparently been deemed unsalvageable. I am sure this news was a shock to him.

I don't believe any of those opposed to the demolition have ever said that all the buildings should remain how they are. It has been made quite clear that the buildings needed some work and renovations. There were definitely buildings that have remained empty or have a rather sordid recent history (such as drug use and prostitution). The problem has always been the ‘solution’ of completely blowing the whole place up. As I believe I stated in my last post about this, if you have a blemish on your nose then you are not going to cut off your entire face because you now believe it to be tainted and useless. I like my face and I am not ready for a full removal of it, instead I'll just take care of the small zit on my nose ( for the record, I don't chop my nose off either). The problem is, the complete destruction of the heritage buildings is outright extreme. All sides have always agreed something needed to be done, but it is the conclusion the city arrived to that has bothered detractors.

This actually leads to another outright lie by some members who have been trying to push the destruction of the buildings. Some have stated that they must be removed because not only have they’ve been dormant for years and years (an already established lie) but also that no one has showed any interest in doing something with them. I have it on good authority there has been interest in those buildings spanning several years. The arts community has continually expressed interest and given proposals for what they would like to do with the buildings. There has even been outside investors who have presented their own plans to purchase the buildings, and have included proposals for that exactly they want to do with them. But all have been ignored, to the point some council members fail to even remember these talks ever happened, and instead continue to claim the destruction was the only option since nothing can be done with them.

I think another key thing that should cause people to question the authenticity of some of those who want to bulldoze the buildings, is that fact they were willing to lose out on a sizeable grant from the federal government rather than have to have archeological, environmental and heritage surveys. I understand part of the issue would be the cost such assessments would accrue. Call me cynical to politics, but when has spending money ever been an issue for a politician? I am not saying that council members are being outright deceptive, but I am saying it is questionable that they want to give up a large amount of money, that could really help revitalize our downtown, especially since they claim the demolition is being done for the good of the downtown. Why give up money that would further aid in the apparent goal of making the downtown a better place? Shouldn't one want to do all they can to make sure this is the right choice? Such surveys would help to decide if not only if this is necessary, but if it is safe to actually do, yet it seems some have a bad case of tunnel vision.

In the end, it is a sad situation. You have a city that wants to be a 'Green Hub', yet tearing down 41 buildings isn't exactly the epitome of environmental consciousness. You have a downtown that was beginning to grow and improve, but now may be stuck with a heaping mass of rubble for a while. Yes, there is potential that the replacement will benefit the downtown, but it is just as likely this becomes yet another reason to avoid that part of the city. We have a city that likes to hold on to parts of its past like being known as the hometown of Wayne Gretzky or claiming to be the city of the telephone, yet it is eager to erase landmarks that stretch back to the Victorian age. The one thing that can't be argued, is this will be known as a big moment in the history of Brantford, but the outcome and repercussions of this event is still a long ways from being fully realized. I hope in the end, the cost of losing history and its stories turn out to be worth it, despite how unlikely that seems now.