Agree to Disagree: Does Ryan Gosling deserve to be recognized in Cornwall Ontario

A couple of weeks ago, Mai-Liis wrote an article about Ryan Gosling and his achievement of winning a Golden Globe Award. That article quickly became one of the most read in the history of our newspaper and website.

Clearly, Cornwallites are very interested in the success path Mr. Gosling has followed.

This week, Ryan was nominated for an Oscar, which entertainment experts say, he has high chances of winning. This certainly is something we all are allowed to feel a little pride about.

This bids a question. Why isn’t Ryan Gosling somehow, somewhere, commemorated in Cornwall? Doesn’t Ryan deserve a toast from the city he grew up in, a wink from the very place he was discovered?

Plenty of street names and landmarks have been named after business, political or sport figures in this town. Think about Pitt Street, Lamoureux Park, Nick Kaneb Drive or Ed Lumley Arena… But rarely do we see something named after an Artist who has demonstrated a high level of accomplishment in his or field. An Oscar, if not a Golden Globe, surely should qualify as accomplishment enough to be noticed and acknowledged.

How about a big sign when entering the city stating “Ryan Gosling was discovered here”. Perhaps it would attract tourism at the same time?

THE POWER OF MANY

Some people were heartbroken that La La Land, the Gosling movie nominated for 14 Oscars including Best Actor (Gosling), was not schedule to show in Cornwall.

CBC even ran a story titled “Why isn’t La La Land playing in Ryan Gosling’s hometown?” asking the question. Turns out it’s all about numbers. And when many put pressure on a company to get something, more often than not, that company will listen and give. Supply and demand… If you demand, they’ll supply.

So that seems to be how La La Land was added to the roster of flicks playing at our local Galaxy Theater, starting today, Friday. A bunch of Cornwall residents took their grievance to social media and Cineplex obliged.

SO MAYBE, JUST MAYBE

If we use the same concept and call our city councilors to request we name a park, a street or a building after the most accomplished actor this city has ever produced, maybe, just maybe, they will listen? I know, many would debate Cornwall has a ton of citizens who actually live here, just as deserving of getting said honour, but what do you think?

Should Ryan Gosling be acknowledged here in Cornwall? And will you go see La La Land?

I welcome your comments!