By Eddie Norfolk
\nThe people of Toronto have spoken and retiring Mayor David Miller will be replaced by Mayor-elect Rob Ford in a few weeks. Mr. Ford promises to bring council spending under control. His success is based on support from both people who traditionally might not want to pay much in taxes at whatever level, and many who have been badly hit by the global financial crisis, so cannot afford to pay much in taxes. Ford\u2019s plans will depend on decisions made by the overall council. The mayor just holding one vote. But one cannot expect spending on cricket to advance, indeed it might contract in certain situations. Initiatives that include summer cricket camps and sessions for kids might be something that comes under pressure. It is hard to envisage capital expenditure on cricket facilities advancing, at least in the short-term.
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\nSuzan Hall, who played a key role in seeking a cricket ground for those in North Etobicoke, lost her council seat. The ground is actually set for development on the Vaughan side of the Toronto-Vaughan boundary, and has a combination of public and private\/corporate funding.<\/p>\n
Adam Vaughan, who has been one of cricket\u2019s best supporters on the Toronto City council, retained his seat in the downtown Trinity-Spadina ward.<\/p>\n
Mayor Miller helped get various cricketing initiatives moving, including the annual Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, which shortens to CIMA Spirit of Cricket tournament, which has attracted participation from a wide base of corporate and media entities, as well as from the public sector. Scotiabank, and then RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) were involved as sponsors at different times. RBC being the current sponsors and helped inaugurate the Cricket Across the Pond initiative. An annual trip to the London, England, by a Toronto Mayor\u2019s XI, drawn mostly from within Toronto\u2019s less prosperous communities.<\/p>\n
Still, Rob Ford is pictured in one of his interests, helping coach a school football team. Hopefully, the ideas brought by Miller of bringing together public and private\/corporate funding to support sport will continue and expand. The City Parks and Recreation department were, I seem to recall, something around $220 million short of their needs for capital development and maintenance a couple of years ago. And sadly, cricket\u2019s leadership will not have come up with development plans that would account for much of the $200 or so million.<\/p>\n
I gather some ideas to finally sort out the use of the $1 million grant provided by the Ontario Provincial Government in 2006 were made public late this summer. Behind the scenes sit some ideas that would use up much more than the need for 20-times the $1 million Ontario grant that was spoken about at the Canada-St Lucia CWC dinner back in the fall of 2006. Some of those ideas have probably appeared on Canada Cricket Online. Others, doubtless, gather dust behind the scenes. Well, isn\u2019t cricket, even international cricket in Canada, a rather secretive affair, with no expense devoted to any sign outside a ground advertising an international game, or even a tournament. I even went to the wrong ground for the final of whatever inter-provincial\/inter-area tournament was revived this summer. One coach and about six players were preparing for the ICC Intercontinental Cup match against the Zimbabwe XI, a game I missed due to other priorities. I decided it was probably a bit late to get to the Malton ground on my subsequent travels that day.<\/p>\n
But, my activities over the last 18 or so months show that other walks of life, not just Toronto-area cricket, are similarly \u2018blessed\u2019 with advertising that too often is only seen by a handful. Not everyone will return, or give something a second chance, in the belief there is always another day. Cricket is, essentially, a summer sport. But in Canada, the weather dictates that the likes of soccer, rugby and field hockey are also summer sports.<\/p>\n
Even a cultural activity such as singing can be easier in the summer months in Canada. The voice can take a pounding between over-heated and under-heated- indoor areas, and freezing cold outdoor temperatures in winter. You do not tend to come across snow and ice in going to summer cultural events in places like the Greater Toronto Area, but some events fit best in their due season. Just like indoor cricket, given proper facilities, might be played on a broader basis in the winter, and could become part of the Canada Winter Games scene\u2026\u2026some time down the road, or the trail.<\/p>\n
One final thought. The ground on which Rob Ford’s football team are playing is rather similar to too many Canadian cricketing outfields. It is probably better than some, which is not what we need for the development of ‘proper cricket’.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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