Despite the implication on the front of yesterday’s National Post, a churlish painting of a purple-haired Hazel McCallion titled "1984" had nothing to do with the Port Credit Business Improvement Association demanding it yanked from the window of Byron Ormond’s gallery on Lakeshore Rd. E. The chair of the BIA, who’s also the owner of Private Moments Lingerie, tells the Mississauga News: "I’m not an art critic. I sell underwear for a living." Ormond is fed up with a lack of support for the arts from the octogenarian mayor – and got his four-year-old son to make footprints on the painting to affirm this point. The disgruntled gallery owner also claims that his offering of family portraits to naturists and inviting locals to have their rear ends photographed for free (a la Yoko Ono) to lure new customers isn’t sitting well with his neighbouring businesses in Port Credit, a place Ormond says is drawing nobody but "ice cream lickers and coffee drinkers". Promoting nudity isn’t good for the lingerie business either, apparently. McCallion’s 27-year term as Mississauga mayor may well come to an end next year given MP Carolyn Parrish announcing her amicable intentions to eventually take over the job.
Hazing Hazel
November 4, 2005 · 8 Comments
Categories: nineohfive
8 responses so far ↓
Andrew Spencer // November 4, 2005 at 1:26 pm
It’s municipal politics in the suburbs … in other words, who cares? Have you seen what Mississauga looks like? Now do you really think residents of that giant cookie-cutter shopping mall community give a hoot about local governance?
Still, Mississauga is a better place to be stranded in than Brampton. Blech!
Tonia Edwards // November 4, 2005 at 1:43 pm
I read the article in the Star, and am not surprised that the BIA would resort to power tripping. I’ve lived in Port Credit for three years now, and it would be an absolute shame to see Foto leave, considering it is one of the more interesting stores in the Port Credit area. How many spas and hair salons could one community have? Now really!!! Port Credit has a long way to go before it gets the much needed foot traffic that it is trying to achieve, but once you let a store such as Foto leave, then you just end up closing the door to a lot of interesting stores and opportunities. But then again Port Credit always needs just one more Spa!!!
davis // November 4, 2005 at 1:45 pm
Since when does a Business Improvement Association have a say in what Art is, and how it can be displayed?
I find it incomprehendable that a group of people would do something like this, and it only fuels the stereotype of closed minded SUV driving picket fenced people that the surb has.
Adam // November 4, 2005 at 4:14 pm
Hang on a second…I thought we lived in a diverse, accepting country? Since when did this country become homogenous to the point of extreme boredom?
Who cares if a business takes people’s money to shoot pictures of them in the nude! If they’re doing it behind closed doors, how does someone else have a say in it? I also heard that the naturist walk in with exposed midriffs…GASP!
The BIA should get their nose out of other business’s affairs.
Timothy Monaghan // November 4, 2005 at 4:48 pm
This is business as usual for Mississauga. I lived there for two years and was overjoyed when I was able to move away. It’s the sort of place where a bylaw officer will write you a ticket if your grass is 1/4″ too long, or you hang your laundry out to dry. God forbid you should paint your house a different colour than your neighbours’. Anyone who wants to be creative or distinctive is a fool to be in Mississauga in the first place.
Paula Bannerman // November 4, 2005 at 7:25 pm
Port Credit is a far more interesting place to live then the rest of Mississauga…that is for certain. Just a jaunt up hwy 10 tells ya that. Its a shame though that we can’t see that creative spirit and open-mindness are as important as 500k condos and slick Restaurants.
Phil // May 12, 2006 at 9:37 am
It’s a shame to hear about this kind of stuff happening in Mississauga. I grew up spending my childhood in Brampton with the border with Mississauga right across my backyard (and the 407).
I must agree with the lack of artisan culture within Peel Region. It’s such a shame. But now that I live in York it seems that almost everywhere is bland and suburbia just doesn’t have a unique feel to it.
Jason Paul Johnston // May 29, 2006 at 6:32 pm
As a local here in Port Credit - I run an audio/recording retail store here (Revolution Audio) and I must say - this is an amazing place to live and work. The people are great - the water is so close - there is not the congestion of so many other parts of the GTA - lots of parks - I love it. The BIA is quite strong and supportive of new ventures here.
I’m not sure what all is going on with Byron’s personal beef with the Mayor, but I think we all live in love/hate relationships with the politics around us. We also need the freedom to express…Bryon pays his rent or mortgage for his space, and he should go for it.
As to those who are slagging Mississauga:
1. Sure, there is much that should and can be changed here - the arts is a huge concern for me (and not just Operas and semi famous Canadian stars…)
2. A place is only as good as you make it - what are you doing to help your community be all it can be?
3. If you can’t part of the solution, don’t let the door hit you as you go!
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