Richmond Hill observatory donation by developer raises concerns

Residents, scientists warn ‘gift’ could breach mediated settlement

Yorkregion.com
April 21, 2015
By Kim Zarxour

Once again, the fate of Richmond Hill’s beloved David Dunlap Observatory is causing controversy.

A surprise announcement last week, that developers have given the domed observatory to a private organization, sent out ripples of excitement - and concern.

The heritage buildings, which include Canada’s largest telescope, have been handed over to the Royal Astronomical Society (RASC), according to a press release from the society dated April 15.

The release said Corsica - a subsidiary of Metrus, which last week formally changed its name to DG Group - decided in 2012 to transfer the DDO main dome and administration building to “an agency that would honour the spirit of the observatory and ensure its long-term viability”.

“We’re honoured by this incredibly generous gift,” Paul Mortfield, president of RASC Toronto Centre was quoted in the release. “Fred DeGasperis [Metrus co-founder] was very supportive of our work at the DDO and our commitment as stewards of the observatory and telescope. We will always be grateful for the confidence he showed in us.”

But not everyone is cheering the announcement.

Ian Shelton, chairperson of the David Dunlap Observatory Defenders and a former astronomer at the observatory, said he was shocked to hear the news.

He was one of several delegations to speak out against the donation in council chambers this week, raising concerns that the move is a breech of the landmark, five-party agreement struck at the Ontario Municipal Board.

Shelton said his organization was involved in all matters regarding the future of the observatory after the buildings and lands were sold by the University of Toronto to Corsica in 2009 - including the Conservation Review Board hearing, two OMB hearings and OMB mediation.

As well, he said, the Defenders group was a signatory, along with Corsica, the town, the Region of York and the Toronto Region Conservation Authority, to the OMB Minutes of Settlement in which Corsica agreed to continue discussions regarding potential acquisition of the observatory buildings by the town or other public agency.

“RASC-Toronto Centre is NOT a public agency,” Shelton said.

While the Defenders group spent a large amount of time and “many tens of thousands of dollars in donations and their own money” to protect the integrity of the observatory, “RASC-Toronto Centre did not include themselves in any of these undertakings and, in fact, publicly claimed the observatory has ‘never needed saving’ despite all efforts and results to the contrary,” he said.

The DDO Defenders will consider appropriate legal action if any terms of the OMB agreement have been breached, he said.

Toomas Karmo, another former scientist who worked at the observatory, also raised concerns.

Karmo said the public has been under the impression that the buildings would, under eventual town ownership, form a centrepiece of an envisaged new park.

He warned that if RASC owned the buildings, the registered charity could face a massive maintenance bill and be tempted, in years to come, to sell the buildings.

“Title to the buildings should, in my view, be vested ... in some non-profit entity more financially capable than RASC, (a land trust is perhaps one of the legal options), with legal barriers preventing future resale to private corporation,” Karmo concluded.

Roxiane Alexander wondered how the donation, if it is deemed legitimate, could impact the DDO land, adding, “we have to protect public lands from this kind of private shenanigans”.

Wilhelm Bleek, speaking for Gloria Boxen, a member of the DDO Defenders and part of the mediation process, also sounded alarm bells.

Richmond Hill residents have been shocked and are grieving over the recent destruction of trees on the Corsica-owned DDO lands, Bleek said. Now further erosion of the property is threatened with Corsica’s apparent contravention of the OMB settlement.

“Have I put my heart and soul and hundreds of dollars in a process that turns out to be in vain? What does the town plan to do in the face of Corsica’s apparent action?”

Bleek said he sat next to RASC member Karen Mortfield at a recent open house, highlighting town plans for the DDO lands, and Mortfield “uttered not a word” about the donation of the observatory to her group.

“What is this secrecy? Are there other secrets?”

Mortfield then took to the podium and addressed council - but not the questions raised by previous speakers.

Instead, she described her group’s upcoming public tours and programs at the observatory. RASC-Toronto Centre has been involved in public outreach programs at the observatory since it first opened in 1935 and has been managing the facility for the last six years.

“It has been a source of pride that we have been able to do so much for the community without costing the taxpayers of Richmond Hill a penny,” she said.

“We’re looking forward to working collaboratively with the town developing more programs and activities that will enhance the town’s vision of the park.”

Councillors did not discuss the issue. Instead, Mayor Dave Barrow said a staff report will come to the committee of the whole May 4.