Save Frederick Banting’s Birthplace
Banting’s birthplace badly in need of repairs
The Town of
New Tecumseth has purchased the Banting homestead from the Ontario Historical
Society.
Read the unfolding story and see the pictures of the poorly maintained
Banting homestead below …Please scroll down
News Release Date: January 22, 2008
The Corporation of the Town of New Tecumseth
BANTING HOMESTEAD TO BE PURCHASED BY THE TOWN
NEW TECUMSETH, ON – The Town of New Tecumseth has entered into a conditional
agreement of purchase and sale with the Ontario Historical Society Foundation to purchase the
Banting Homestead for its assessed value of $600,000. The offer is conditional until June 30,
2008 on the Town being able to successfully raise an additional $500,000 through a fund raising
campaign to provide for the repair and maintenance of the buildings on the property.
“The Town recognizes the tremendous significance of the property as the birthplace of a great
Canadian who was responsible for one of the most important medical achievements of this
century”, said Mayor Mike MacEachern.
On November 12, 2007 the Town passed the “Sir Frederick Banting Homestead Designation
By-law” to designate the entire Banting Homestead as being of cultural heritage value or
interest. The Mayor noted that, “While this was a step on the path of ensuring the property
would be kept intact and not developed, the ability to move forward with the repair of the
buildings and the future control and use of the property could only be achieved with the
purchase of the land”.
While the Town will pay for the purchase price out of funds raised through the sale of other
surplus Town-owned lands, the Town’s agreement to purchase the Banting lands is conditional
on it undertaking a successful fund raising campaign by June 30, 2008 to raise $500,000 to
ensure the repair and maintenance of the buildings on the property.
“We are confident that we will be able to raise the necessary funds from the many corporate
representatives and Banting supporters who have come forward throughout this process”, said
MacEachern.
The Town will accept donations to the fundraising campaign immediately and will issue
charitable tax receipts for such donations. Cheques should be made out to the “Town of New
Tecumseth – Banting Homestead”.
For
Further Information: Mayor Mike MacEachern
(705)
435-3900 x223
Mailing Address:
P.O.
Box 910
Alliston,
Ontario
L9R
1A1
Administration Centre
10 Wellington St. E.
Alliston, Ontario
Web Address: www.town.newtecumseth.on.ca
Phone: (705) 435-6219 or (905) 729-0057
Fax: (705) 435-2873
Historic
Birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting May Be Lost
by
Dr. Peter M. Banting
Professor
Emeritus, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
About
an hour’s drive north of Toronto, Ontario is the small rural town of
Alliston. On November 14, 1891, on a
nearby 100-acre farm a baby boy named Fred was born. In 1921 Fred made a wonderful discovery -- a
discovery that since 1921 has saved the lives of more than 350 million people
worldwide. Fred discovered, isolated and
purified a hormone which he first named Isletin, then renamed Insulin.
Today
more than 300 million people have the killer disease Diabetes. Many would be dead were it not for Fred’s
life-saving discovery.
Fred
lived an exciting life. He served in the
First World War, was wounded and received the Military Cross for Bravery. His medical research was not limited to the
discovery of Insulin. It also led to the
creation of the first flight suit to prevent pilots from blacking out when
pulling many “G’s” in a dive. This was the precursor of our current astronauts’
space suits. Fred also conducted
research on cancer and germ warfare. Fred was an accomplished wood carver and
artist. He went on sketching trips with
A.Y. Jackson, one of the famous “Group of Seven” Canadian artists.
At
the beginning of the Second World War, Fred re-enlisted and was on a secret
mission to England in 1941 when his aircraft crashed in Newfoundland. The plane had been sabotaged by the
enemy. The man whose discovery continues
to save so many lives was dead in his fiftieth year.
For
his discovery of insulin, Fred won the Nobel Prize, and was knighted by the
King of England. He could have been a
rich man, but instead he sold the patent for insulin for $1 so that it could be
made affordable to diabetics who need the life-saving medicine. We owe a lot to Sir Frederick Grant Banting.
What
about his birthplace? The last person to
live and work the farm in Alliston was Fred’s nephew: Edward Banting. He was a proud relative. In his front parlor he had many mementos of
uncle Fred’s life, including some of Fred’s landscapes. Edward was visited frequently by diabetics
from all over the world. They came to
see where uncle Fred was born, to experience the ambiance, to breathe the
country air, and to walk in the same paths and fields where Fred grew up and
learned the values of hard work, and concern for humanity.
Edward
welcomed these visitors and took great pride in showing them his treasured
mementos. He determined that others like
them, and future generations too, should be able to continue visiting uncle
Fred’s birthplace, even after his own death.
Indeed, Edward hoped that some day a camp for diabetic children might be
established on the very land that nurtured the discoverer of Insulin. To this
end, Edward invited executives of the Ontario Historical Society (OHS) to his
home, and during the course of more than a dozen meetings over several years,
shared his dream with them.
In
1999 Edward died and bequeathed the 100-acre Banting Homestead to the OHS. During the past seven years, despite earning
a $15,000 annual income from renting the Banting farmland to a local potato
farmer, the OHS has not maintained the buildings on the property. The farmhouse roof developed holes and water
damage resulted. The henhouse decayed
beyond recovery. The roof of an historical unique octagonal drive shed
collapsed. Yet the OHS has rejected
offers from Banting family members to help repair and maintain the property.
More
than a year ago the Town Council began negotiations with the OHS to buy the
property and save it from destruction.
Twice when the Town thought they had an agreement, the OHS reneged. Then the Province of Ontario appointed an
individual to facilitate the negotiations.
The Town offered a million dollars to the OHS. The Town and the
provincially-appointed facilitator thought that they had reached an agreement. They drew up purchase/sale papers with a
November 22, 2006 deadline and sent it to the OHS. On November 23, the OHS sent a message that
they had accepted an offer of $2.2 million from housing developer Solmar
Development. The owner of Solmar
Development later told the press that his deal had been made with OHS five months
earlier. Clearly OHS had been
duplicitous, negotiating with the Town in bad faith.
Why
would a (formerly) respected, more than one hundred year old historical society
do such a thing? Their stated mandate is
to preserve and protect Ontario’s history.
Their past has involved fighting developers to preserve historical
sites.
Now
they are in bed with a developer whose goal is to erect a housing development
on an historic property – the place where Sir Frederick Banting was born and
grew up. The answer is: Avarice. The OHS is simply greedy.
Currently
the Town is seeking “designation as an historical property” for the Banting
Homestead. Under the Ontario Heritage
Act, designation will prevent commercial development of the land and will
require the owner to maintain the buildings properly. Both the OHS and Solmar Development have
filed objection to such designation.
As
a result of their objections, a Conservation Review Board will hold a hearing
in the near future and make recommendations.
If
you feel that the 100-acre Banting Homestead should be preserved for future
generations, and that a camp for diabetic children should be erected on the
very birthplace and childhood home of the discoverer of insulin, please feel
free to contact the Conservation Review Board.
In your letter, please indicate the town and country from which you are
writing.
Dr. Peter
Myles Banting is Emeritus Professor of Marketing, McMaster University,
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Peter’s grandfather was Sir Frederick Banting’s
cousin. Peter is a founding member of the Board of Directors for the non-profit
Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation.
The Legacy Foundation was established as a charitable organization to
accept title to the Banting Homestead after its purchase by the Town of New
Tecumseth (where Alliston is located).
The Legacy Foundation hopes to build a camp for diabetic children on the
Banting Homestead in fulfillment of Edward Banting’s expectation.
Contact: Dr. Peter Banting,
105 Upper
Filman Road,
Ancaster,
Ontario L9G 3K9
Canada
Phone: (905)
648-5889
e-mail: peter.banting@sympatico.ca
The Ontario Historical Society (OHS)
has not kept their promise to Edward Banting.
Edward gave his farm, where Banting was born, to the OHS so it would be protected.
He did not expect it to be sold for a profit. The OHS, counter to their
mission, has sold the Banting homestead to a developer who was the highest
bidder. The developer, who bought the
property 5 months ago, did not know that the Town of New Tecumseth, along with
the provincally apppointed negotiator, Alan Wells, were negotiating to purchase
the historic site when he bought the property. The negotiation with the OHS
went on and on long after the sale was closed. Further, the developer claims that
he was not aware of the historical significance of the property.
Town snubbed in Banting sale
Historical group
takes another offer for homestead
Barrie Examiner
BY RAYMOND BOWE
Thursday, November 30, 2006
ALLISTON — The crumbling birthplace of one of Canada’s most globally
recognizable heroes will not be sold to the municipality.
The Town of New Tecumseth was informed this week by the Ontario Historical
Society that its million-dollar offer to buy the childhood home of Sir
Frederick Banting was rejected in favour of a more lucrative offer.
“My first reaction was complete shock,” Mayor Mike MacEachern said.
“We’re still trying to figure out what’s happening and what went wrong.”
Historical Society officials could not be reached for comment yesterday, but a
fax sent to the town didn’t name the purchaser nor the sale price, MacEachern
said. But yesterday, there was a sign on the property announcing that 70 acres
was for sale.
A co-founder of insulin in the treatment of diabetics, Banting won the Nobel
Prize for medicine in 1923.
The home, located east of Alliston, was bequeathed to the society in 1999 by
Banting’s nephew. In October, the town offered $1 million to the society to buy Banting’s deteriorating birthplace.
In the latest communique with the society, the town was not given an option to
counter the mystery offer, the mayor said.
Joe Matheson said his wife bought the farmhouse next door to the Banting
homestead last year. He said it’s “a travesty” the way the house has
deteriorated.
“It’s absolutely heartbreaking,” Matheson said, adding tourists arrive at the
home on a weekly basis to snap pictures. “There will be people just standing
there with their mouths open. It should be a testament to the man, and it’s a
dump.
“If this was in the U.S., there would be a tour guide out front, full period
costumes and organized bus tours from downtown Toronto,” Matheson said. “In the
U.S., if George Washington even walked by a house, or if Walt Whitman even
stepped in a restaurant, there’s a plaque.
“So this whole thing baffles me,” he added.
The property sits on 100 acres, and, if the sale had gone through, the
municipality’s plan was to sell off 30 acres to a residential developer for $1
million. Ownership of the remaining 70 acres would have been transferred to the
Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation to create a diabetic youth camp, an
interpretive centre and a museum.
Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson, a staunch supporter of saving the homestead, said
he was “just furious” when he heard the historical society had declined the
offer, and questions why a for-sale sign would go up when the owners say
they’ve sold the property.
“It’s weird to do that — it’s misleading the people,” Wilson said, adding he
knows of at least two “generous” offers, including the town’s, to purchase the
property. “There may not have even been a third offer.”
The land is zoned agricultural, so to build homes on the property requires
official plan and zoning amendments, and severance approved. And beginning
earlier this week, town council began the process of designating the northerly
70 acres to be of cultural heritage value, “which means no one will get
anything,” Wilson said. “But it’s still a mystery what they’re trying to sell.
Over my dead body are they selling this thing.”
At Queen’s Park, Wilson has received initial support for a private member’s
bill, the Frederick Banting Homestead Preservation Act, but it requires second
and third reading. If passed, the whole Banting sale could be frozen, he said.
Meanwhile, the town made every effort to appease the society, MacEachern said,
including extending the offer deadline twice and agreeing to a provision for
more cash upfront.
“Anytime a concern came up with them, we addressed it,” MacEachern said. “The
expectation was to preserve the property and have something we could all be
proud of. I thought we were working towards that, so I can’t say it’s been an
easy road to get where we are.”
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Developer says he was unaware of town's
plan for Banting land
Author: Janis
Ramsay, Alliston Herald
Date: Dec 06, 2006
The new owner of the Banting Homestead
property claims he didn't know the historical value of the land before he made
an offer to buy it from the Ontario Historical Society.
Benny Marotta, owner of Solmar Development
Corporation, made an offer to buy 100 acres of land just north of Alliston, for
approximately $2 million. Marotta said he found out "just a few days
ago" about New Tecumseth's plan to designate 70 of the 100 acres as
heritage land.
Over the past year, New Tecumseth was working
on a proposal to buy the property from the OHS for $1 million.
With an ongoing deal in the works, the
province even assigned a facilitator, Alan Wells, to assist in negotiations.
The town planned to sever the land and sell 30 acres to Mattamy Homes for $1
million. The remaining 70 acres would have been designated as heritage
property, and turned over to the Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation, which
wanted to create a camp for diabetic youth to honour Sir Frederick Banting.
Mayor Mike MacEachern has said the town plans
to continue with its heritage designation, regardless of who owns the property.
