https://www.facebook.com/SaveSamSign
I attended the council meeting on Tuesday. Ryerson had legal jibber jabber try to explain away their situation. They never had any architectural renderings to incorporate the sign on Yonge St. or the alternate site on Gould. They have the excuses of cost, mercury leakage etc. but it seems the shiny new building just won't be as nice with the sign. Well the agreement with Sam was to do just that so they should have made sure that the sign fit into the new buildings shiny new look.
The President of Ryerson insists they didn't 'renege' on their deal. Well I looked up renege in my trusty old dictionary and it seems more than perfect to describe what they've done. There has been support from Gordon, Liona Boyd, Blue Rodeo, Music Canada, Tom Cochrane, several Toronto councillors, Michael Wrycraft (album cover designer) and others. The amendment that was passed on Tuesday.Sept.10 said that Ryerson has one year to come up with a new plan. However there is nothing in the amendment stating what will happen if they don't!They will have reached their contracted storage plan and somebody will have to take over the payments on it. And it still won't be re-mounted anywhere!
For any of you who have been to TO and were able to visit the store before the teardown and know what the historical significance of it and the sign and dear Mr. Sniderman to the music industry in not only Toronto but Canada at a time when all of those wonderful music spots and musicians were everywhere in the city core please consider supporting the original agreement that Mr.Sniderman and Ryerson University had for the refurbishing and remounting of those two beautiful spinning neon discs at or near the location of the store. For those who just love to save historical heritage buildings, landmarks etc. please support this initiative. I will have contact info very soon.
The Facebook page linked above has lots of daily updates, new postings from supporters, and pictures etc.