There is a right way to do things and a wrong way, and the arts community in Toronto is giving us an example of each.
The wrong way: Political pressure to save Sneaky Dee's
Sneaky Dee's is a dive bar at Bathurst St. and College Ave. W. in Toronto that is in danger of closing to be replaced by a 16-storey condo development. Some people are freaking out and have started a Save Sneaky Dee's movement. There is no problem with the sentiment, but the would-be saviours are going the political route.
The CBC reports, “Regulars of a beloved Toronto bar and live music venue packed a committee room at Toronto City Hall on Thursday to speak out against plans to turn the building housing Sneaky Dee’s into a high-rise. Several speakers told councillors that redeveloping the plot at College and Bathurst streets into a 16-storey building would be a crushing blow to Toronto’s cultural scene.”
In the midst of what city hall calls a housing crisis, councillor Josh Matlow threatened to stop the condo development. He wrote on X: “I’m voting to save Sneaky Dee’s. We need more housing options in Toronto. But we can both support housing while having parks, social services, infrastructure and, yes, cultural spaces. We need it all. That’s just good planning. We also need to advocate to the province for the ability to effectively protect our cultural heritage. Meanwhile, I believe city hall should have the backs of those who are fighting for it.”
Jerry Agar argues Matlow is wrong. “At some point, you can’t always have a specific park or a bar. You need housing. People with no skin in the game are trying to use politics to stop a development they don’t like. That’s slacktivism at its worst.”
The right way: Private fundraising for the Old Fire Hall
Now for the positive example. There is a movement to save the Old Fire Hall on Lombard St. in Toronto. The fond memories of that facility are due to it having been the home of Second City and legendary Canadian performers including Mike Myers, Eugene Levy, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Colin Mochrie and Martin Short. The wish to preserve it is understandable.
Driving the effort is Elizabeth Summers, a former employee of Second City, whose approach is the complete opposite of that of the Sneaky Dee’s people. Summers is now a high school drama teacher in Bowmanville. She has made an open appeal to some of the building’s more famous alumni, asking them for money. “$10 million needed to save the Old Fire Hall,” she stated in an open letter.
She wrote: “Imagine The Old Firehall as a home for Canadian comedy and culture: a place that honours its history while supporting future generations of performers, writers and artists. The Old Firehall has already served Toronto in two extraordinary ways — first by helping save lives, and later by bringing laughter to countless people. Perhaps it still has one more chapter left to write.”
Agar admires her approach. “She is saying, ‘Let’s put some skin in the game.’ If she succeeds and the required $10 million is raised, good for her and for whoever contributes. Then they can do whatever they want with the building.”
Two contrasting philosophies
The article concludes by presenting two choices: “put your money where your mouth is or use the jackboot of government to overrun other people’s property rights. Which way is better and morally superior?”