"I did not know there were all these
implications with the town. It was purchased four or five months ago,"
said Marotta. "There seems to be all this chaos now that it's come out
that it's sold."
The land just north of Alliston is where Sir
Frederick Banting grew up. Banting co-discovered insulin and the property
includes an old home and an octogonal barn, one of a few remaining in Canada.
Marotta, who has built in Tottenham and
Beeton before, said he has no development plans for the Alliston property yet.
Solmar itself has been in business for 25 years.
Marotta has called New Tecumseth Mayor Mike
MacEachern because he wants to work with the town, but was waiting to hear back.
Marotta said he won't demolish the buildings now that he knows about their
historical significance.
Marotta said his sister died from diabetes
and he is in full support of restoring the buildings.
His original agreement with the OHS had only
four acres preserved, with development on the remaining 96.
"We discussed to leave four acres on the
property and when the property closes, I will rebate the OHS with $100,000 to
restore the buildings of their damage. I think it's good that it happens, I
want to contribute to it."
Solmar built subdivisions in Tottenham and
Beeton a decade ago, but its focus right now is on the Bellaria Residences,
twin high-rise condominiums and park plan located in Vaughan, near Canada's
Wonderland. The company itself has a head office in Concord, near the Vaughan
Mills shopping centre.
"We also have more property in Alliston,
on the west side of town. It's about 220 acres. So we want to work with the
town, we don't want to create any friction for ourselves."
Marotta said the closing date for the
property is happening very soon.
Both Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson and
Simcoe-Grey MP Helena Guergis have slammed the OHS for selling the land to a
private owner when the town was making a bid on the land.
"I'm damn mad and I know the Banting
family is equally as upset by this complete betrayal by the McGuinty government
and the Ontario Historical Society," said Wilson. "I think that my
Private Member's Bill, the Frederick Banting Homestead Preservation Act, is
needed now more than ever and it's high time for the McGuinty government to
show whether they support Sir Frederick Banting."
Wilson said he didn't know why the Liberal
government has abandoned his bill.
Guergis said the OHS's priorities are all
wrong.
"A man's legacy is being completely
disregarded. He changed millions of people's lives around the globe. I am quite
frankly appalled at the actions of the OHS," said Guergis in a press
release.
She believes the sale was a huge mistake.
Dr. Peter Banting, whose grandfather was Sir
Frederick's cousin, said there is no other global claim to fame in Alliston and
the OHS was being "avaricious and dishonest" in its decision.
"The town was bargaining with the OHS to
make an offer in good faith. Apparently, the OHS thought it was agreeable but
out of the blue, sent a fax saying it has accepted another offer," said
Banting.
In a letter released Dec. 1, the OHS said it
has spent considerable funds on the property over the last decade, including
property maintenance, legal fees and other costs. "In this context, the
New Tecumseth offer was less remunerative than another offer received by the
OHS Foundation and also entailed a three-year deferred payment," wrote
Chris Oslund, president.
"While the municipality has now
initiated a heritage designation of some 70 acres of the property, the original
offer was silent on the matter of conservation and protection of the homestead
and its buildings, and meeting the costs involved. Indeed, this still remains
an unanswered issue of some concern to the OHS and it would be most willing to
discuss a heritage designation regarding the building precinct."
Oslund said the offer he accepted means
repair work can start in the near future. The new offer also provided for
ongoing maintenance of the buildings until it can be gifted to another
organization. "For its part, the OHS Foundation has agreed to contribute
up to a matching amount of money for the work of repairs and
conservation."
But Banting said he's not sure the Legacy
Foundation would want to look after only four acres. "You can't put a camp
on a couple of acres," he said. Part of the Legacy Foundation's plan was
to continue renting a portion of the land to a local potato farmer, to help
generate money to pay for taxes on the land. "That's not there with four
acres."
Banting said there's no need to build another
Sir Frederick museum, because it would be duplicating the one in London,
Ontario. The Banting House National Historic Site is where Banting lived and
practised medicine from 1920-21, for eight months. Several rooms in Banting
House have period furniture and accessories - the doctor's bedroom, his office
and its adjoining apothecary. Another room recreates a temporary battlefield
operating room similar to those in which Banting served during the First World
War.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Press
release
GUERGIS, SCHELLENBERGER CONDEMN
‘SHORT-SIGHTED’ DECISION
BY ONTARIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
December 4, 2006
Selling
the Sir Frederick Banting Homestead to developers
motivated by greed, say
MPs for Simcoe-Grey and Perth-Wellington
OTTAWA – The Ontario Historical Society (OHS) has done a great disservice to the province’s heritage, say Simcoe-Grey MP Helena Guergis and Perth-Wellington MP Gary Schellenberger. The two MPs are united in their view that the recent OHS decision to sell the Sir Frederick Banting Homestead in Alliston to a developer is short-sighted and a huge mistake.
“I’m deeply offended by the arrogance and contempt shown by the OHS—an
organization that is supposedly interested in promoting and preserving
Ontario’s history,” said Mr. Schellenberger. “I believe this action is
motivated entirely by greed.” Ms. Guergis further commented: “It would seem the
Ontario Historical Society’s priorities are all wrong. A man’s legacy is being
completely disregarded. He changed millions of people's lives around the globe.
I am deeply saddened and quite frankly appalled at the actions of the OHS.”
A provincial negotiator had worked with the OHS and the Town of New
Tecumseth and the Banting Foundation for over a year and a half. In October, a
$1 million Offer to Purchase, approved by the municipality and the Banting
Foundation, was presented to the OHS. The OHS withheld its approval and instead
made a deal with Solmar Developments, a large housing developer in the Greater
Toronto Area.
The Town of New Tecumseth had planned to purchase the property and allow
the Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation to operate a camp for children with
diabetes.
The OHS received the Banting homestead and its 100 acres in 1999 for $1
as part of a bequest from Edward Banting with the understanding that they would
maintain and preserve the property. Unfortunately, the OHS allowed the
homestead and the architecturally significant farm buildings to deteriorate and
fall into disrepair. The OHS claims that the new owner will provide for ongoing
maintenance of the buildings until such time as they can be “gifted to another
appropriate organization.”
“Quite frankly, I find it difficult to believe anything the OHS says,
considering they reneged on their promise to Edward Banting and they’ve thumbed
their noses at the provincial government, the local municipality and the
Banting Foundation,” said Mr. Schellenberger.
“Clearly, it’s
all about the money for the OHS—that’s a real shame,” said Mr. Schellenberger.
"Hopefully, no one else is planning to bequeath
anything of
value to the OHS.”
Contact:
Office of Gary
Schellenberger, MP
Phone: 613-992-6124
Fax: 613-998-7902
Email: schelg@parl.gc.ca
Office of
Helena Guergis, MP
Phone: 613-992-4224
Fax: 613-992-2164
Email: guergh8@parl.gc.ca
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Developer pays big bucks for Banting site
BY RAYMOND
BOWE
The Barrie
Examiner
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
ALLISTON — A Concord-based developer has purchased the aging Banting homestead
for reportedly more than twice what the town had offered.
Sources close to the sale identified the buyer as Solmar Development Corp., who
bought 96 acres of the 100-acre Banting property for about $2.2 million from
the Ontario Historical Society.
Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson confirmed both the buyer and the sale price.
The Barrie Examiner made numerous attempts yesterday to contact the developer,
but none were returned.
The company has commercial and residential developments in Barrie, Innisfil,
Bradford and Tottenham.
In the deal, the remaining four acres, including the home, will be preserved.
The childhood home of insulin co-discoverer Sir Frederick Banting, located east
of Alliston, was bequeathed to the historical society in 1999 by Banting’s
nephew, Edward. Sir Frederick Banting won the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1923.
In October, the Town of New Tecumseth offered $1 million to the historical
society to buy the property.
That proposal was rebuffed last Monday in favour of the more lucrative offer.
“This is a disgrace and a slap in the face to the Banting family,” Wilson said.
“It’s ironic that an association that’s there to uphold that history is selling
it from under their noses. It’s the greediest thing I’ve ever heard.”
New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern said the developers have called town hall
to set up a meeting, but a firm date has not been established.
“But they haven’t let us know what their intention (for the property) is yet,”
MacEachern said.
Had the municipality’s offer been accepted, its plan was to sell 30 acres to a
different developer for $1 million. Ownership of the remaining 70 acres
would’ve been transferred to the Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation to
build a diabetic youth camp, an interpretive centre and a museum.
The controversial sale has become fodder at both the provincial and federal
levels of government.
Simcoe-Grey MP Helena Guergis stood in the House of Commons yesterday to
highlight the “appalling” sale of the homestead, urging Ontario Premier Dalton
McGuinty and the historical society to save the site from property developers.
“It’s more than a homestead, it’s our history,” Guergis said. “I’m frankly
appalled by this decision (to sell). It saddens me that the legacy of a great
man is being disregarded.”
The society has “betrayed” Edward Banting’s bequest, she said, not only by
selling the property, but by letting the house deteriorate.
More than 100,000 signatures have been collected over the past three years from
people wanting to save the homestead, but there has been no response from
McGuinty, Wilson said.
Wilson’s private member’s bill — the Frederick Banting Homestead Preservation
Act — received unanimous support during second reading at Queen’s Park, but now
sits in limbo, waiting for the provincial Liberals to introduce it.
“It’s in their court, but I’m going to keep pushing the bill,” he said.
The land is zoned agricultural, so to build homes there requires official plan
and zoning amendments, and severance approval.
On Nov. 29, town council began the process of designating the 70 acres to be of
cultural value under the Heritage Act, which could stall any chance of
development. A 30-day appeal period follows the designation move, which freezes
any structures from being demolished.
However, the provincial Liberals could trump the town’s designation, said
Wilson, who blames Premier McGuinty for not taking action sooner to stop the
sale and future development. The local MPP said he told McGuinty six times that
he could be an “international hero with the stroke of a pen.”
Wilson is asking anyone who supports his private member’s bill to e-mail
Premier McGuinty.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Property sale a tragedy
How little regard we
have for our Canadian heroes, especially those who made our world a better
place
Dec. 11, 2006.
01:00 AM
Letter to theToronto
Star
Homestead sale called `pure greed'
Dec. 6.
As I read the above article, I was angry and
saddened about how little regard we have for our Canadian heroes, especially
the people who came before us to make our world a place where we can live happy
and healthy lives.
It is also with disblief, I note how little
regard our government has for famous Canadian people. Sir Frederick Banting
wasn't just any man; he was a man who did amazing things in his short life. He
wasn't just a war hero or a Nobel Prize winner, he was a man who spent his time
giving to the world. He gave the world his best discovery of all — for the sum
of just $1. He shouldn't be a man who is forgotten; he can't be. His discovery
is still helping people today, saving lives. Every time a child is diagnosed with
diabetes, we should thank our lucky stars for Banting. Every time an adult is
diagnosed with diabetes, we should look at that life-saving insulin and thank
the person who discovered it.
I can't believe that his home, the place where
he was born, a place where he played and dreamed, a place where he was inspired
to help people has been bought by developers.
Edward Banting (nephew of Sir Frederick Banting)
bequeathed the property to the Ontario Historical Society (OHS) with the belief
that, when he died, it would be well taken care of by an organization which
would preserve a piece of history for future generations.
Unfortunately, that did not happen. If you pass
by the homestead now, all you see is a tired, neglected, broken, sad-looking
structure. You would never believe that a man who saved millions of lives with
his discovery ever lived there. When Banting grew up and left home to go to
war, medical school, etc., he always came back to that house for tranquility
and peace, especially when things were hard for him.
I want to thank Banting for keeping one of my
closest friends alive; my husband wants to say "thank you," also, for
saving his father and brother.
The province of Ontario has to look at this as a
tragedy. However, the real tragedy in all this is that the OHS never took the
time to understand the life of Banting and his gift of generosity. It was never
about money.
Shame on you!
Carmine Vescio and Linda
Gargaro, Toronto
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hope to restore Banting house dashed
December
10, 2006
By MARK
BONOKOSKI Toronto Sun
In a
stall-balk-and-bail move that caught all the major players flatfooted, the
Ontario Historical Society’s foundation wing has punted the deteriorating
birthplace of insulin co-discoverer Sir Frederick Banting into the hands of a
higher bidder who had been sitting unseen on the sidelines.
In other words, it went for
the money.
To Banting descendant, Bob
Banting, the sale of the 40-hectare farm property near Alliston spells the
death knell of best-laid plans already on the table to honour the Canadian-born
scientist whose discovery of insulin has saved countless millions worldwide
from horrendous deaths associated with ever-increasing plague of diabetes.
