Dear Editor:
RE: ‘Fake heritage’? (March 24).
I would like to address the comments raised by Paul Taylor.
Elora has been advertised as the most beautiful town in southern Ontario and as a “must” to visit. However, having resided in Elora for the past few years, I do not see the attractiveness in terms of tradition and heritage. I do see many run-down buildings and some new/modern buildings that are eye sores when trying to see Elora as a picturesque town.
When I see a couple willing to investing $30 million in the town by improving the buildings facades at our main intersection, it raised my spirits and I just thought, “Wow, finally someone is really vested to improve this town’s visual appeal first before pushing for dividend return in their investment.”
This is not creating heritage where it does not exist.
Would you hang a beautiful painting on a wall leaving an ugly canvas edge showing or would you find the nicest frame possible to showcase it? This is what this couple is doing’ they are “framing” our town in the best light possible.
Look at the Elora Distillery, it’s not a heritage building but it definitely looks like it fits the surroundings (do the residents of our town consider this to be fake heritage as well?).
Is this considered creating a “theme park” out of Elora, I think not. It’s preserving the character of a town that, at the moment still looks a bit “run-down” and needs TLC but has great prospects in the near future, especially when there are those who are willing to invest in it.
Joao Da Silva,
Elora