This post is the thirteenth in a series in which we reached out to municipal candidates to ask their heritage platform. Responses will be posted in the order received.
The thirteenth to respond was Chris Soda, Candidate for Windsor City Council – Ward 2. The responses are in the candidate’s own words only slightly edited in a way that doesn’t in any way change what they said.
In regards to “We know candidates run for different reasons and we are generally looking for your attitude towards heritage conservation, preservation and adaptive reuse. We also welcome a favourite memory of Windsor/Essex or perhaps to let us know your favourite area/landmark in your ward”:
First, general thoughts on heritage conservation, preservation, and adaptive re-use:
** Local history should be a required course curriculum (starting in elementary schools & finishing @ some point in secondary schools). A lot of younger people who were born here & a lot of newcomers to a particular area are unaware of what preceded & formed what is around them now.
** There is not enough practical cooperation between all important stakeholders in our local histories & connecting geography: for example, former slaves & indigenous peoples & many others in Windsor-Essex have their own experiences which often “get lost” in textbook/media renditions.
** As to the preservation/conservation of physical objects: not sure how bluntly I can put this, but here goes: public $ should not be used to erase any aspect of history, and that includes keeping physical objects “in situ” & easily accessible. We should build around all the important & formative parts of our past- not through them.
Imagine a family photo album having 3 or 4 generations of snapshots removed in order to make room for the “latest” ones.
(I think you get the “picture”, no pun intended) 😁
OK fav memories (I am 67) of Windsor-Essex include:
** Mason-Girardot House
** Yawkey Bush & Ojibway Park
** Norton-Palmer Hotel
** Fast Eddy’s
** Paradise Restaurant
** Odeon Theatre
** Kresge’s downtown
** St John’s Church on Sandwich (including the cemetery next to it)
** Capitol Theatre
** Swimming @ the YMCA on Pelissier
** Swimming @ Adie Knox
** St Mary’s Academy 😁
** Crossing the border with only a birth certificate
** hitchhiking, live bands everywhere, used book stores, street hockey
** many, many others…
To reach out to Chris Soda, visit him on Facebook.
Picture of St. Mary’s Academy from SWODA. Click here to see original source.
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