“The sale came out of
nowhere,” said Banting, Frederick Banting’s grandnephew. “What we had hoped for
that property has now been all but dashed.”
The Banting farmhouse,
where Frederick Banting was born 115 years ago last month, sits on the eastern
outskirts of Alliston, southwest of Barrie, past a new housing development, and
it is unquestionably falling into ruin — although the Ontario Historical
Society Foundation (OHSF) said last week it has spent in excess of $35,000 to
repair the porch and its roof which, last month, was rotted and tarp-covered.
As written here then, and
it went unchallenged, if there is one organization responsible for the decay of
the Banting homestead, it is the Ontario Historical Society (OHS) which was
bequeathed the property in 1999 by Edward Banting, Frederick Banting’s direct
descendent, who inherited the property through the passing down of it from
father-to-son.
And it was Edward Banting’s
wish, upon his death, that the property be maintained to honour the great
Canadian inventor who was born and raised on that farm.
What he got, instead, was
his farm house collapsing, and his land being figuratively sold out from under
his grave.
Even the five-tonne
commemorative rock and historical plaque at the property’s entrance have
everything to do with Edward Banting putting it there — not the OHS.
The offer the OHSF had on
the table — the one in which it stalled in accepting, then balked and bailed —
was a provincially-facilitated deal from the town of New Tecumseth, the
amalgamated umbrella that includes Alliston, to purchase the Banting property and
its 40 hectares for the price of $1 million, and then immediately flip 12
hectares of the property to Mattamy Homes, the developer of the subdivision
that borders on the farm’s southern property line.
For those 12 hectares,
Mattamy Homes — which had plans to use the land to build the schools and park
lands originally slated for inclusion in its development to the south — would
pay the town $1 million, thereby making the sale a break-even situation for the
town.
Mattamy would then donate
$200,000 to the newly-formed Banting Legacy Foundation — which is spearheaded
by Frederick Banting’s grandnephew, Bob Banting — to begin the process of
restoring the property and eventually turn the farmhouse, and the 28 hectares
remaining, into a education centre and camp for diabetic youth.
“It’s a win-win from
everyone’s vantage point,” Bob Banting said at the time. “But we can’t get the
Ontario Historical Society to sign off.
“What’s their reluctance?”
he asked. “They’ve done nothing, yet here’s their chance to walk off with a
million.”
The answer, of course, is
now clear.
In its press release, OHSF
president Chris Oslund said his board’s decision to turn down the town of New
Tecumseth’s offer was done to best meet the objectives of “the commemoration of
the life and achievements of Sir Frederick Banting, and support the activities
and the mission of the OHS.”
Oslund also stated that the
OHSF had “expended considerable funds over the last decade in maintenance,
legal fees and other costs associated with the Banting homestead.”
That, however, is a bit of
a reach.
Edward Banting, for one,
has not been dead a decade and so the OHSF has not had the property for that
length of time, and secondly, if “considerable funds” means an outlay of
$35,000 to fix a porch, then there is a long way to go.
The place is on the verge
of collapse.
In announcing the sale that
caught the town of New Tecumseth off guard, the OHSF did not name the buyer
that pipped New Tecumseth at the post, although it is rumoured to be a land
developer based in Concord, Ont.
Nor did it announce the
price it got for the Banting property, although it is rumoured to be $2.2
million.
All the OHSF would say was
that the New Tecumseth offer was “less remunerative than another offer received
by the OHSF and also entailed a three-year deferred payment.”
Reached last week at his
home, Chris Oslund said provisions have been made with the buyer to “ensure the
heritage significance of the property in perpetuity.”
The deal, he said, has not
yet been totally signed off, but that it is considered as “good as done.”
What he would not discuss,
however, was details.
All the town of New
Tecumseth can do in the meantime, therefore, is fight for bureaucratic control
and to push for an official heritage designation on the property.
“What I am hearing is that
they plan to box the farmhouse in, and surround it with high-density housing,”
said Bob Banting. “All we can do now is fight back.”
Banting, however, does come
armed.
Late last week, Marie
Shields, Edward Banting’s sister and power-of-attorney at the time of his
death, had a document notarized indicating her brother never intended the OHS
use his bequeathal to sell off the farm for profit.
The last paragraph of that
document, however, is the one that expresses the most heartbreak.
“Today the farm which was
in good state of repair when it was turned over to the OHS lies in ruin,”
Shields writes. “It is a disgusting mess. My husband and I do not go there
anymore. We cannot stand to look at it.
“Brother Edward would be
angered by all of this because it certainly did not turn out the way he planned
it.”
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Town seeks OHS, province-wide help
New Tecumseth Free Press Online
Posted December 12, 2006
New Tecumseth council voted last night to ask the Ontario Historical
Society (OHS) and its foundation (OHSF) to support the proposed heritage
designation on 70 acres of the Banting homestead property.
It's a 'feet to the fire' resolution that includes an expression of
"extreme disappointment" in the OHS for agreeing to sell the 100 acre
property "to the highest bidder who we understand proposes to only make
available a small parcel size (four acres) surrounding the buildings for the
purposes of recognizing Sir Frederick Banting."
"The Town has attempted over many years to facilitate in good faith
the transfer of the lands to a not-for-profit organization that would ensure
that the buildings are repaired and the lands and buildings are used properly
to commemorate the importance of the Banting legacy to not only to the
community in which it is located but also to the world," according to the
motion's preamble. "The Town believes that the minimum parcel size for the
purposes of properly honouring both the intentions of Edward K Banting in
bequeathing the lands to the Ontario Historical Society and the work of Sir
Frederick Banting is 70 acres."
New Tecumseth CAO Terri Caron told councillors last night that 70 acres
was not an arbitrary number that was negotiated.
"It was the number of acres that have been discussed through the
Banting Educational Committee and the Banting Legacy Goundation, as the minimum
acreage they felt necessary in order to properly use the property for recognition
for Sir Frederick Banting's work," said Ms. Caron. "When we come
forward with our designation report to have council consider passing the bylaw,
there will be a rationale and support. There's research being done by the
historical committee staff right now to justify and support the recommendation
to designate that piece."
When the OHSF informed New Tecumseth by faxed letter on November 23 that
it was rejecting the Town's offer to purchase in favour of what turned out to
be a $2.2 million sale to Solmar Developments, one of the reasons cited other
than the it was more money, suggests the Town's offer "was silent on the
matter of conservation and protection, and the costs involved."
"This statement is completely inappropriate and disregards all of
the following facts," according to a background report by Ms. Caron.
Highlights in part include:
- "The OHS was fully aware of the fact
that the Town intended to convey the 70 acre parcel to the Sir Frederick
Banting Legacy Foundation (SFBLF);
- The OHS had indicated they were concerned
that the Town or the SFBLF would "flip" the lands for a profit
and were advised that the staff supported the inclusion of an anti-flip
clause in a sign back offer;
- The OHS were aware that the Agreement of
Purchase and Sale between the Town and Mattamy for the 30 acre parcel
provided for a donation of $200,000 to the SFBLF "for the upkeep and
preservation of the Banting house adjacent to the Property" thereby
addressing the issue of repair costs;
- The OHS were aware that the Council held a
Special Council meeting on November 20, 2006 to commence the process to
designate the lands pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act, 2005 to give
further assurances to the OHS of the Town's good faith and bona fide
intentions regarding the property i.e. the Town's and SFBLF's
"commitments to the heritage integrity" of the property.
Additionally,
the Town staff and Mattamy "had responded positively" to requests for
more money upfront to the OHS and to reduce the amount of the mortgage and
shorten its pay down terms.
"The Town and Mattamy took every step possible to address the
concerns of the OHS in a timely manner and to provide every assurance that the
heritage integrity of the property and the upkeep and maintenance of the
buildings would occur," noted Ms. Caron's report. "To suggest
otherwise completely ignores the facts and information provided."
Last night's motion will be circulated across the province through the
Association of Municipalities of Ontario for support.
Mayor Mike MacEachern said after the meeting last night that
the intent of the motion is to draw the OHS into taking a public position
on protecting the homestead, and to reinforce the Town's resolve in seeing it
developed into the diabetes camp and education centre long planned for the
property.
"We're expecting everybody to support it because it's the right
thing to do for that property. We're certainly looking forward to their (OHS)
support," said mayor MacEachern. "The Town's position has always been
and continues to be that it's not just about the buildings, it's about the
property, and it's important to designate a significant portion of the property
in order to make sure it's being used for a purpose that we feel it was
bequethed to the OHS and also to recognize the important work Sir Frederick
Banting did."
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Historical
marker identifies homestead as Banting's birthplace
Posted December 12, 2006
New
Tecumseth Free Press Online
To the editor,
I do not know who Mike Linden of Toronto is (Dec. 11 letter to the
editor) but I can assure you he does not have all the facts about the Banting
homestead.
Here are a few I'd like to point out: Edward Knight Banting left a will
which referred to an agreeement between himself and the OHS. This agreement
"cannot be found" or has been "lost" depending on whom you
are talking to.
The historical marker on Highway 89 refers to the farm as the
"Birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting" yet the OHS continually refers
to the farm as "The Edward Knight Banting property" in what I
consider a rude attempt to avoid the actual historical nature of this property.
Edward invited anyone who showed interest into his home and would spend
considerable time discussing Sir Frederick and his many accomplishments. It was
at one of these times when I first realized that Dr. Banting had passed his
discovery of insulin on to the general public with no remuneration for himself.
I can assure you what has taken place was not in the spirit of the
"lost" agreement nor the intent of Edward Knight Banting who idolized
Sir Frederick.
I may be old school but when a person or persons reach an agreement and
shake hands on that agreement paper or no paper, signature or no signature that
agreement stands.
I have no respect whatsoever for the OHS and what they have done. They can try to twist the facts as much as
they want, they still come up short.
Bob Marrs,
Alliston
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday, December
13, 2006
How Much Is Banting's Memory Worth?
The Ontario
Historical Society has made quite an interesting decision. Prompted by their
mandate to preserve history for future generations, they have decided to sell
the homestead of Sir Frederick Grant Banting.
Banting was a surgeon practising in London, Ontario, in 1920 when he first
visualized a technique for isolating the anti-diabetic component of the
pancreas. By summer's end, in 1921, Banting and his colleague Charles Best had
developed a process whereby insulin could be isolated. Their breakthrough meant
a reprieve was in sight for the countless sufferers under the previously
implacable death sentence imposed by a diagnosis of diabetes. Banting was not
receiving a salary for his research work and had to be bankrolled by his
family. He was totally dedicated to this search for an answer to the problem of
the disease. Surely, this is a man who deserves the recognition and honour of
his homeland.
The 1999 bequest of the property to the Society by Banting's nephew Edward
Banting indicated a wish that the property continue to be maintained as the
homestead where the co-discoverer of insulin was born and raised. In their press
release, dated December 1, 2006, the OHS assures readers that it has
"endeavored to ensure that the wishes of Edward Knight Banting's bequest
to the OHS were honoured". Banting's nephew must have felt safe in
believing an Historical society would be just the people to trust with the
carrying out of his wish. Sadly, they haven't come through, according to
Banting's grandnephew who says that with the sale "what we had hoped for
that property has now been all but dashed".
Those hopes had been for the newly created Banting Legacy Foundation, headed up
by grandnephew Bob, to restore the property and turn the farmhouse and
surrounding acres into an education centre and camp for diabetic youth. The
offer made by the town of New Tecumseth had been for it to purchase the Banting
homestead and its 40 hectares for $1 million. Next would have been the sale of
12 of the 40 hectares to Mattamy Homes, currently developing a subdivision
bordering on the southern property line of the farm.
Mattamy's plans were to use the land to build a school and park lands, and also
to donate $200,000. to the Banting Legacy Foundation. That would bring everyone
full-circle back to the carrying out of Edward's wishes and the going forward
with the camp which would have delighted the gentle-hearted Frederick.
The OHS press release states that the offer made by the town of New Tecumseth
was unacceptable to the Society, not because they failed to indicate
acknowledgment of the nephew's wishes, but because it was "less
remunerative than another offer received". They do not disclose the fact
of the other offer coming with a rumoured $2.2 million payment from Solmar
Development.
The OHS further states that the town's offer "was silent on the matter of
conservation and protection of the homestead and its buildings" and that
this "remains an issue of some concern to the OHS". You can get a
better idea of just how concerned the good folks at OHS really are about this
issue when you look at the following facts. Edward Banting has not been dead a full
decade and so the property has not been in OHS hands for a full decade and yet
OHSF president Chris Oslund insists the OHS has spent "considerable
funds" on the property during the last decade. Oslund also claims the OHSF
has laid out $35,000. to repair the porch and its roof. Toronto Sun reporter
Mark Bonokoski writes in his Wednesday December 13 column, that he saw it last
month to be "rotted and tarp-covered." That's one damn expensive
tarp, Mr. Oslund. The cost for the five-tonne commemorative rock and plaque at
the site was paid by nephew Edward, so it would seem that the OHS has a very,
very different understanding of "considerable funds" than the rest of
us do.
