How Much Is Banting's Memory Worth?
The Ontario Historical Society has made quite an interesting decision. Prompted by their mandate to preserve history for future generations, they have decided to sell the homestead of Sir Frederick Grant Banting.
Banting was a surgeon practising in London, Ontario, in 1920 when he first visualized a technique for isolating the anti-diabetic component of the pancreas. By summer's end, in 1921, Banting and his colleague Charles Best had developed a process whereby insulin could be isolated. Their breakthrough meant a reprieve was in sight for the countless sufferers under the previously implacable death sentence imposed by a diagnosis of diabetes. Banting was not receiving a salary for his research work and had to be bankrolled by his family. He was totally dedicated to this search for an answer to the problem of the disease. Surely, this is a man who deserves the recognition and honour of his homeland.
The 1999 bequest of the property to the Society by Banting's nephew Edward Banting indicated a wish that the property continue to be maintained as the homestead where the co-discoverer of insulin was born and raised. In their press release, dated December 1, 2006, the OHS assures readers that it has "endeavored to ensure that the wishes of Edward Knight Banting's bequest to the OHS were honoured". Banting's nephew must have felt safe in believing an Historical society would be just the people to trust with the carrying out of his wish. Sadly, they haven't come through, according to Banting's grandnephew who says that with the sale "what we had hoped for that property has now been all but dashed".
Those hopes had been for the newly created Banting Legacy Foundation, headed up by grandnephew Bob, to restore the property and turn the farmhouse and surrounding acres into an education centre and camp for diabetic youth. The offer made by the town of New Tecumseth had been for it to purchase the Banting homestead and its 40 hectares for $1 million. Next would have been the sale of 12 of the 40 hectares to Mattamy Homes, currently developing a subdivision bordering on the southern property line of the farm.
Mattamy's plans were to use the land to build a school and park lands, and also to donate $200,000. to the Banting Legacy Foundation. That would bring everyone full-circle back to the carrying out of Edward's wishes and the going forward with the camp which would have delighted the gentle-hearted Frederick.
The OHS press release states that the offer made by the town of New Tecumseth was unacceptable to the Society, not because they failed to indicate acknowledgment of the nephew's wishes, but because it was "less remunerative than another offer received". They do not disclose the fact of the other offer coming with a rumoured $2.2 million payment from Solmar Development.
The OHS further states that the town's offer "was silent on the matter of conservation and protection of the homestead and its buildings" and that this "remains an issue of some concern to the OHS". You can get a better idea of just how concerned the good folks at OHS really are about this issue when you look at the following facts. Edward Banting has not been dead a full decade and so the property has not been in OHS hands for a full decade and yet OHSF president Chris Oslund insists the OHS has spent "considerable funds" on the property during the last decade. Oslund also claims the OHSF has laid out $35,000. to repair the porch and its roof. Toronto Sun reporter Mark Bonokoski writes in his Wednesday December 13 column, that he saw it last month to be "rotted and tarp-covered." That's one damn expensive tarp, Mr. Oslund. The cost for the five-tonne commemorative rock and plaque at the site was paid by nephew Edward, so it would seem that the OHS has a very, very different understanding of "considerable funds" than the rest of us do.
Selling the entire property out to a development company should certainly clear up any lingering concerns the OHS may have over the protection of the homestead, don't you think? Picture it. Just a year or so down the road, the fully refurbished Banting homestead could still be standing there, right on the very spot that Sir Frederick himself left it, but with perhaps one or two tiny differences. The housing development wrapped all around the Banting Theme Park and the mall abutting it won't make any great difference, will it? The nightly search lights blazoning its existence across the celestial advertisement board will only add to the dignity Edward sought to preserve, don't you agree?
The booths selling tiny commemorative test-tube and pancreas replicas that say "Made in China" on the bottom will be just in the tradition of the great doctor himself, I am sure. He is said to have loved little children, so I can not but imagine the delighted shrieks of little kiddies riding happily around in the pancreas-car thrill ride would gladden his spirit.
Surely the very best part of all of this will be the $2+ million nestled warm and snug in the pockets of the not-for-profit OHS directors. Maybe they'll come out to Banting Land for a little visit and buy a silver Islet of Langerhans on a keychain, or a chocolate covered lab-dog candy, made peanut-free, of course, to ensure safeguarding the best interests of the public who trust the OHS to look after their heritage.
