On November 13, 2011, City of Toronto Councillor for Ward 21, Joe Mihevc, and author and poet Michael Redhill joined over 200 heritage supporters at Montgomery's Inn to protest the potential closing of this heritage site and three other Toronto museums.

According to Councillor Mihevc (read the Nov. 13 media release), "40% of the museums operated by the city are scheduled to be closed as part of the city’s budget cutting measures." These include the Zion Schoolhouse, Gibson House, the Market Gallery and Montgomery’s Inn. Councillor Mihevc, Mr. Redhill and the group of heritage supporters lined up before Montgomery's Inn urging Torontonians to remind city council "that it should be bragging about the city’s heritage and its history, not erasing it."

Heritage supporters line up in front of Montgomery's Inn with Toronto Councillor Joe Mihevc and author Michael Redhill.

“Museums are community hubs. They create a sense of belonging and community.” These words from Councillor Mihevc came as he urged city council to seek alternatives to the abrupt closure of important local historic sites: "Given the value of these assets to Torontonians, we want to help find a way to keep them open to the public. We need to see if there are ways to help them raise more money or operate in a more cost effective manner."

Councillor Mihevc reminded Torontonians that the city's "collection of historic museums is the repository of our collective heritage... Destroy them and you destroy the DNA of who we are and how we got here. I urge all Torontonians to contact the Mayor and their Councillor to save our heritage and save our city.”

Click here for the petition circulated by the Friends of Toronto Museums.

back to top

Toronto Councillor Joe Mihevc addresses the media and heritage supporters at Montgomery's Inn on Sunday, November 13.

Author and poet Michael Redhill echoed Councillor Mihevc's words in a speech delivered to supporters and the media: "Imagine if you woke up one morning and your whole past was erased." These opening words served as a caution to Torontonians that unless they rise up, several significant historic sites will disappear. Read Michael Redhill's full speech.

Author and poet Michael Redhill addresses the media and heritage supporters.
Photo credit: Maurice Dalzot for the Ontario Museum Association

In an open letter to Torontonians, John Bessai of the Friends of Toronto Museums calls the proposed closures "an assault on all of us and our civic identity." Bessai states that museums and heritage sites "serve as community hubs for all kinds of events including children's programs, language training for new residents, farmers markets, and special events. Inside each museum is a host of objects, many original to these 19th century buildings, carefully preserved by Torontonians for many generations." Read John Bessai's Urgent Letter to Torontonians.

Read the coverage:

City museum closures loom by Christopher Hume
Toronto Star, November 12

Save Toronto's museums: Protesters by Tom Godfrey
Toronto Sun, November 13

City museums at risk, despite denials, Mihevc says by Patrick White
The Globe and Mail, November 13

back to top

---

The Arts Advocate - Vol XVII, Issue 5

By special arrangement with The Arts Advocate, read about the OMA and Ontario's political scene.

"Minister Michael Chan, one of the few ministers in the smaller Ontario cabinet to retain his preelection post, is back at Tourism and Culture.
Already up to speed on his ministry’s files and challenges, he has a head start on his colleagues as he prepares for the next session of the Ontario
Legislature. It begins 21 November."

Ontario Museum Association
"Ontario museums are looking to the provincial government to sustain investment in various museums programs, particularly the Community Museum Operating Grants. At the same time, there is a growing desire to engage the Ministry of Tourism and Culture in a dialogue to rethink the various museum support programs. The sector needs the ministry’s help to better address challenges around innovation, exhibit renewal and other museum-specific issues."

Read the full edition of The Arts Advocate.

For more information on The Arts Advocate Report, visit
www.artsadvocate.com