Selling the entire property out to a development company should certainly clear
up any lingering concerns the OHS may have over the protection of the
homestead, don't you think? Picture it. Just a year or so down the road, the
fully refurbished Banting homestead could still be standing there, right on the
very spot that Sir Frederick himself left it, but with perhaps one or two tiny
differences. The housing development wrapped all around the Banting Theme Park
and the mall abutting it won't make any great difference, will it? The nightly
search lights blazoning its existence across the celestial advertisement board
will only add to the dignity Edward sought to preserve, don't you agree?
The booths selling tiny commemorative test-tube and pancreas replicas that say
"Made in China" on the bottom will be just in the tradition of the
great doctor himself, I am sure. He is said to have loved little children, so I
can not but imagine the delighted shrieks of little kiddies riding happily
around in the pancreas-car thrill ride would gladden his spirit.
Surely the very best part of all of this will be the $2+ million nestled warm
and snug in the pockets of the not-for-profit OHS directors. Maybe they'll come
out to Banting Land for a little visit and buy a silver Islet of Langerhans on
a keychain, or a chocolate covered lab-dog candy, made peanut-free, of course,
to ensure safeguarding the best interests of the public who trust the OHS to
look after their heritage.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
There is
a gap in the information here because
the Banting family and their supporters was following a “gag” request from the
Government of Ontario negotiator, Alan Wells.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
March
25.2006
Dear
Mr. Banting,
About 25 years or so ago, I had the good fortune to view and tape a wonderful
series produced by the CBC centered on the fabulous discovery of Insulin by
Banting and Best. To my chagrin I discovered that somehow I had lost the
tape. Some Canadian friends of mine
volunteered to track down a copy for me. I was stunned to learn that no such
copy was saved; either by the CBC, the University of Toronto, or for that
matter anywhere else.
Here we have one of the great pioneers in medicine,
Fred Banting, working under the most adverse conditions,
producing the Insulin that quite literally saved the lives of millions of
diabetics across the world , seemingly unappreciated in his own country
.Banting surely rates among the great pioneers of medicine, including Fleming,
Salk, Koch, Lister etc. It seems only right that this
Canadian hero should be duly honoured in his own country, as he is so
highly respected throughout the world of medicine.
May I suggest the establishment of
a " Fred Banting Foundation " *, empowered to collect funds to be used to at the very
least save his home as a National Memorial? I do feel that generous support
would be forthcoming from the Canadian as well as the American Medical
Associations if this were brought to their attention. Furthermore, members of
your parliament, once made aware of just how truly great the
contribution was that this Canadian made to the world, must
surely respond to accord him the honours he so richly deserves. The drug companies
that produce Insulin should be approached.
I do hope that you not tire in your efforts to preserve the heritage of this
truly great man, and if I could help in any fashion I would consider
it a privilege. Please feel free to use this letter in any way that could
help support your most worthy cause.
With
best wishes, I remain, Yours sincerely,
Eli Tobias M.D, Ph.D.
Osprey , Florida , U. S. A.
* The Sir Frederick Banting Legacy
Foundation was created on November 15, 2005 to preserve the Banting Homestead,
and to establish a camp for diabetic youths on the 100 acre Homestead
property.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
For
Immediate Release - Thursday, October 21, 2004
BANTING HOMESTEAD IN STATE OF
DISREPAIR
Stratford
-- Gary Schellenberger, M.P. for Perth-Wellington and Vice Chair of the
Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage is concerned about the future of the
Banting Homestead, birthplace and childhood home of Sir Frederick Banting,
located in Alliston, Ontario. Mr.
Schellenberger toured the Banting Homestead at the request of Bob Banting of
Oakville and Doug Curwood of Stratford.
The Banting
Homestead was purchased by William Banting in 1891 and remained in the family
until the death of Edward Banting in 1999.
Edward was the last family farm resident and agreed to bequeath the
property to the Ontario Historical Society (O.H.S.) with the understanding that
the O.H.S. would preserve and maintain the homestead as a legacy for all
Canadians.
Since 1999
when the OHS assumed ownership, the homestead has fallen into a state of
disrepair and will require major financial investment to restore the property
to its original condition. Descendants
of Sir Frederick Banting feel strongly that the Ontario Historical Society has
seriously neglected their responsibilities as owner.
“I was
saddened to see the state of this property and the homestead – it’s a real
shame, considering the legacy of Sir Frederick Banting,” said
Schellenberger. “I’m committed to
helping the family in any way I can to preserve an important part of our
cultural heritage. Dr. Banting’s
extraordinary contribution to medicine is widely respected, not only in Canada,
but around the world.”
Several
months ago, an agreement was negotiated in good faith between the O.H.S. and
the Town of New Tecumseth. The O.H.S.
have since reneged on this agreement.
Mr. Schellenberger has written to the Executive Director of the O.H.S.
and strongly encouraged them to accept the agreement that was negotiated. (see attached letter)
Sir
Frederick Banting has left a memorable legacy in Canadian history. A hero in the First World War, he bravely
served our country as a doctor in a field hospital. He went on to discover insulin, which has
saved the lives of millions of people with diabetes. He was then awarded a Nobel Prize in Medicine
for his efforts, the first Canadian to receive such an honour. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Banting received a
knighthood. In a recent contest held by
the CBC, Sir Frederick Banting was voted
into the top ten “Greatest Canadians” of all time by Canadians from across the
country.
For more
information, contact:
Gary Long
Office of
Gary Schellenberger, M.P.
519-273-1400
Bob Banting
905-845-6297
Doug
Curwood
519-273-1182
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Letter to
the Ontario Historical Society
October 20,
2004
Patricia
Neal
Executive
Director
Ontario
Historical Society
34 Parkview
Avenue
Willowdale,
Ontario M2N 3Y2
Dear
Patricia:
I’m writing
to you as the Member of Parliament for Perth-Wellington and as Vice-Chair of
the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage to express my concern with the
state of the Banting Homestead, located in Alliston, Ontario.
Several
months ago, I was approached by some descendants of Sir Frederick Banting who
belong to a committee that is interested in the preservation of the Banting
Homestead. One of Dr. Banting’s
descendants happens to live in my riding.
I was informed that the Ontario Historical Society (O.H.S.) was
bequeathed the property by Edward Banting in 1999 with the understanding that
the O.H.S. would preserve and maintain it as a legacy for all Canadians.
I toured
the property and the homestead with members of the committee and several local
councillors and quite frankly, I was shocked and saddened by the state of
general disrepair and decay that I saw.
It is bewildering as to why the O.H.S, which is committed to the
promotion and preservation of Ontario history, would neglect their
responsibilities as owner. It is quite
apparent that no money has been spent on the property in several years even
though the O.H.S. has received thousands of dollars in rental income from the
farm land as well as several hundred thousand dollars in provincial government
grants.
It is my
understanding that an agreement was negotiated in good faith between the O.H.S.
and the Town of New Tecumseth, on which you have reneged.
In the
interests of Canadian heritage, Ontario history, and the 320 million people
worldwide who have diabetes and benefit from Dr. Banting’s discovery, I urge
you to consider the ramifications of the loss of this property from the public
domain. Please extend every
consideration to accepting the terms of the current 2004 agreement between the
O.H.S. and the Town of New Tecumseth.
Thank you
for your prompt attention in this matter.
Sincerely,
Original
signed by G.S.
Gary
Schellenberger, M.P.
Perth-Wellington
cc: The
Honourable Liza Frulla, Minister of Canadian Heritage
The Honourable Madeline Meilleur,
Ontario Minister of Culture
Helena Guergis, M.P. (Simcoe-Grey)
Jim
Wilson, M.P.P. (Simcoe-Grey)
John Wilkinson, M.P.P.
(Perth-Middlesex)
Ailene Carroll, M.P. (Barrie)
Belinda Stronach, M.P. (Newmarket -
Aurora)
Mayor Mike MacEachren, Town of New Tecumseth
Brian Osborne, President, O.H.S.,
Board of Directors
Peter Banting, Chair, Banting
Education Committee
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Ontario Historical Society
34 Parkview Avenue, Willowdale, Ontario M2N 3Y2
416.226.9011 VOICE 416.226.2740 FAX
11 November
2004
Gary
Schellenberger, Esq. M.P.
House of
Commons, Canada
Room D6,
Justice Building
Ottawa,
ON K1A
0A6
Dear Mr.
Schellenberger:
East
Part Lot 2, Concession 2,
Town of
New Tecumseth
(the
“Banting Lands”)
On behalf
of The Ontario Histoical Society Foundation (the “Foundation”), the owner of
the Banting Lands, receipt of your October 20 correspondence, addressed to the
Executive Director of the Ontario Historical Society (the “Society”) is
acknowledged.
It is not
the perspective of the Foundation that it has neglected its “responsibilities”
(your words) as owner of the Banting Lands.
The Foundation has endeavoured to allocate the funds that have been
available to it from an variety of sources, inclusive of funds that have been
provided to it by public authorities, to the preservation and protection of a
variety of properties in Ontario that it views as having historical
significance. The Banting Lands are regarded by the Foundation as one of such
properties, but there are many others.
You may not
be aware that the terms of the Agreement that the municipality has proposed are
conditional in nature, and that compliance with such conditions would be
entirely within the control of the municipality and beyond the ability of the
Foundation to manage or even influence.
It is the perspective of the Foundation that acceptance by it of the
Agreement that the municipality proposed would not be consistent with the
objectives of the Foundation.
The
municipality has recently written to the Society in non-specific terms to
express an interest in preseving the Banting Lands, and to request that an
opportunity be provided tor the Mayor to attend a future meeting of the
Foundation’s Board the “discuss” the Banting Lands. The Foundation has
responded by assuring the municipality that it would welcome this opportunity,
and to invite the municpality to provide written submissions at or prior to
such meeting.
You have
urged the Foundation to “… extend every consideration to accepting the terms of
the current 2004 agreement between the OHS and the Town of New Tecumseth”. It is not apparent to the Foundation that you
have been informed as to the terms the the municipality proposed, and having
regard to the circumstances, you should be aware that the perspective of the
Foundation is that such terms are not consistent with its interest or
objectives.
It is hoped
that if and when the Mayor of the municpality accepts the invitation that the
Foundation has extended, the Foundation will better understand the terms that
the muncicipality has proposed, and that matters that are of concern to the
Foundation may be resolved.
Sincerely,
The Ontario Historical Society
Foundation
Original
signed by:
Patricia K.
Neal
Executive
Director
cc: The Honourable Madeline Meilleur,
Ontario Minister of Culture
Helena Guergis, M.P. (Simcoe-Grey)
Jim Wilson, M.P.P. (Simcoe-Grey)
Mayor Mike MacEachern, Town of New
Tecumseth
____________________________________________________________________
NEWS RELEASE
Helena Guergis, MP
Simcoe-Grey
GUERGIS CONCERNED WITH STATE OF
BANTING HOMESTEAD - October 19, 2004
October 21, 2004 – Alliston – Helena Guergis, the
Member of Parliament is deeply concerned with the preservation and maintenance
of the Banting Homestead which is now in the hands of the Ontario Historical
Society.
The Banting Homestead was purchased by William Banting
in 1891 and remained in the family until the death of Edward Banting in 1999.
Edward was the last family farm resident and agreed to bequeath the property to
the Ontario Historical Society (O.H.S.) with the understanding that the O.H.S.
would preserve and maintain the homestead as a legacy for all Canadians. Since
1999 when the O.H.S. assumed ownership, the homestead has fallen into a state
of disrepair and will require major financial investment to restore the
property to its original condition.
“I am very concerned with the state of disrepair of
Sir Frederick Banting’s Homestead. This building serves as a memorable chapter
in Canadian History,” said Helena Guergis. “I have met with my colleague Gary
Schellenberger, MP for Perth-Wellington and will work with him and Bob Banting
to ensure that we preserve this tremendous piece of history. I will also work with
the Township of New Tecumseth, my counterpart Jim Wilson, MPP and the residents
in Simcoe Grey to ensure the homestead of Sir Frederick Banting lives
forever."
Sir Frederick Banting served our country in World War
One as a doctor in a field hospital. He is responsible for the invention of
insulin which has saved millions of lives. He was then awarded a Nobel Prize in
Medicine for his efforts and shortly after received a knighthood.
