Changes at Upper Canada Village have gone too far
Once upon a bunch of years ago I was given a fancy title
and charged with developing and implementing new programming for Upper
Canada Village. As Interpretive Entertainment Officer, my mandate was to
simulate life in 1860s in order to stimulate attendance. I spent nearly
15 years happily preparing reenactments of weddings, funerals, baptisms,
church services, theatrical productions and temperance meetings. Some
people were leery at first of these innovations because 'that 's not the
way we do it', but as time passed most accepted them as entertaining as
well as instructive.
The day came, however, when someone decided it was time
for a new direction yet again, and the programs were cancelled and we,
who were most involved, were let go. We were not happy, nor were many
regular visitors, but we did not stage protests or sign petitions
because, though we felt it was not the wisest decision, we knew that it
was their right to strive to tell the story their way.
When I heard that a new manager of the Commission was
arriving from Toronto, I believed she too would have to face resistance
because 'that is not the way we do it' and I was interested in seeing
what new initiatives she would have to tell the story in a fresh way.
Imagine my surprise and dismay when it became apparent
that she was changing the story itself. The introduction of a mediaeval
festival was, to me, astounding. It seemed as though she felt that our
own history was not interesting enough and I wondered what on earth the
Commission was doing letting this go on.
It seems to me that the job of a Commissioner must be to
protect and preserve the heritage of Eastern Ontario and the fact that
they did not made me wonder and worry about the integrity of the site
and the story.
This spring I began hearing about cutbacks in staff ,
which meant the cutting back on the dissemination of the story of our
past. No matter what time of day a tourist or a school group arrived the
buildings were manned ... and womaned... by someone who could tell the
story and answer questions. Since most visits are just two to four hours
it seems there is now no way that people will see all they want unless
they are interested in half doors. Aaaagggghhhh!!!!
The rumour is that management was not too worried about
protests because they were coming from 'disgruntled ex-employees.' That
has been proven wrong by the outpouring of community support for an
inquiry. I am an ex-employee but I was not disgruntled when I became
ex....... I became this way when they showed disregard for the heritage
we tried so hard to preserve. I will continue to 'gruntle' till someone
listens.
Jean Jeacle
Cornwall Standard Freeholder – June 2, 2009
With respect to the proposed changes within the Village
itself, I have heard of plans to make Cook’s Tavern a working bar. Why
anyone would want to alter one of the few original buildings from the 1820s
left in Ontario to serve food and alcohol when there are already three food
venues on site with two liquor licenses? …Why put a “Kettle Hut” in the
middle of the Village to sell drinks and fudge when they are available at
the Village Store? I could go on, but suffice to say, that these proposals
would not only be a blatant waste of taxpayers’ money, but go against
everything the Village represents. UCV is a world-renowned living museum,
not some cheesy theme park.
Sonja Keeler
The Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
I am writing to express my most profound disappointment and
disapproval of your recent action of firing the people who are the most
important aspect of my beloved Upper Canada Village … For the past several
years, I have been the first person to enter the village on opening day. I
have a seasons pass and go the village several times a week during some
weeks. I take any guests who come to visit me. ... I will not take them to
the Village if those people are not there and I will tell everyone I can
about the stupid short-sighted foolish decision that some bean counter
decided was good business … Don’t destroy the best part of my heritage
place, you foolish people.
Deborah Joidon
The Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
I’ve recently become aware of the changes being made at
Upper Canada Village and I want to register my strong disagreement with
them. As a public and high school student, I have fond memories of going to
the village and actually gaining a sense of what life was like for my
ancestors. As I got older, friends and I would go down with my son and I had
a number of wonderful trips there … I’m in my 50s and this Village has been
an important Canadian touchstone for me and my family. I’d like to take
grandchildren there at some point. But these changes will make it very a
different, and less enthralling trip. Please reconsider your plans. Stay
true to the vision of the Village.
Janice Manchee
I am saddened and sickened by an article that appeared in
the Standard-Freeholder … What it means is that certain ‘core’ workers at
Upper Canada Village are losing their jobs. … My question is, why? How many
people do you know who can make a barrel or shoe a horse? These are people
who know the old life skills and ways of the pioneers. They are the informed
practical historians who tell our story …. They come face to face with the
public from Canada and all over the world on a daily basis. They are
representatives of our heritage and the meaning of what Upper Canada Village
is all about. …. I must say it contrasts very badly with the front page
story of the $13 million about to be approved to enhance and improve the
Village and Crysler’s Farm Battlefield Memorial site in readiness for the
bicentennial celebrations of the War of 1812 …
Norma Peachey
The Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
Changing our village from a working living history book, and
reducing it to a museum of empty buildings is just wrong! I urge everyone to
contact our MPPs and express your concerns. …. It’s time to bail out a
have-not part of the province and fund Upper Canada Village!
Steve Conroy
The Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
For the past two summers I have been employed by the St.
Lawrence Parks Commission as a historical interpreter at Upper Canada
Village. It has been my honour to help educate visitors, young and old, from
across the globe, about the rich history of Canada just before we became a
country. I will not, however, be spending this coming summer teaching
children in the school house, demonstrating my beginner’s skill at sewing to
a group from China, or joking in French with tourists from Montreal about
our piglet horde invading the sitting room. … The decision to eliminate the
bulk of the historical interpretation and do ‘more with less’ as stated to
newspapers, is tarnishing the great effort all those who have come before
have made to make Upper Canada Village a shining example of the past.
Kelsey Schmitz
The Cornwall Standard-Freeholder
You note that Michelin will be reviewing the historic
re-enactment program at Morrisburg’s Upper Canada Village in its Canadian
guidebook. …. They had better get there soon. This year, 24 of the village’s
92 seasonal re-enactment employees will not be hired back; instead there’ll
be audio-visual presentations and faux events such as medieval festivals to
turn what was once one of North America’s top historic tourist destinations
into Disney World North.
Ian Bowering, Curator, Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry
Museum/Archives
The Globe and Mail
