Roger Varley has been in the news business almost 40 years with The Canadian Press/Broadcast News, Uxbnridge Times-Journal, Richmond Hill Liberal and Uxbridge Cosmos. Co-winner with two others of CCNA national feature writing award. In Scout movement over 30 years, almost 25 as a leader. Took Uxbridge youths to World Jamboree in Holland. Involved in community theatre for 20 years as actor, director, playwright, stage manager etc. Born in England, came to Canada at 16, lived most of life north and east of Toronto with a five-year period in B.C.
The best thing? Really?
I wonder if anyone else saw the headline on a Toronto Star story about Councillor Jacob Mantle on Christmas Day: "He's the best thing to happen to Uxbridge."
The quote, by fellow councillor Bev Northeast, was repeated in the body of the story.
It took me all of five seconds to come up with a list of people who might possibly be considered "the best thing to happen to Uxbridge", and Mr. Mantle was not among them.
Councillor Northeast says the quote attributed to her was not complete and did not reflect exactly what she meant. She says she meant Mr. Mantle is the best thing to happen to Uxbridge "from a youth perspective, because of his age."
I'm sure Mrs. Northeast did not intent to offend anyone with her statement, but I believe she has unwittingly given a slap in the face to many fine people in this township.
Let me mention the first three names that sprang to my mind as possibly being "the best thing."
Cathy Christoff: This lady has had an enormous impact on this community since she moved here. The first thing she did was introduce us to uxperience, a delightful yearly extravaganza of song, dance and comedy featuring a whole crowd of local talent. She not only brought uxperience to life, but she directed it for the first three or four years and every one was better than the previous.
With her husband, Mark, she also ran a successful business on Young Street for a number of years, employing a number of local people. And for the past 15 years, Cathy's Roxy Cinema has been the only movie theatre north of Highway 7 and east of Younge Street. But it's not just a small-town cinema. The Roxy has often premiered big box-office movies, run Oscar nights, staged special events for kids and seniors as well as the always sold-out Movies, Manicures and Martinis nights.
On top of that, there are Cathy's Roxy Kids in Action, a program she started to give youngsters a way to help out in the community. I could go on about her numerous performances on stage and her volunteer work, but you get the picture.
Tom Baker: For years he has been the music director at Trinity United Church, but there's much more to Tom than playing the organ and leading the church choir. He organized and has directed for years the Uxbridge Chamber Choir in marvellous concerts and every two years brings the Messiah to Uxbridge, once again using mostly local talent. The Uxbridge performance of the Messiah, in my opinion, matches anything you will see in any great metropolis.
Tom was one of the original founders of Uxbridge's Celebration of the Arts, which is still running successfully 25 years later. For a long time he also played jazz piano at the Hobby Horse Arms and now does the same thing at Frankie's on Friday nights. Anyone in Uxbridge who hasn't been touched by Tom's music over the years has been living the life of a hermit.
Conrad Boyce: Yes, I know he's my editor, but I'm not sucking up to him. Conrad blew into Uxbridge like a mini tornado, taking over the Uxbridge Youth Choir when it was in dire need of a director and bringing his one-man shows dedicated to the poems of Robert Service. He established the Uxbridge Musical Theatre company, which has since melded with the old Uxbridge Players to become OnStage Uxbridge. He has been involved with just about every production those organizations have put on in the last 15 years or so, either as actor, director, musical director or technician - and sometimes wearing all those hats in one production.
More importantly, to my mind, he established the Uxbridge Cosmos, a truly unique community newspaper which draws on people in the community to make contributions every week. And it deals only with Uxbridge news and people.
And while it might seem like a little bit more nepotism, how about Ted Barris? A well-respected broadcaster, author of numerous books about Canadians in war, Ted is also the go-to guy when an emcee is needed for any function in town, whether it be moderating all-candidates meetings at election time, hosting the Celebration's Books and Authors nights or running any number of other occasions.
There are many others who could legitimately be considered "the best thing to happen to Uxbridge" such as many of our neighbours who have been doing volunteer work for decades, but space does not permit. But if you want more names from "a youth perspective", how about Olympian Jessica Phoenix, or Ted Webb and his Africycle or Marisa Hachey and her anti-smoking efforts?
It seems to me Councillor Northeast is perhaps guilty of over-enthusiasm in her attempt to say something nice about Mr. Mantle. I believe that, on reflection, she might realize that Mr. Mantle, although he has handled himself well in his first year as a councillor even at the young age of 23, has a long way to go before he can lay claim to the tile of "the best thing to happen to Uxbridge".
Tell me, am I wrong?
