Celebrate Demolition by Neglect Week

As heritage week draws to a close,on Sunday February 22nd 2009,let us not forget all the historic buildings we’ve lost under Culture Minister,Aileen Carroll,and all those buildings that are continuing to face demolition by neglect.Minister Carroll has stood up many a times in the legislature,to boast about the “improved & strengthened” heritage act,but she knows it’s window dressing at best,for she has not enforced the heritage act,as it was intended,instead allowing building after building to fall,or allowing owners to demolition by neglect,until the buildings are so unsafe,the culture ministry just gives the go ahead,to tear them down.Owners of historic buildings in the province of Ontario,are fully aware of Aileen Carroll’s lack of interest in protecting our built heritage,so to speed up the demolition process,they remove windows & doors leaving these historic buildings vulnerable to the harsh Ontario weather,and it doesn’t take an engineer to figure out,the longer the building is open and unprotected,the sooner the owner can apply for a demolition permit.Minister Carroll has failed miserably at protecting Ontario’s built heritage,and if there are any people that doubt that statement,I urge you to drive to the City of St.Thomas,and view what remains of Alma College.On the property at 96 Moore Street,you will find 2 historic structures that survived the horrific blaze in May of 2008,you will also find an outdoor amphi-theatre,all of which are continuing to face,demolition by neglect.We lost the main structure,and will lose the 2 remaining structures,if this minister does not take an interest.The property deserves to be designated as “Provincially Significant”,and if the culture minister could bring herself to realize this fact,St.Thomas,Ontario would then have a reason to celebrate “heritage week”.

Robert F.Foster
Brampton,Ontario

Heritage is fine, say lawyers, but not for us

Ian McCallum

Having remained out of the spotlight since last summer, the Elgin County Court House is back on the radar, following a letter sent Feb. 5 by the Elgin Law Association to Ontario Realty Corporation.
At its last meeting, the association acknowledged the court house is “an impressive building of historical and architectural significance,” and it supports preservation of the Wellington Street facility that predates Confederation.

Bank and barn transformed into a cultural centre

Province supports new culinary and visual arts facility through RED grant

WEST LORNE – The Ontario government is boosting the rural economies of Elgin and Middlesex counties by turning heritage properties into a showpiece cultural centre.
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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.

Aileen Carroll strikes again

Erie Street United Church, Ridgetown, Ont.

Minister Carroll,
I’ve attached a photo of the Erie Street United Church,in Ridgetown,Ontario.The church was recently demolished,after you FAILED to issue a “stop work order” on the demolition.It’s fast becoming a trend,that you readily give the go ahead to bring down every heritage building that is threatened,without so much as a second look.

Aileen Carroll misses the call, again

Minister Carroll,
It’s an absolute DISGRACE that once again,you have allowed another historic building to be demolished.The Erie Street United Church,in Ridgetown,Ontario is another glaring example of your complete FAILURE as Minister of Culture.What will it take for you to see the value in Ontario’s heritage?.We lost Alma College in St.Thomas,Ont on May 28th,2008 due to your lack of interest.It has become very apparent that you’re more interested in opening art galleries,and celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Ontario Science Centre,for which you were all over the news “bubbling” with enthusiasm for this “regal” event.Could you possibly put some of that enthusiasm towards our built heritage?.At the rate you’re going,you could wipe out all of Ontario’s built heritage,with one term in office.These buildings have stood upwards of 100 years,withstood the brutal Canadian weather,have given back to the Province of Ontario in spades,and your way of re-paying the favour,is to send the wrecking ball to their front door.Premier McGuinty needs to rein you in,before you completely wipe out Ontario’s identity.Every building you demolish,is like tearing a page from the history book,every time a building falls to the ground,so to goes with it the legacy that took a 100 years to create.I’m not only sad for the people who are fighting for our heritage today,I’m also sad for the people who years from now,will only have photograph’s of these beautiful & historic buildings.It’s a very sad time for our built heritage,and I can safely say the biggest threat to every historic building in the Province of Ontario,is Aileen Carroll.

Bob Foster
Brampton,Ontario

City abdicates heritage responsibilities

Ian McCallum

Nearly seven months after it succumbed to fire, Alma College is still in the headlines for the negligent fashion in which the owners, city and province deal with this heritage property.
In a presentation to council Monday, Suzanne van Bommel, president of the Alma Advocacy Association, called on the city to enforce minimum property standards, an action it could have pursued several years ago, but instead the municipality chose to abdicate on its heritage responsibilities.

Alma not our responsibility, Mayor Cliff Barwick

St. Thomas Mayor Cliff Barwick says a clean up order should be in place by spring, but it is up to the province to decide what happens, not the city.
Supporters who had wanted the property declared a heritage site before the fire destroyed the buildings, continue to mourn the loss.
Watch Alma video

An Alma Christmas story

Aileen Carroll,
I recently drove the 2 hours from my hometown of Brampton,Ontario,to the beautiful City of St.Thomas,it was a windy & snow-swept day,and as I pulled up to 96 Moore Street,the place in which beautiful and historic Alma College stood for 130 years,tears came to my eyes,as I was looking over to the quaint little chapel,because one of the roof tiles blew completely off,and tumbled across the rubble filled property.

Heritage funding sources now available online

Heritage Canada Foundation

Ottawa, Ontario, November 20, 2008 – The Heritage Canada Foundation (HCF) is pleased to announce that over 600 links to Canadian heritage and cultural funding sources are now available online.
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National historic sites deteriorating

Funding cuts are eating away at national historic sites says a survey done in early 2008 for Parks Canada. The Environics survey found nearly 70 per cent of the 689 national historic sites not managed by the federal government are in fair or poor condition, or have elements that are in poor condition.
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Making a Recession Work For Ontario’s Community Landmarks

Catherine Nasmith, President Architectural Conservancy of Ontario

In times of recession governments turn to investing in infrastructure, and that often translates into investment in sewers, roads, and sometimes other community facilities.

Everyone remembers the great investments that the U.S. and Canadian governments made during the depression in highways. Few remember that it was during these times that both government also chose to make major investments in the development of National Park systems, and in preserving the nation’s heritage landmarks. Often these parks included National Historic Sites.

As the stock markets run amok many are now calling on governments to use their powers to invest in public projects, to use this time to build the infrastructure for the 21st century and beyond. Its time we reminded our governments that heritage and environment projects are worthy contenders for that public investment.