- by Richard MacDonald

 Roman Abramovich is often referred to as a Russian Oligarch. He is one of the richest men in the world who also owns the world's largest yacht. Abramovich is the majority owner of the Chelsea Football Club, a steel company Evraz, and Norilsk Nickel. 

20 or 25 years ago, I had the opportunity to sit in ona presentation given to Roman Abramovich who at that time was still a governor of a Russian Province. I was in Yellowknife then and we were showing him how the new polar air routes would make our airport and possibly his airport in Russia very prosperous. He was extremely likeable and showed up in Yellowknife on a leased jet from a Sheik, accompanied by his father, family members and a huge entourage.

His main comment during the meeting to our consultant was: “ if I pay you lots of money will you make my airport the center of the universe too?”

When I look at my current home here in Owen sound, I am often reminded of my previous encounter with this famous Russian celebrity. We all hire consultants, whether it is for the city’s Official Plan, our various Master Plans, the DIA, or even Grey County. The common denominator is always that the consultants all say we will become the center of the universe. It may be the River Precinct, the Harbour, our Malls, our developments, or our government or our growth.

There is a huge world outside of the center of the universe. What separates us is not plans, or our desires. It is our people, our dreams, and our uniqueness that eventually attract all those outside forces to our centre of the universe. The plans are no good without what truly makes us a city. It is when we all feel we belong here.