For more
information, please contact
George Sardelis
1-866-435-1809
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Press release - Sir
Frederick Banting Educational Committee For Immediate Release
Cash-strapped OHS Plans to Sell Historical Property
Experiencing financial difficulties, the Ontario Historical Society (OHS)
is planning to sell off the Alliston birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting, the
discoverer of Insulin.
The 100-acre farm, home, barn and outbuildings
were all bequeathed to the OHS five years ago by Edward Knight Banting, the
last Banting to work the farm. As a
person interested in archaeology, genealogy, and the medical accomplishments of
his uncle Fred, Edward gave the property to the OHS with the intention that it
would be maintained, preserved, protected, and promoted as a place of
historical significance to Ontario, to Canada, and indeed to the World.
Before his death, in discussions with the OHS,
Edward felt confident that the OHS would fulfill these expectations. According to a recent statement by the OHS
president, Brian S. Osborne, the mandate for the OHS still is “protection of
our collective memory and shared heritage.”
But this seems not to be the case with the Banting homestead.
During the five years it has been owned by the
OHS, the buildings have been allowed to deteriorate. The homestead roof leaks; and the house is
not insured. No one lives on the property
to supervise its upkeep. It is at risk
of vandalism.
On the property is an octagonal driving shed:
one of only three remaining in Ontario.
Its roof is leaking to the extent that part of this historic building
has collapsed. The original hen house is
beyond repair.
Income to the OHS from a local farmer who
works the Banting farm is more than adequate to pay taxes, utilities,
insurance, and to keep the buildings in good repair. Yet, during the past five years, the
buildings have been degraded. Our
“shared heritage” has been given short shrift by the OHS.
OHS attributes their financial hardships,
among other things, to the cost of their defence of cemeteries in rural areas
and small communities against the threats of urban expansion. On the other hand, the historic Banting farm
is likely to be destroyed by being sold to developers, if the OHS uses it as a
cash cow.
Their intention to sell surfaced soon after
they were given title to the property. This was evident both in public speeches
by OHS executives and in face to face communication among OHS representatives,
Alliston’s mayors and councillors, and concerned members of the Banting family.
About a year ago, in an attempt to save the
property from being sold, New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern initiated talks
with the OHS to arrive at a compromise solution. On two occasions, a deal was verbally agreed,
in which 70 acres would be returned to Alliston for historical non-profit
purposes and the 30 most marketable acres would be severed for eventual sale by
the OHS. The Sir Frederick Banting Educational Committee planned to eventually
create a Camp for Diabetic Youths on the remaining 70 acres.
According to New Tecumseth CAO Terri Caron,
“the basic terms of the agreement were acceptable to OHS and only minor issues
involving wording changes would have been required as a result of their legal
review…”
OHS reneged on October 4, 2004, saying that
their Ontario Historical Society Foundation “will pursue other options.” Given their current financial “crisis,” as
OHS President Brian Osborne describes their situation in an October 8, 2004
letter to OHS life-members, their intention is pretty obvious.
The Sir Frederick Banting Educational
Committee urges Alliston area real estate brokers not to participate in this
potential sell-off of the historically significant birthplace of Sir Frederick
Grant Banting. Committee chair, Dr.
Peter Banting, Emeritus Professor of Marketing at McMaster University, states:
“It is a curious anomaly that while the CBC is currently blitzing us with
programs about the ten Greatest Canadians
-- and Fred Banting is one of the ten
-- his Alliston birthplace faces the imminent risk of being destroyed by
an organization that avows preservation of history.”
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Banting Homestead Background……… For Immediate Release
Canadian historical site and futurecamp for diabetic
youth could be lost
A national historic
treasure known to millions of people around the world could be lost. The birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting,
located in Alliston, Town of New Tecumseth, north west of Toronto, is in
trouble. The Ontario Historical Society
(OHS) owns the Banting homestead. The
home and buildings on the farm where Fred Banting was born are deteriorating
and threatened with destruction because of the inaction of the Ontario
Historical Society, which was entrusted with the mandate to protect and
preserve this vital piece of Ontario's history.
Major
(Doctor) Sir Frederick Grant Banting had an idea that resulted in the discovery
of insulin. Canada’s first Nobel Prize
winner, Frederick Banting was born on this farm on November 14th 1891. The dramatic discovery immediately saved many
lives. Some diabetics were literally
plucked from their deathbeds. More lives
have been saved by insulin than were lost in both world wars. Today diabetics, worldwide, enjoy a normal
quality of life.
Plans
to turn the farm where Dr. Frederick Banting was born into a camp for diabetic
children could be scrapped. With
diabetes on the increase and an acute shortage of space in diabetic camps this
will be a tragic loss.
Diabetic Focus
November
14th is Fred Banting’s birthday.
It is also World Diabetes Day as proclaimed by the World Health
Organization and the International Diabetes Federation. More than 350 million people worldwide
celebrate World Diabetes Day --
Diabetic
people, doctors, scientists, historians, and ordinary people who have an
interest in things uniquely Canadian, visit the Banting homestead by following
the blue historical site signs in Alliston, Ontario. They are on a quest to visit Banting’s
birthplace because they want to be close to the spot where one of Canada’s
Greatest Canadians was born. The state
of deterioration of the farm suggests to the people who visit there from all
parts of the world that no one cares about this important piece of Canada’s
heritage. The OHS has not kept its promise to maintain and preserve this site.
Significance of the Farm
Fred’s birthplace played an
important role in the discovery of insulin. The Banting homestead, called
Ballyfin because of the Banting family roots in Ireland, contains about 100
acres of the most fertile soil in the South Simcoe County. Hence, the farm always prospered while Fred
Banting grew up there. Since Fred was
not paid when he was working on his idea, his family used the profits from the
farm and loaned him money to continue his research work at the University of
Toronto
Further, in Fred’s own words from
his Cameron Prize Lecture at the University of Edinburgh in 1927 “Having been born and raised on the farm, and
being familiar with stock-breeding, I knew that cattle are frequently bred
before fattening in order to make them better feeders. There would therefore be plenty of foetal
calves available at the abattoirs. The
next morning at nine o’clock, having obtained sterile instruments and
containers, Mr. Best and I proceeded to the abattoir where we obtained the
pancreases of nine foetal calves varying from three to four months’ gestation.”
This led to the large-scale production of insulin. Insulin was produced from
cattle pancreas for many years.
The Homestead is a model for
Canada’s rich farming history. The farm
buildings are unique in construction, including an exclusive octagonal
implement shed and these should be preserved for historical reasons. The farm’s fertile land needs to be
protected from encroaching housing developments. So much of Canada’s good farmland is being
lost this way. A diabetic camp, using a
farm theme would preserve the land and the buildings.
When Fred was growing up he hunted
and found Paleo artefacts on the property. He had a spectacular collection on
display at his home in Toronto. No doubt
this was the start of his interest in native Canadian culture. Later Banting family members including Fred’s
nephew, Edward Banting, found and mapped the fields where these and new artefacts
were found. Interest in all of this
resulted in an archaeological dig on a nearby drumlin hill. Dr. Peter Storch from the Royal Ontario
Museum excavated the site from 1973 to 1975 and produced a technical report on
his research.
A Military
Hero
Sir Frederick Banting served his
county in both world wars. When he
returned home to the farm at the end of the Great War he had been decorated
with the Military Cross for continuing to provide medical treatment to the
wounded while he himself was wounded. He
nearly lost his arm. But by using a
special self-treatment he saved his own arm.
Sadly Sir Frederick Banting died in
service of his county in a warplane crash in Newfoundland on February 21,
1941. There is Memorial Park and
Interpretation Center in Musgrave Harbour Newfoundland dedicated to this tragic
story.
Edward
Knight Banting
Edward Banting, the last Banting to
own the farm, set up a museum in the front parlour of his farmhouse and eagerly
gave information on the Banting legacy to the tourists who visited the
site. He did this for many years and
kept notes on all of these visitors. He
was a full time farmer and a part time Banting historian and genealogist. Fred Banting was Edward’s uncle.
The farm called Ballyfin remained in
the family for many years. On September
14, 1975 a cairn was erected at the front of the Banting homestead. Edward and his wife Louise Banting, the South
Simcoe Historical Association, with assistance from Essa Township, established
the permanent memorial at the front of the farm. The cairn, which is a huge,
five-ton granite ball, symbolizing the enormous impact the discovery of insulin
has had on the world, holds a small bronze plaque that shows a picture of the
old farmhouse where Fred was born. The
plaque beside the large stone ball holds a message that reads:
BIRTHPLACE OF SIR FREDERICK BANTING
Frederick Grant Banting, discoverer of insulin, was born November 14, 1891, on the original Banting homestead immediately behind this Cairn. In this quiet rural environment he gained a deep understanding of the ways of nature. From his parents he learned inquisitiveness, resourcefulness, persistence, sincerity and true godliness. Always fond of dogs during his boyhood Dr. Banting was later to experiment with these animals in the discovery of insulin. Life and hope resulted for diabetics around the world. Died February 21st, 1941 in Newfoundland. Erected with the assistance of Essa Township. Simcoe County Historical Association, 1975.
The Intention of Edward’s Bequest
In
1968, an Allistonian and historian, Burton Ford, at Edward Banting’s request,
introduced Edward to the Ontario Historical Society. Today, Mr. Ford is retired. He taught history
at the Banting Memorial High School.
Burton Ford and Edward Banting served on local historical
societies. They became very close
friends when they served on the Essa Historical Society. The Banting homestead was located in Essa
Township at this time. Burton, who
refers to Edward as Ed, was very aware that Edward wanted to preserve the
Banting Homestead and the legacy of his uncle, Frederick Banting. We have letters and a taped interview with
Burton that confirm all of this.
Helen
Jackson (nee Banting), who was Edward’s oldest sister, has passed on. But long before this she also did an
interview. She clearly indicated the
Edward wanted the farm preserved as an historical site.
Many other of Edward’s relatives say the same
thing. Some of them are: Howard Banting
of Toronto. Sister Marie Shields from
Barrie. Daughter Marie Haines from
Barrie. Edward and Louise Banting’s own notes, articles in the local
newspapers, clearly show what they wanted to happen to the farm.
Ontario Historical Society (OHS) Involvement
Beginning
is 1979 and continuing over the years, several representatives of the Ontario
Historical Society were invited by Edward Banting to visit the farm and discuss
its future. These included Presidents
Gerald Killan, Douglas Leighton, John Bonser, Heather Broadbent, and staff
members Ernest Buchner and Dorothy Duncan. Clearly Edward was concerned about
the future long-range use of the property given its historical
significance.
So,
in 1988 Edward Banting quietly signed his last Will and donated his beloved
farm to the Ontario Historical Society.
Edward who conducted most of his business with a handshake put his
complete trust in the Ontario Historical Society. He trusted them to do the right thing with
Sir Frederick Banting’s birthplace.
Edward
Knight Banting started showing the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease in late
1992. Sadly, he died on November 29,
1998. Edward’s estate was closed in
September of 1999 and title to the farm was conveyed to the OHS, according to
his bequest. During the later half of 1999 meetings were conducted in Alliston
that gave all concerned a clear indication that Edward had done the right
thing.
OHS Inactivity
But
as time went by and despite a great deal of lobbying nothing was happening The
farm buildings have only received minimal-stop gap maintenance and have slowly
decayed. Today the unique octagonal
implement shed is beyond repair. The hen
house has been destroyed and the roof of the house is leaking. The farm is terrible shape.
The land is rented out to
a local farm and the income received by the OHS is estimated to be greater than
$8,000. each year; but little of this has been used to maintain the property.
In
Allison Ontario, which is part of the Town of New Tecumseth, a strong local
group called the Sir Frederick Banting Educational Committee is attempting to
foster the correct use of the Fred Banting birthplace. This Committee was founded in 1995 but over
the years if has been frustrated by the lack of interest in maintaining the
site. Many attempts to set up corrective
action by relatives and the Committee have failed.
Sadly,
it is clear that the OHS intends to sell all or most of the Banting farm. In
the fall of 2003, after this sad state of affairs was published in the media
the Mayor of New Tecumseth, Mike MacEachern started brokering a deal with the
OHS to have the historic site returned to local control. The Mayor and his team succeeded. A verbal agreement was completed to return 70
to 80 percent of the property to local control. The new deal was to be finalized
in meetings beginning on October 13th2004. The Town spent a
significant amount of time and money to do this. The Sir Frederick Banting Educational
Committee worked closely with the Town of New Tecumseth to expedite this
arrangement.