Banting was a surgeon practising in London, Ontario, in 1920 when he first visualized a technique for isolating the anti-diabetic component of the pancreas. By summer's end, in 1921, Banting and his colleague Charles Best had developed a process whereby insulin could be isolated. Their breakthrough meant a reprieve was in sight for the countless sufferers under the previously implacable death sentence imposed by a diagnosis of diabetes. Banting was not receiving a salary for his research work and had to be bankrolled by his family. He was totally dedicated to this search for an answer to the problem of the disease. Surely, this is a man who deserves the recognition and honour of his homeland.
The 1999 bequest of the property to the Society by Banting's nephew Edward Banting indicated a wish that the property continue to be maintained as the homestead where the co-discoverer of insulin was born and raised. In their press release, dated December 1, 2006, the OHS assures readers that it has "endeavored to ensure that the wishes of Edward Knight Banting's bequest to the OHS were honoured". Banting's nephew must have felt safe in believing an Historical society would be just the people to trust with the carrying out of his wish. Sadly, they haven't come through, according to Banting's grandnephew who says that with the sale "what we had hoped for that property has now been all but dashed".
Those hopes had been for the newly created Banting Legacy Foundation, headed up by grandnephew Bob, to restore the property and turn the farmhouse and surrounding acres into an education centre and camp for diabetic youth. The offer made by the town of New Tecumseth had been for it to purchase the Banting homestead and its 40 hectares for $1 million. Next would have been the sale of 12 of the 40 hectares to Mattamy Homes, currently developing a subdivision bordering on the southern property line of the farm.
Mattamy's plans were to use the land to build a school and park lands, and also to donate $200,000. to the Banting Legacy Foundation. That would bring everyone full-circle back to the carrying out of Edward's wishes and the going forward with the camp which would have delighted the gentle-hearted Frederick.
The OHS press release states that the offer made by the town of New Tecumseth was unacceptable to the Society, not because they failed to indicate acknowledgment of the nephew's wishes, but because it was "less remunerative than another offer received". They do not disclose the fact of the other offer coming with a rumoured $2.2 million payment from Solmar Development.
The OHS further states that the town's offer "was silent on the matter of conservation and protection of the homestead and its buildings" and that this "remains an issue of some concern to the OHS". You can get a better idea of just how concerned the good folks at OHS really are about this issue when you look at the following facts. Edward Banting has not been dead a full decade and so the property has not been in OHS hands for a full decade and yet OHSF president Chris Oslund insists the OHS has spent "considerable funds" on the property during the last decade. Oslund also claims the OHSF has laid out $35,000. to repair the porch and its roof. Toronto Sun reporter Mark Bonokoski writes in his Wednesday December 13 column, that he saw it last month to be "rotted and tarp-covered." That's one damn expensive tarp, Mr. Oslund. The cost for the five-tonne commemorative rock and plaque at the site was paid by nephew Edward, so it would seem that the OHS has a very, very different understanding of "considerable funds" than the rest of us do.
Selling the entire property out to a development company should certainly clear up any lingering concerns the OHS may have over the protection of the homestead, don't you think? Picture it. Just a year or so down the road, the fully refurbished Banting homestead could still be standing there, right on the very spot that Sir Frederick himself left it, but with perhaps one or two tiny differences. The housing development wrapped all around the Banting Theme Park and the mall abutting it won't make any great difference, will it? The nightly search lights blazoning its existence across the celestial advertisement board will only add to the dignity Edward sought to preserve, don't you agree?
The booths selling tiny commemorative test-tube and pancreas replicas that say "Made in China" on the bottom will be just in the tradition of the great doctor himself, I am sure. He is said to have loved little children, so I can not but imagine the delighted shrieks of little kiddies riding happily around in the pancreas-car thrill ride would gladden his spirit.
Surely the very best part of all of this will be the $2+ million nestled warm and snug in the pockets of the not-for-profit OHS directors. Maybe they'll come out to Banting Land for a little visit and buy a silver Islet of Langerhans on a keychain, or a chocolate covered lab-dog candy, made peanut-free, of course, to ensure safeguarding the best interests of the public who trust the OHS to look after their heritage.
1 Comments:
Yes, I heard about this piece of stupidity. You would think the Ontario or federal would step in. 1) To stop the madness. 2) To check the collective brain of the OHS. I wonder if they're aware of what the "H" means. I thought these creeps were out to preserve our history?
Post a Comment
<< Home