The community's stellar attraction

I was encouraged to read in the Jan. 9 Vanguard that funding for the aquarium consultation had not yet gone through (“Tourism priorities being pursued; aquarium study not yet approved�).

Can you imagine? There are folks who actually think that the best expenditure of two hundred thousand bucks is to pay some consultants to come up with a glossy report, probably with a PowerPoint presentation thrown in, to tell us whether or not we should build an aquarium. The mind boggles.

I have a proposal that will save $195,000. Spend $5,000 on a series of consultations with the best experts this community has – its own citizens—and then follow-up on those recommendations.

It’s not surprising the Vanguard article was written by Eric Bourque. He has been tenacious in reporting on the importance of heritage in our area—whether built or natural. Most recently he has written regularly on the Heritage Strategy Task Force and its excellent report. It was an extensive community study that, not surprisingly, neither the Town nor the Municipality of Yarmouth chose to participate in. Our heritage is not even on the radar screen of either government, nor that of the South West Shore Development Authority. I leave out the Municipality of Argyle whose long standing commitment to heritage puts the others to shame.

Come on gang! We already have a stellar attraction in this community – it’s the community itself. Let’s take some pride in it and possibly spend some of that spare $195,000.00 sprucing it up. A farmer’s market, roving theatre, a fish market, a people centered Killam Brothers’ building, a busker friendly mentality, more community involvement in Communities in Bloom, are a few ideas for starters. Our citizens have many more.

The first priority is not what will attract tourists—it is what will make this a more vibrant community. Do that, and the tourists will come.







Wilfred Allan,

Yarmouth