SaltToday

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

I'm sorry Ms. Durnford, it's called history not nostalgia. If we erase history we will never learn from the mistakes made therein. Maybe you should study it a bit and not trivialize it. Champlain was an important figure in Canada's history and the monument is a work of art. We should be able to preserve important history in a culturally sensitive manner.

- DLBH

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

Why should the community give special weight to Krystal Brooks’ opinion on this? She was recently charged with mischief for spray-painting ‘Rama said No’ on the statue — that’s not exactly civil dialogue, it’s vandalism.

- Flax Seed

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

The monument is part of Orillia's history and should be returned but only if it is reinstalled in its original form , including the first nation figures. The March brothers had never been to Canada and the first drawings they sent to the Hale working group in Orillia had the natives looking like african natives. Hale hired an artist and a few native's from Rama to draw images that were then sent of to England to complete the Monument. Any instalation of the Monument that is not totally original should not be allowed. I don't want my tax dollars being spent on someones new idea of what the monument should look like. That would not be part of our history. It should be totally original or nothing.

- Patrol

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

Put Champlain back up on his pedestal. We would not be having this conversation had he never been removed. As for the 5 surrounding figures, negotiate a fair resolution with Rama First Nations, including donating them to RFN.if they wish to have them. This way hopefully everyone gets something out of this and also concedes something. If we cannot resolve this issue at this level, how do we ever expect the world to settle any of the animosity we currently see festering between nations?

- Anon007

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

"Book burning"and rewriting history is always the first tool of communism and fascism.A striving democracy allows for conversations on these difficult subjects.Ms Durnford is trying to score some political points here .

- Curious 1

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

How out of touch can Durford be? The statue may not have been literally demolished, but it has been in effect. She is surprised that this story has gone national? Really? There are Canadians who want to hear the First Nations' point of view, but to harmonize it with established history so they can learn from it.

- CasualObserver

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

As if the statue itself wasn't rewriting history to begin with. Events are history, statues are political grandstanding disguised as history. Put it in a museum, we're too far gone to have any appropriate installation in an Orillia park anymore.

- Ben R

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

to be clear, we could have had the statues brought back to Couchiching in a tasteful, educational, and culturally sensitive manner, but Super Don wrecked any chances of that with his unilateral "storage" play.

- Ben R

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

It pains me to say it, but I agree with Polievre on this one.

- usr_715377

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

She seems far more in touch than our current tone-deaf mayor, whose rash actions caused all of this unnecessary expense and drama.

- Crafter Life

'Great for tourism' Council floats idea of Orillia name sign

Yes, like perhaps a world-class art sculpture of a famous explorer? If it was big and beautiful it would bring tourists and townsfolk alike to come see it. What's that you say? Been there done that?

- David Hawke

‘I’m no Justin Trudeau’: Doug Ford denies sinking popularity

He’s just like Trump, polls don’t mean anything, it’s fake news, everybody loves me, just ask ME 🤣 Health care situation should be enough to bounce him.

- Grouchy

Ontario raising speed limits on more highway sections across province

Lunacy. Which has become the hallmark of the Ontario Conservative Party.

- David Hawke

Champlain debate goes national, 'As it should,' says councillor

Ms Durnford . Way out in left field. Remember that voters.

- Trueblue

Demolition enters new phase at former HRC property

So sure they will be doing this for affordable housing and not for a new cop shop and training spa. The fact that we have had these many rooms sitting empty while people shelter in doorways, under bridges, beside on and off ramps, in the bushy areas, in the park boggles my mind. Bad things have happened in plenty of places but right now, we have a shortage of affordable units and an increasing homeless population... all those possible apartments gonzo. And who is paying for all this anyway? Who pays for the police budget? Our councillors? We are keenly aware this is at our expense and no amount of tokenization of former wards will hide the truth of the matter...

- R. Bard

'Great for tourism' Council floats idea of Orillia name sign

If you made the letters QUITE a bit smaller, it could go on the plinth where the Champlain Monument was!I'm joking, of course.Not sure that a sign is going to bring tourists in. I suppose if they're here already, they might go see it, but I doubt anyone's going to come specifically to see that.

- Joanie C

Ontario raising speed limits on more highway sections across province

Let's make dangerous roads even more of a nightmare.

- Carleton

Demolition enters new phase at former HRC property

Then why have a monument built as a “reminder”??🤔

- WhoWhatWhy

'Great for tourism' Council floats idea of Orillia name sign

What I don't understand is why NONE of Orillia's public parking lots are marked on Google Maps. Like most people I use my phone or my car's nav system to find my way, NOT signs. I often set a public parking lot as a destination when I'm traveling to a new place.If you want to attract more visitors, you need to show them where they can park BEFORE they arrive or even after they arrive. This means marking the parking lots on line.Like Barrie does. Why is Orillia so far behind on this? We don't need more "wayfinding" signs, we need better online information.

- Onlooker

‘Protect Ontario’ ads cost one ministry nearly $10M last year

They are both obscene uses of our money. I will never vote for the PC party in Ontario again while they are pulling this nonsense.

- DLBH