Aurora resident asks integrity commissioner to look at $10K developer donation for diversity mural

Councillor says he cleared donation with commissioner

Yorkregion.com
April 20, 2021

A proposed wall mural reflecting diversity and inclusion is turning into a battleground over a corporate donation funding the initiative and the process driving the plan forward.

The issue was debated by councillors at the April 6 general committee meeting and is expected to resurface at the April 27 council meeting.

It’s not only politicians, specifically Coun. John Gallo and Coun. Rachel Gilliland, raising concerns.

On March 4, resident and former council candidate Anthony Pullano sent a letter to councillors and the town’s integrity commissioner also questioning the corporate donation.

Last year, Coun. Harold Kim pitched the idea for the wall mural representing achievements made by Canadians of diverse cultural backgrounds.

While he supports an existing Canadian achievements mural on the southeast corner of Yonge and Wellington streets, Kim said it is made up of white faces and a second wall could reflect Canadians from a wide variety of cultures.

Last October, councillors voiced initial support for the mural and asked for a list of potential locations.

Since then, Kim secured a $10,000 donation from commercial developer SmartCentres, with that information not formally disclosed to councillors until April 6.

Kim said he cleared the donation with the integrity commissioner and argued it’s similar to other corporate donations supporting community events.

But Gallo challenged the appropriateness of the contribution and he and Gilliland questioned why it was kept hidden from councillors.

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Last year, SmartCentres brought a proposal to the town to build a Farm Boy grocery store, HomeSense and Marshalls shops, two car dealerships, three office buildings and a storage facility on the southwest side of Hwy. 404 and Wellington Street.

Meanwhile, although not approved by council, the mural proposal ended up in the hands of the Anti-Black Racism and Anti-Racism Task Force, which formed a subcommittee to provide guidance.

The subcommittee identified the location for the wall at 15242 Yonge St. at the southwest corner of Yonge and Wellington and said the town should put out a call for artists interested in painting a mural.

Mayor Tom Mrakas said the property owner told him the town can use the wall.

Gallo and Gilliland said the information is apparently coming to council as a “done deal” and suggested other interested people, such as members of the arts community, should be included in the process.

In an interview last week, Pullano suggested Kim was trying to push the wall through quickly so he can claim it as an achievement as he pursues the Conservative nomination in the federal riding of Newmarket-Aurora.

“My thinking is it’s for his own private agenda, not the benefit of Aurora,” said Pullano, who squabbled with Kim about five years ago when he felt the councillor failed to promote Italy in the town’s multicultural festival.

Kim told The Banner he initiated a meeting several months ago with the integrity commissioner to discuss his campaign for the Conservative nomination and other issues such as the diversity mural.

The commissioner confirmed he is in line with approved principles and values, he said.

“Since when is saving taxpayers money a bad thing? All municipalities, including Aurora, have corporate partners who contribute to many of the town's activities such as Concerts in the Park, Multicultural Festival and the Haunted Forest. Corporate Partners are an integral part of our community and we should welcome their support in projects of such philanthropic nature,” he said.

If the mural follows staff’s recommended timeline, it will take 11 or 12 months to complete, hardly a rush job, Kim said.

“It is unfortunate that in a nomination campaign, drive-by smear campaigns are commonplace,” he added.