Sir Frederick Banting Educational Committee Involvement
The Sir Frederick Banting Educational
Committee, which, among other activities, has mounted successful Sir Frederick
Banting Days (with lectures, exhibits and a banquet) each November in Alliston
for the past nine years, wishes to preserve the historic Banting homestead and
farm for the benefit of all Canadians in the future. In this endeavour, the committee has the
support of a large number of Alliston citizens, several MPPs and MPs, close
Banting family members and relatives, and many people and organizations at
large who are interested in Fred Banting's legacy and who hope to beat
diabetes.
To this end, the Sir Frederick
Banting Educational Committee is working toward the establishment of a
not-for-profit charitable organization that will be called the "Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation."
Our goals follow:
To raise
funds for the repair, restoration and maintenance of the Banting homestead and
outbuildings in the town of New Tecumseth, province of Ontario, so that it may
be used as a focal point for historical research and dissemination of
information related to Canada's first Nobel Prize Winner, Dr. Frederick Grant
Banting, for education of the Canadian public about diabetes and related
medical conditions, and eventually as a summer camp for education of children
and youths who have diabetes and to help them adapt to living with their
disease and self-medication through socialization with similarly afflicted
peers.
OHS Renegs
on Deal
Sadly, we have just received word
that the OHS has backed out of a deal that the Town of New
Tecumseth has been working on for about year. Signs announcing
a public information meeting were posted on the property. The Mayor
of New Tecumseth, Mike MacEachern is very frustrated at the moment as the
Town spent a lot of time and money on this process. The Town revised the deal many times at
the request of the OHS. We understand that the
OHS pulled out of the deal at the last minute and intends to proceed with the
sale of the property in other ways.
We
all fear that this important part of Canadian history will now be lost.
The Society may try to leave a small part of the farm around where the
buildings are located but a lot of public money would be required to support
this. This would also end plans to turn
the site into a camp for diabetic children. There is a great need for
this type of camp near Toronto. Other camps can only be used for 2 of 3
months of the year. The Banting site is an easy day trip from Toronto.
A
token amount of land and the deteriorated buildings would require a lot of
pubic money to be made presentable. So over time we feel that this option
will fail too. The birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting certainly will be
lost if any of the property is sold to a developer.
This
story is all about trust. Edward trusted
the OHS to do the right thing to preserve this important part of International
History. But it is clear that the OHS
has a different agenda. If the OHS sells
the farm, this important part of Canadian history will be lost forever.
The Sir Frederick Banting
Educational Committee and many relatives and historians quest to preserve the
Banting homestead for all Canadian to enjoy in the future. This only will be accomplished when the OHS
turns over the farm to a trusted local organization.
But we will need help to do
this. If you would like to help the
Committee achieve its goals please contact us at: info@banting.ca
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Pictures of the Banting Homestead Alliston, Town of
New Tecumseth
Future of old Banting home
queried
HANK DANISZEWSKI, Free Press
Reporter 2004-10-25 02:19:36
Descendants
of Sir Frederick Banting warn his boyhood home near Alliston is falling into
ruin and may be sold off to developers. The warning comes at a time when the
London-linked discoverer of insulin is a leading contender for title of The
Greatest Canadian in a CBC-TV contest.
Doug
Curwood of Stratford said the home of his great-uncle is falling apart. And he
fears the current owner, the Ontario Historical Society (OHS), is considering
selling the property to developers.
Curwood
said millions of diabetics like himself are alive because of Banting's research
and his unselfish decision to sell off the rights for $1 to make insulin widely
available.
"He
is possibly the greatest Canadian ever born and his farm could be sold by a
historical society. How stupid is that?" said Curwood.
Banting
developed the idea for insulin while practising medicine in London and was the
first Canadian to be awarded a Nobel Prize.
His home
on Adelaide Street in London has been preserved as a museum and historic site.
The
Alliston-area farm where Banting was born and spent his boyhood years stayed in
the family until 1999, when his descendant Edward Banting died and left the
property to the historical society.
Bob
Banting of Oakville, another great-nephew of Frederick Banting, said the place
is in "awful" condition because the society has done little to
maintain it, despite getting income from renting the farmland.
Bob
Banting said the barn and a rare octagonal drive shed are both falling apart
and there are holes in the roof of the two-storey farmhouse.
"I
had a chap from China up there with me once and he said, 'In my country this
would be a shrine.' "
Banting
said the farmstead played a role in the discovery of insulin because his
great-uncle picked up the basics of biology by working with farm animals. The
family's farm income also helped Banting survive when he was doing his
research.
"He
didn't have a dime when he lived in London and Toronto so it was the money his
family made on the farm that kept him going," said Banting.
Perth-Wellington
MP Gary Schellenberger, vice-chairperson of parliament's heritage committee,
recently toured the Banting farm with Curwood.
He sent a
strongly-worded protest letter to the society:
"I
was shocked and saddened by the state of general disrepair.
"It
is bewildering why the Ontario Historical Society . . . would neglect their
responsibilities."
Society
executive director Patricia Neal denies the Banting farmstead is in disrepair.
She said the society has invested in a new furnace and roof repairs and a
neighbour looks after maintenance.
Neal noted
the original Banting farmhouse was demolished in the 1920s and another
reconstructed on the same site.
Copyright © The London Free
Press 2001,2002,2003
Helena Guergis, MP
Simcoe-Grey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 27, 2004
MP,
MPP, MAYOR AND BOB BANTING HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE TO PRESERVE SIR FREDERICK
BANTING’S HOMESTEAD
Alliston – Helena
Guergis, MP for Simcoe Grey along with Jim Wilson, MPP Simcoe Grey, Mayor Mike
MacEachern of the Town of New Tecumseth and Bob Banting, Honourary Chair of the
Sir Frederick Banting Educational Committee will be holding a press conference
to discuss the fate of the Banting Homestead.
The property, located
in the Town of New Tecumseth is currently owned by the Ontario Historical
Society (OHS). Edward Banting, a
descendent of Sir Frederick Banting willed the property to OHS after his
passing in 1999, with the intention that the property would be maintained and
preserved. However, since 1999 the property has severely deteriorated and is in
desperate need of repair.
“The preservation and
maintenance of the Sir Frederick Banting Homestead located in Alliston is very
important to me and my constituents,” said Helena Guergis. “I am committed to assisting the OHS and the
Town of New Tecumseth in developing a solution to preserve the property.”
“It is has come to my
attention that the OHS has not adequately maintained the Sir Frederick Banting
property and is considering selling to developers,” said Jim Wilson. “I encourage the OHS to work with the Town of
New Tecumseth to find a way to preserve this important piece of history.”
Helena Guergis, MP
and Jim Wilson, MPP have both written the OHS and provided information on
Federal and Provincial programs to assist in saving the homestead.
On July 26, 2004, an
agreement between the OHS and the Town of New Tecumseth had been proposed which
would have conveyed 70 acres of the property to the Town for public use and
would allow the OHS to retain 30 acres.
This proposal was prepared in an effort to preserve the homestead. However, the agreement was rejected by the
OHS.
"The Town of New Tecumseth has tried and will continue
to try to assist in ensuring that the Banting property is used for purposes
that recognize the important contribution Frederick Banting made, not only to
the local area but to the world,” said Mayor Mike MacEachern. “Banting truly is the greatest
Canadian."
“Five years
ago, my cousin Edward Knight Banting donated his beloved farm to the Ontario
Historical Society (OHS) so that it would be protected,” said Bob Banting.
“During this time they have not made any long term plans for the future use of
the Banting Homestead. They have made no
attempt to raise any funds to protect and preserve this important heritage
site. Very little of the money that they
receive from the rental of the rich farmland has been ploughed back into the
farm. The buildings are in ruin. Five is
years is more than enough time to make plans to do good things with the Banting
homestead. It is clear that the OHS has
no intention of following their mandate.”
The details of the
press conference are as follows:
DATE - Friday October 29, 2004
TIME - 4:00 pm
LOCATION- Sir Frederick Banting Homestead –
5116 Sir Frederick BantingRoad
Off of Highway 89, Alliston
For
more information, please contact
George Sardelis
705-627-3864
New Tecumseth Free Press Online -
Copyright - October 30, 2004
Tony Veltri
Wilson ready to use legislative
powers to block Banting sale
Simcoe Grey
MPP Jim Wilson told local press gathered outside the Sir Frederick Banting
homestead Friday afternoon that he is prepared, as a last resort, to introduce
a Private Member's Bill to block any sale of the property by the Ontario
Historical Society (OHS) to development interests.
The Ontario government is
the number one financial contributor to the OHS so there's certainly a financial
lever there to get the society to take a little more interest in this property.
I think over $250,000 was their grant last year. They claim to have spent some
of that money on this property, but there seems to be very little evidence any
of that money was spent on this property. So we need to get to the bottom of
that," said Mr. Wilson. "I'll introduce a Private Members bill If I
have to, to preserve this property. And I can't see any Member of Provincial
Parliament voting against it. They'd be crazy. They would never win again in
rural Ontario and they'd be a disgrace to the research community and all the
good work for the millions of people that have been saved of diabetes."
The OHS was bequeathed the
100 acre site in 1999 via Edward Banting, the last family member to own the
property where his uncle Fred was born, November 14, 1891.
Last month, the OHS backed
out of what the mayor of New Tecumseth termed Friday as, "more than a
tentative deal," which would have turned 70 acres of the property over to
the Town, while the remaining 30 acres would be permitted to be sold by the
OHS. But New Tecumseth would hold the first right of refusal.
Since then, the bandwagon
to keep the homestead from falling out of public ownership has grown to include
Mr. Wilson, and Simcoe Grey MP Helena Guergis.
Bob Banting, honourary
chair of the Banting Education Committee told the same press conference Friday
that his family have lobbied the OHS for the past five years to act on
implementing Edward's wishes for the property.
"And it wasn't a
surprise to any of us when it was confirmed that he donated his beloved farm to
the Ontario Historical Society to be protected in an historical manner.
However, that was five years ago, and five years is long enough to make plans
to protect the property. So over the years, the family has watched the farm
gradually decay to the point where it is today. And there's no evidence from
the historical society. No plans. They have not taken any opportunity to go
into a process that will raise funds. Even in the face of this when the family
has approached the society on a number of occasions to try and lobby their
support of the farm it was pretty clear that while they were interested, he
appeared to be somewhat distant about the whole thing. We have tried to get the
society interested in this. They seldom visit here. We're just getting the
impression that they're really not interested in protecting this site and we're
very concerned that it will be lost. Lost to Canadians and the legacy that will
be lost to this area forever," said Mr. Banting. "I don't think you
have to have a lot of boiler plate around (Edward's Will) to describe a
donation from a person that was an avid historian and dedicated to the family
legacy. You don't need a whole of bunch of papers to say exactly what he wanted
to do with it when he donates his farm. We've got all sorts of records to show
what he wanted."
Mr. MacEachern said the
Town will continue to press the case to the OHS, and has requested to meet with
the full board to discuss the issue.
"There are some
thoughts that maybe the Town is trying to make some kind of financial gain from
this property. That's completely false. The Town has the resources to assist
and try to move the property into the ownership of a group that really wants to
maintain it and care for it and utilize it to recognize the important work Sir
Frederick Banting did. We have endeavored to do that over the past couple of
years and have actually invested a significant amount of our staff's time and legal
time in coming up with agreements that have since been rejected," said the
mayor. "Both from the Town and also from the (Banting) family and the
education committee is to try and preserve the entire 100 acres. Our deal with
the OHS was predicated with trying to save the majority of the property and
that at some point in the future, try to get the remainder of the property. But
it was quite clear from the beginning of this process with the OHS that there
was a need to develop some kind of financial gain from the property in some
way."
Ms. Guergis said she's
hopeful the growing lobby effort to save the property will lead to an
"open dialogue" with the OHS.
"I have a great sense of pride having lived in the riding for many
years, and I think it is a great shame that this has continued to
deteriorate," she said. "To not have this historical site here in the
country for all Canadians to show respect too, I think that we all have a
responsibility to work hard to make sure this is preserved."
Alliston
Herald November 3, 2004
Banting
supporters come out swinging
Jason
Ballantyne
Simcoe-Grey's MPP is threatening to introduce legislation to protect the house
in Alliston where Sir Frederick Banting was born.
Jim Wilson
(PC) made the comment in front of the Banting homestead last Friday afternoon.
He was joined by
his federal counterpart, MP Helena Guergis, (CPC), New Tecumseth Mayor Mike
MacEachern and Banting's great-nephew Bob Banting.
The quartet was
making a public show of its displeasure at how the Ontario Historical Society
has managed the property since it was bequeathed by Edward Banting after he
died in 1998.
