No future for heritage preservation

Ian McCallum

As guest of the Elgin St. Thomas Archives Association, Mayor Cliff Barwick’s presentation Wednesday on heritage building preservation was so laced with negativity, it made his bland New Year’s address stand out as stirring motivational oratory.
And as was the case in his state of the union to open the 129th council of the Corporation of the City of St. Thomas early in January, Barwick proved a master of buck passing this week before 50 or so gathered in the public library’s Carnegie Room.

Federal budget is nothing but ‘magic beans’

Ian McCallum

Jack (The Mouth) Layton roared into St. Thomas on Wednesday for a town hall meeting that, for the most part, focused on the task at hand — addressing the needs of Canadian families ravaged by a vicious downward spiral of plant closings and layoffs.
“This is driving people into homelessness and despair,” warned
Layton. “How are we going to bring the economy back if that’s how
we’re treating people?”

Bombshell letter derails Dunlap Observatory hearing

David Dunlap Observatory

Posted by Ian:
My but this story has an eerie familiarity to it. Perhaps because we in St. Thomas have lived through it first hand. Withheld Alma report So what exactly is the mandate of Culture Minister Aileen Carroll and her staff? It would appear preserving the heritage of this province is not anywhere on her radar, as witness this story from yorkregion.com. Thanks to the Alma Advocacy Association for the heads up.

The Minister of Culture could have preserved the Dunlap Observatory site’s entirety with the stroke of her pen, according to newly-released information.
A letter sent by Ontario Heritage Trust chairperson and former Lt.-Gov. Lincoln Alexander to Culture Minister Aileen Carroll in September, recommends the province take immediate action to declare the site’s main 177 acres a heritage site.
That would mean if designated by the minister, no alterations to the property would be allowed without her consent.
Full story

Demise of Alma warrants top billing

Alma fire, May 28, 2008

With several thousand layoffs and job losses battering the local economy, T-J readers may question last week’s headline announcing the Alma College fire as top news story in 2008.
It wasn’t an easy decision for this paper’s editors and reporters … the disappearance of several thousand jobs in the city would surely qualify as the banner story in any other year.

Property standards must be enforced at Alma College site

Alma College plaque

The Alma Advocacy Association has written to the City of St. Thomas to complain about the condition of the property at 96 Moore St., the site of Alma College.

Chief Building Official
St. Thomas City Hall
PO Box 520
St. Thomas, Ontario
December 15, 2008
Re: 96 Moore Street, St. Thomas, Ontario, known as Alma College

Dear Chief Building Official;

We wish to file a complaint regarding the condition of the heritage property at 96 Moore Street, St. Thomas, Ontario.

Our concerns relate to the buildings and structures remaining at 96 Moore and public health and safety hazards.

Deputation to St. Thomas council by Alma Advocacy Association

Suzanne van Bommel

The full transcript of an address to St. Thomas council on Dec. 15, 2008 by Suzanne Van Bommel of the Alma Advocacy Association.

On behalf of the Alma Advocacy Association I would like to thank your Worship and members of Council for the opportunity to speak this evening.

My name is Suzanne van Bommel, President of the Alma Advocacy Association.

The goal of our group is to preserve and maintain what is left of the Alma College campus, obtain Provincial Heritage designation and maintain the municipal designation at 96 Moore Street.