In recent times, there have been several daring and interesting concepts for the rehabilitation of (not so) old structures in the city of Toronto, which would bring a much needed breath of fresh air in the city with two cultural buildings that would make their respective neighbourhood much more interesting and vibrant.
While they have gotten supportive press, the powers-that-be seem to be uninterested in making these a reality, even though they could if they really wanted to.
For a city who wants to be world-class and while it has a lot going for it, it strangely seems to be completely oblivious to the cultural aspect of what makes true world-class cities so appealing, namely cultural institutions that are at the top of their game.
There is plenty of talent in this city, but not enough visionary people to enable this talent to flourish. If we judge the city leadership by their actions, not their word, they haven't made enough of the bold moves that would truly put the city on the map.
If you think about it, its most famous symbol, the CN tower isn't much more than a played-out tourist trap, embodying the worst of unabashed commercialism, without any of its benefits, except perhaps for its owners.
Where are our Little Islands, Sydney Opera Houses, Sagrada Familias and Louvre Pyramids? These are opportunities to reinforce the cultural fabric of the city, but are being ignored in spite of their many benefits and strong support.