While New Tecumseth
is insisting it entered into an agreement with the OHS to obtain control of the
property, the OHS is insisting there was never an agreement made.
"We need to
get the OHS' heart into this," Wilson said.
At issue is the
fate of the 100-acre Banting homestead just north of Alliston on the 3rd Line
of Essa.
The home is now unoccupied,
but the OHS does get some income from it in the form of a local farmer who
works the land.
Critics say the
property has fallen into disrepair with holes in the roof of the house. The
state of the homestead is in great contrast to the house in London, Ontario
where he later lived. That home has been turned into a museum and historic
site.
However, according
to Pat Neal, executive director for the OHS, the society has maintained the
property.
Those who toured
the property last Friday afternoon strongly disagree.
Wilson said
there is very little evidence of any money being spent on the property's
upkeep. Sagging and crumbling outbuildings and holes in the roof of the house
were pointed out by Bob Banting, while he gave the politicians a tour.
Wilson said
he has spoken to the Liberal minister of culture, MPP Madeleine Meilleur, and
said he was told she would do everything she could to help save the property.
Failing that,
Wilson said he would bring out the big guns.
"I'll
enter a Private Member's Bill if I have to," he said.
Both Guergis
and Wilson said there are several federal and provincial programs the OHS could
apply to including the Trillium Foundation.
"I think
the McGuinty government is very interested (in preserving the site),"
Wilson said.
The province
is the single largest contributor of funds to the OHS, a significant lever the
province could use in dealing with the OHS, Wilson said.
Bob Banting
said the OHS has had five years to come up with a plan to protect the property
or raise funds for it. Neither of those things have been done, he said.
"We're
very concerned it will be lost," Banting said. "There are many ways
we can work with the society to close the gap but we haven't been able to do
that over the last five years."
MacEachern
said the town would like to see all 100 acres protected.
Guergis
pointed out that in addition to being the co-discoverer of insulin, Banting
also served in the First World War.
Protecting
the homestead would be a way for Canadians to say thank you, she said.
Copyright Alliston Herald
Banting's neglected homestead
Peter M. Banting
National Post
November 2, 2004
ANCASTER, Ont. - Sir Frederick Grant Banting is one of
the Top 10 in the CBC's Greatest Canadian contest. Although he always had a
sense of fun, Fred wouldn't have welcomed this sort of publicity. He was a
modest man. After his discovery of insulin in the winter of 1921-22 brought him
worldwide prominence, he often identified himself simply as Mr. Grant, to avoid
attention. Humility is a typically Canadian characteristic, and Fred was a
typically Canadian Canadian. Perhaps our Greatest Canadian. I think so, anyway.
How many of the 10 selected Greatest Canadians were
born and grew up on a farm near a little town?
How many served in both the First Great War and the
Second World War? How many were awarded the Military Cross for heroism, or died
in service of their country?
How many saved, not only the lives of their fellow
Canadians, but also the lives of some 200 million globally since 1923? (Today,
another 220 million have diabetes; by 2030, 366 million people will be
afflicted).
How many have had a township named after them (in the
District of Nipissing, Ont.), or a river (Banting Creek in Kootenay, B.C.) or
two lakes (one near Musgrave Harbour, Nfld., the other in the Mackenzie River
system, N.W.T.), not to mention research institutes in Toronto and Ottawa and
several schools? How many have their names on streets in most Canadian towns,
and on some in the United States? Or even have a crater on the moon's surface
bearing their name?
How many headed a team to create the world's first
flight suit to prevent pilots from blacking out during rapid acceleration? How
many of our Greatest Canadians have been honoured with a knighthood? Or with a
Nobel Prize (Canada's first)?
How many, after creating a drug that would earn
billions of dollars, would accept no remuneration and sell the patent for one
dollar to make certain that it would be available and affordable to all who
needed it?
These are the qualities of a truly great Canadian.
I am not alone in considering him our Greatest
Canadian. Every year, people from all walks of life make a pilgrimage to
Alliston, Ont., to set foot on the ground where Fred used to feed the hens,
stack hay, tend cattle and find 10,000-year-old paleo-Indian artifacts. Some of
the visitors have survived the killer disease diabetes because of Fred's
discovery of insulin. Others are interested in Canadian history.
Unfortunately, the farm where Fred grew up, just
outside of Alliston, has been slowly declining over the past five years.
The last Banting to live on the farm was Edward Knight
Banting. Like his Uncle Fred, Edward was a generous man. After discussions with
the Ontario Historical Society, Edward was satisfied that the OHS would
preserve and protect the 100-acre Banting farm and its buildings for the
benefit of future generations. In his will, he bequeathed the historic site to
the OHS. That was five years ago.
Since then, despite substantial revenue from the
farmer who rents and works that land, the OHS has done little to protect the
property. The roof of the farmhouse has been leaking for two years. The
henhouse is beyond repair. And the unique octagonal driving shed (the only one
remaining of three in Ontario) is collapsing. One visitor from overseas
exclaimed: "In my country, this would be a shrine!"
The Sir Frederick Banting Educational Committee
(SFBEC) is a charitable organization that has been promoting Fred's ideas for
more than a decade. A year ago, SFBEC's concerns about the deterioration of the
Banting Homestead stimulated the Mayor of New Tecumseth -- which includes
Alliston -- to begin meetings with the OHS. An agreement was negotiated in good
faith that two parcels of land would be created out of the 100-acre property.
OHS would retain the most saleable 30 acres and donate
the remaining 70 acres and buildings back to SFBEC. This not-for-profit
committee would ensure the maintenance of the homestead, and pursue its
long-term plan of using the homestead and property as a camp for diabetic young
people.
Unfortunately, on Oct. 4, Patricia Neal, the executive
director of the OHS, sent a letter reneging on the deal that OHS and the town
had agreed to. Terri Caron, a Town of New Tecumseth official, reported that
"the basic terms of the agreement were acceptable to OHS and only minor
issues involving wording changes would have been required as a result of their
legal review ..."
Today the property languishes under the danger of
being sold by OHS to a developer. So much for a shrine, let alone a simple,
well-maintained farm homestead. This is the birthplace of a person whose idea
became one of the greatest medical discoveries in the world. A vacant,
dilapidated building marked by a five-tonne sphere and a historical plaque at
the side of a little-travelled street in rural Ontario, named "Sir
Frederick Banting Road."
Maybe this too is typically Canadian.
© National
Post 2004
November 2, 2004
WILSON CONTINUES FIGHT TO SAVE BANTING HOMESTEAD
QUEEN'S
PARK - Simcoe-Grey PC MPP Jim Wilson continued the fight to save the homestead
of Sir Frederick Banting earlier this afternoon.
The
homestead, located in Alliston Ontario is where Sir Banting did some of his
earliest experiments that later led to his groundbreaking discovery of insulin.
Edward Banting, the last of the family to live on the property bequeathed the
property to the Ontario Historical Society (OHS) with the understanding that
they would preserve and maintain it for years to come. However, the OHS has
allowed this historic landmark to fall into disrepair and speculation that they
might sell the property for development continues to grow.
Earlier
this afternoon Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson discussed the issue of the Banting
Homestead with the Minister of Culture, the Honourable Madeline Meilleur. The
Minister agreed to convene a meeting with Mr. Wilson, New Tecumseth Mayor Mike
MacEachern, MP Helena Guergis, Bob Banting of the Sir Frederick Banting
Educational Committee, and representatives from the Ontario Historical Society
to talk about the property's future.
Mr.
Wilson also introduced a petition in the Legislature calling upon the
government to preserve this historic site. Further, he has prepared a Private
Members' Bill to use only as a last resort if the government takes no further
action to protect the birthplace of this famous Canadian.
"This matter deserves our immediate
attention and I am pleased that the Minister has recognized our efforts. It is
imperative that we protect this site as it serves as a reminder of the
importance of Sir Frederick Banting and his contributions to the world."
Alliston
Herald – Copyright – November 10, 2004
OHS
threatens Banting with trespassing charge
Sandy Poitras
A press conference held at the birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting Oct. 29
didn't sit well with the Ontario Historical Society (OHS), which owns the
unoccupied property on the 3rd Line of Essa, north of Alliston.
In
a letter to Robert Banting, OHS lawyer Ronald Chisholm said after being
consulted by the Foundation about the matter he spoke to the executive
assistant to Simcoe-Grey MP Helena Guergis to confirm the meeting took place on
the land.
"He
has further informed me that you entered onto the Banting Lands and even into
one or more buildings (without authorization by the OHS)."
The
conference was attended by Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson (PC), MP Helena Guergis
(CPC), New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern and Sir Frederick Banting's
great-nephew Bob Banting. All would like to see the OHS make an effort to
preserve the 100-acre homestead of the co-discoverer of insulin, which critics
say has fallen into disrepair. Wilson has said he would go as far as introducing
legislation to protect the house.
"You
are reminded that the Banting Lands are private property, of which the
Foundation is the owner," Chisholm stated in the letter. He concluded with
a warning that the foundation will take legal action if any trespassing takes
place in the future.
"It's
no surprise to me that the (Ontario Historical) Society lowers itself to this
level. They're so far away from (the issue) that they're prepared to take
shots," said Banting in response to the letter.
He
added the letter incorrectly states that he went into the buildings. "I
don't have keys to the buildings and I never have. We walked down the centre
(lane between the buildings) and did what a normal tourist would do." (The
site is marked with signs indicating to the public that it is an historic
site.)
Constituency
assistant to Guergis, George Sardelis, said nobody entered the buildings nor
did he tell Chisholm that anyone entered the buildings.
"We
didn't walk into any buildings. I had in no way indicated that we went into the
buildings. That (part of the letter stating someone from Guergis' office said
the buildings were entered) is completely made up."
Sardelis
said he was contacted by Chisholm before the press conference and was warned
the foundation would press charges of trespassing should anyone walk on the
property.
Sardelis
passed the warning on to those involved, but all felt the conference at the
property was still warranted.
"This
was an open invitation. The OHS was invited," said Sardelis, who referred
Chisholm to the House of Commons legal department.
Banting
said he is not troubled by Chisholm's letter and plans to send a reply
clarifying the incorrect part about entering the buildings. He said members of
the Banting family have copies Chisholm's letter and are offering their support
for the homestead.
"It
(the letter) only serves to strengthen our resolve to fix this (property)
up," said Banting.
MacEachern
said the letter was a "jaw dropper" considering the time and effort
the town and its staff have made to work with the OHS in finding a solution
that works for all the parties involved.
"The
town has no financial stake in this. We just want to work with the OHS to
protect the property for the benefit of everyone,'" MacEachern said.
The
homestead was bequeathed by Edward Banting to the OHS after his death in 1998.
Simcoe-Grey
MPP Jim Wilson is still in the process of setting up a meeting between all the
parties with a stake in the property and its future, including the province,
the town and the OHS.
No date for that meeting has been set.
Alliston
Herald - Copyright
Editorial
November
10, 2004
Cheap Shot
If there was any doubt there's a definite rift between the Ontario
Historical Society and those fighting to preserve a local historic landmark, it
was highlighted by a letter distributed to New Tecumseth council at its meeting
Monday night.
It was presented to council by the recipient Bob Banting, descendent of
Alliston native and great Canadian doctor, Sir Frederick Banting, co-discover
of insulin. The letter was from the historical society's legal beagles and
informed him that he, and others who participated in a press conference at the
old Banting homestead just outside of Alliston were trespassing when they did
so.
The
group had gathered to share concerns over the dilapidated state of the property
and what they feel is the OHS's neglect of what should be a National Historic
Site.
The
irony is that the letter from the OHS legal team was received on the very eve
of the airing of a CBC documentary about Sir Frederick Banting as part of its
search for The Greatest Canadian.
Canadian
actor/comedienne Mary Walsh was the advocate and host of the hour-long episode
that featured Banting and visited the actual places he lived and worked at the
turn of the century and in the early 1920s when he made one of the most
important discoveries in the history of medicine.
Anyone
who watched the episode will have a hard time even considering some of the
other top 10 candidates on the CBC's list such as hockey's Don Cherry and Wayne
Gretzky or even a hero to many a Canadian, Terry Fox.
What
was magnified by the episode however, was how the historic homestead where
Banting spent his formative years has been neglected compared to another of his
residences in London, Ont. Although Banting only lived there for a few months
(albeit right at the time he first began pondering the mysteries of the
pancreas) the site has been fully restored to its former glory and is today a
museum.
The
CBC shot the images of the homestead on the other hand, at night and used
dramatic lighting -- lighting provided by the television crew no doubt, to make
the old house in Alliston look passably like the home of a prosperous local
farm family.
