A Centretown activist has completed a history of how the Centretown Citizens Community Association was founded just in time for the organization’s 40th anniversary.
Charles Akben-Marchand, the association's secretary, presented his research on how the organization was created at its annual general meeting last month.
The association began as a way to combat a proposal to put what would eventually be the Pretoria Bridge through a residential part of Centretown.
The association was successful in convincing the city to build the bridge elsewhere.
Akben-Marchand says this was significant because communities were not consulted.
“We take it for granted now that there is a community association,” he says.
Community activist David Gladstone says the association has always had a strong focus because it was created with one purpose.
“It makes the CCCA a little bit special,” he says.
Joe and June Cassey were among the founding members of the association.
They became involved when they learned the city planned to build the Pretoria Bridge on site of a house they had bought.
Cassey says the association led him to serve as councillor for the downtown ward. He says he hoped their example would show people they need to become engaged in the political process to achieve results.
He also says he sees a lot of similarities between the city council of 40 years ago and the council today. Current activists should take history into account when approaching issues such as the transit tunnel and Lansdowne Live.
Akben-Marchand says he hopes to eventually expand his findings.