When
Walsh told the tale of how Banting's father made him clean out the chicken coop
when he decided to quit school to give him a taste of work on the farm, the
chicken coop in question was clearing falling down around her.
Local
residents need to get on board with our municipal, federal and provincial
politicians in their fight to offer dignity to the old homestead and preserve
this important piece of local history that holds national, if not world-wide
significance. Send letters expressing your support to their offices.
As
for the OHS, it should be ashamed of accusing a descendent of Sir Frederick
Banting of trespassing on his family homestead. If if weren't for this family,
the society wouldn't have any say in the matter at all.
CW
Editor: Craig
Widdifield
Alliston Herald
- Copyright - November 18, 2004
Wilson introduces Bill to protect Banting site
Jason Ballantyne
Making good on a threat, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson introduced legislation
Tuesday which, if passed, would protect the Banting homestead from being sold
to developers.
As reported in the Weekend Edition of The Herald, Wilson was reacting to
the threat of being charged with trespassing at the homestead by the owners of
the property, the Ontario Historical Society (OHS).
The
Frederick Banting Homestead Preservation Act, if passed, would prevent any
altering or demolition of any building or structure on the property. The only
time any alterations could be made would be in the case of repairs of
renovations to maintain the main house -- where Sir Frederick Banting,
co-discoverer of insulin, was born -- or any of the outbuildings.
Bob
Banting, Sir Frederick's great-nephew, said he was pleased to hear Wilson was
moving forward with his promise.
Banting
made a cross-country television appearance on Canada AM Monday morning.
The
Act would also allow the Minister of Culture to appoint inspectors to enter the
property and make sure the owners were complying with the Act.
While
Wilson said he wanted to delay bringing the bill to the Legislature until a
meeting was held between the OHS and the province, New Tecumseth and Banting's
descendants, he had a change of heart last week.
That's because lawyers for the OHS threatened to
charge Wilson, Bob Banting, New Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern and Simcoe-Grey
MP Helena Guergis (CPC) with trespassing after they held a joint press
conference at the homestead Oct. 29 to draw the media spotlight to the issue.
WILSON TABLES
LEGISLATION TO SAVE BANTING HOMESTEAD
NOVEMBER
16, 2004 / QUEEN'S PARK - Today in the Ontario Legislature, Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim
Wilson tabled legislation to preserve the original homestead of Sir Frederick
Banting located in the Town of New Tecumseth.
If
passed, the Frederick Banting Homestead Preservation Act, 2004 would impose a
restrictive covenant on the property. The restrictive covenant prevents a
person from altering or demolishing any building or structure located on the
property except to make repairs or renovations to maintain the buildings or
structures. The Act also allows the Minister of Culture to appoint inspectors
to enter the property to verify compliance with the covenant.
The
homestead is where Sir Banting did some of his earliest experiments that later
led to his groundbreaking discovery of insulin. Edward Banting, the last of the
family to live on the property bequeathed the property to the Ontario
Historical Society (OHS) with the understanding that they would preserve and
maintain it for years to come. However, the OHS has allowed this historic
landmark to fall into disrepair and speculation that they might sell the
property for development continues to grow.
"This
Bill serves notice that I am serious about saving this historic property,"
said Mr. Wilson. "I cannot imagine that there is any member of
this legislature who does not want to preserve this important landmark for
future generations."
For
a copy of the petition to save the Banting Homestead, and the Frederick Banting
Homestead Preservation Act, 2004 visit:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Built Heritage News - Issue No 53
Copyright November 11, 2004
Published by CATHERINE NASMITH ARCHITECT
Item number 14:
The Banting Family Farm – Two perspectives
Editor’s
Note: A very sad situation which I hope gets resolved to everyone’s
satisfaction
Dr. Peter M. Banting, Chairman, Sir
Frederick Banting Educational Committee
A vacant
dilapidated building languishes beside a little travelled rural road. It is a typical, unprepossessing Ontario
farmhouse. Not very unique from an architectural point of view, until one looks
at its provenance.
This is the
birthplace of Sir Frederick Grant Banting, the discoverer of insulin: one of
the greatest medical breakthroughs in the world.
Canada’s
first Nobel Prize winner grew up on this farm. The road at the front is named
“Sir Frederick Banting Road.” It is just
outside of Alliston, Southwest of Barrie, Ontario, and is marked by a five-ton
sphere and an historical plaque. This property currently is the focus of a
burgeoning conflict.
The last Banting
to live on the farm was Fred’s nephew, Edward Knight Banting. In negotiations
with the Ontario Historical Society, Edward was convinced that the OHS would
preserve and protect the 100-acre Banting farm and its buildings for the
benefit of future generations. Edward
bequeathed the historic site to the OHS.
That was five years ago.
Since then
the OHS has done little to protect the property. Despite, rental income from a
local farmer, the roof of the home was allowed to leak for two years. The henhouse is beyond repair. And the
historically unique octagonal driving/implement shed (believed to be the only
one remaining of three in Ontario) is collapsing.
The Sir
Frederick Banting Educational Committee (SFBEC) is a charitable organization
that has promoted Fred’s ideas for more than a decade. From the time title was
transferred to the OHS, the SFBEC and the Banting family offered to help the
OHS in many ways, including raising money for maintenance of the property. This assistance continued to be offered for
five years, but was never accepted. As
recently as September 2004, Bob Banting, SFBEC honourary chair, travelled to
Kingston and met with OHS president, Brian Osborne, to offer help and seek a
solution to the problem.
Concerned
about the deterioration of the Banting Homestead, the Mayor of Alliston, New
Tecumseth met with the OHS and negotiated a deal that would return the property
to the town. OHS was to adjust the
wording with their lawyers. On October
4, 2004, the OHS reneged on the agreement.
OHS claims
they have maintained the property. Those who have seen the deterioration,
including Alliston town officials, and local MPs and MPPs, know this is not
true. OHS has lost its credibility.
Mattamy
homes is developing property adjacent to the Banting homestead. We fear that financially troubled OHS will
sell this historical property as an expedient. Ontario Minister of Culture, the
Honourable Madeline Meilleur, will meet with Simcoe-Grey MPP Jim Wilson, New
Tecumseth Mayor Mike MacEachern, MP Helena Guergis, SFBEC’s Bob Banting, and
OHS to discuss the property's future.
Patricia Neal, Executive Director,
Ontario Historical Society
In 1999, The Ontario Historical Society
Foundation took ownership of the Banting homestead property in Alliston,
located in the Town of New Tecumseth.
The Foundation received the property through a bequest of Edward
Banting, the nephew of Sir Frederick Banting.
Edward Banting was a long-time member of the OHS and we are honoured
that he left his homestead to us as part of his bequest. The property was
bequeathed without any restrictions.
The size of the bequest is nearly 100 acres. A
significant archaeological site contained in a separate 50-acre parcel was sold
off prior to Edward’s death. The farmhouse was built in 1925. Sir Frederick
Banting was born in a house that pre-existed the current structure.
Since
receiving the bequest, discussions have been ongoing to determine the future of
the property. The Foundation has
maintained the homestead using a limited amount of funds collected from the
rental of the fields, which are being farmed by a neighbour. In consultation
with the local community, the Board and OHS staff have been assessing various
options for the property and how best to honour Dr. Banting’s contributions to
modern medicine, his birthplace of Alliston and his contributions to all
Canadians.
1 Comments:
At 8:15 PM, December 13, 2006, Andy Dabydeen said...
Yes, I heard about this piece of stupidity. You would think the Ontario or federal would step in. 1) To stop the madness. 2) To check the collective brain of the OHS. I wonder if they're aware of what the "H" means. I thought these creeps were out to preserve our history?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
BANTING HOMESTEAD SELLOUT DEMANDS AN INQUIRY
Orillia Packet and Times
J.A.“ Pete” McGarvey - Broadcaster and Steven Leacock home founder
Dec 16/06
The first thing that catches your eye when you step inside our humble abode is a large framed print of an Ontario farmhouse of the late 19th century. Parked on the rutted lane beside the house is a horse and buggy. To the left you can make out an octagonal driving shed.
What sets this place apart from ten thousand others is that Frederick Grant Banting was born there on November 14th, 1891. Three decades later, he would be hailed as the co-discoverer of insulin, a lifesaver for millions of diabetics the world over from that day to this. In 1923 he was Canada’s first Nobel laureate; in 1934he was knighted by King George V. On any short list of Canadian heroes, Banting’s name is arguably the most illustrious.
I can claim a peripheral connection with the man. My mother’s older sister, Margaret, married Nelson Banting, Fred’s oldest brother, in 1905. I spent many happy summer holidays in the 1930s at the Banting farms—Uncle Nelson’s on the Scotch Line, a mile north of Alliston and the older homestead, a concession line east in Essa Township. Dr. Fred’s only son, Bill, was my companion on some of those rural outings.
When my cousin, Bob Banting, (great-nephew of Sir Frederick) asked me to emcee the first Banting Day in Alliston in November 1995, I felt honoured. Ceremonies began in the driving shed mentioned above and continued at the Sir Frederick Banting High School in Alliston and the Alliston Public Library, on what would have been Fred’s 104th birthday.
Bob and a committee of Banting boosters were already talking about a permanent memorial for the great scientist in his home town---ideally centered on the place of his birth. A website and a foundation were in the offing, Their hopes were bolstered in 1999, when the home and 100 surrounding acres became the property of the Ontario Historical Society, as specified by the will of Edward Banting, the last Banting to operate the farm.
What happened next is hard to believe. Without disclosing what (if any) plans it had for the property, the OHS made it clear it wanted no input from the Bantings or any other possible stakeholders. When Bob went public with fears about the neglect of the homestead—a leaking roof, sagging porches, and the rapid deterioration of the driving shed, the OHS got an injunction to keep him off the property. Requests for an accounting of income from the rented farm land (an estimated $15,000 yearly) and outlay for property maintenance were ignored. Worse, the society’s chief executive told a Toronto Star reporter that London Ontario, not Alliston, was the real centre of the Banting saga. The Banting Museum there occupies a house Fred used as a medical office and living quarters for a year before departing in 1921 to begin his historic experiments at the University of Toronto.
The truth is—as any real historian could discover in an hour-- Alliston was to Fred Banting what Orillia was to Stephen Leacock. His lab was in Toronto; his heart was in the rolling hills of Essa Township and the sleepy little town of Alliston he knew in pre-World War 1 days. His mother, brothers and sister, nephews and nieces were all in the Alliston area and he returned as often as his heavy schedule allowed till his death in 1941. I can attest to that.
Plainly something was wrong here. The OHS was keeping its own counsel, downplaying its obligation to Edward Banting’s wishes, and issuing the vaguest of statements when the subject of a memorial came up.
Meantime, the disrepair continued amid rumours the society lacked the funds for restoration and was looking for a buyer. Alarm bells went off. MPP Jim Wilson introduced a private members bill at Queens Park to protect its historic designation. It got unanimous support. A negotiator was appointed to reconcile conflicting interests. Working with the Banting Educational Committee, New Tecumseth council offered a million dollars, proposing (as a memorial) a 28 hectare portion of the property as a summer camp for diabetic children. They thought they had a deal, but the OHS pulled the rug from under them. On November 27th they announced sale of the whole hundred acres property to developer Benny Morotta, who has agreed to repair the home and sever it on four acres. Reported selling price? Two million dollars plus. According to the Toronto Star, New Tecumseth mayor Mike MacEachern was stunned; MPP Jim Wilson called the society’s actions, “pure greed” while Simcoe Grey MP Helena Guergis accuses the society of betraying the deal it had with Edward Banting and “completely disregarding” the legacy of a great Canadian. OHS president Chris Oslund disagrees, insisting the developer will “carry out the wishes of Edward Banting.” The developer, mind you..not the society. Peter Banting, chairman of the Banting Educational Committee, terms the sale “reprehensible,” while Bob Banting says surrounding the homestead with a residential subdivision is “unacceptable.” Last Monday the McGuinty government gave the sale a green light.
What next? Hopefully a public inquiry into the actions (or inactions) of the Ontario Historical Society over the past seven years on the Banting homestead file. Call witnesses; demand financial records; pose blunt questions. The OHS is a public institution, generously supported by your tax dollars. It’s time it accounted for its deeds.
A sad footnote. In hindsight, Edward Banting COULD have bequeathed the property to the Ontario Heritage Foundation, a governmental agency with both the mandate and the means to carry out his wishes. Or better still to the Heritage Department in Ottawa, which invested an estimated million dollars to purchase, restore, promote and operate (as a National Historic Site) the Gravenhurst birthplace of Dr. Norman Bethune--a far lesser figure than Fred Banting in Canadian medical lore.