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Over
the past 30 years, Canada has lost 23% of its early buildings in
urban areas and 21% of building stock in rural areas. This rate
of destruction is disturbing both in terms of lost heritage and
increased environmental waste. The following represent only a small
number of buildings and structures that have disappeared forever
from the Canadian landscape.
Another Saskatoon Heritage Building Lost to Development On November 11, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 63 members held the last Remembrance Day gathering at their Saskatoon hall. Despite a dedicated letter-writing campaign to the editor of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix, Remai Ventures announced that it would demolish the 77-year-old downtown property. Only the 1929 cornerstone and the Legion coat of arms plaque will be preserved and incorporated into a memorial to the building. Built by veterans of the First World War and designed by local architect David Webster (who designed many of Saskatoon’s early schools), the hall is equipped with one of the last horsehair dance floors in Saskatchewan. It is also the last remaining building on the River Landing site where Remai Ventures is planning to build a luxury hotel and spa. This multimillion-dollar development project has already resulted in the demolition of the historic Gathercole Building and old electrical buildings. In early 2004, Councillor Elaine Hnatyshyn proposed turning the hall into a veterans’ museum. Council considered the Legion’s proposed terms (not having responsibility for renovations, upgrades, and costs of day-to-day operations) in a closed-door executive committee meeting. No further discussions with the Legion took place. Unable to pay the bills, the branch members voted in the fall of 2005 to sell the property to Remai Ventures. “It breaks my heart to sell the building, but … the reality is that we don’t have the money to pay the bills,” said branch president John Davidson at the time. Demolition is expected to start in Spring. The Star Phoenix, Saskatoon, Sask., 04/11/06, 06/02/06, 11/11/06 and 11/22/06. Worst Losses List of 2006Officer's Mess and Quarters, Work Point Military Base, Esquimalt, A federally “Recognized” heritage building, the Officer's Mess and Quarters was the last of its kind in Canada. It was listed as surplus to the needs of the Department of National Defence, and despite heritage and cultural groups working tirelessly to save the building with a possible conversion into a visual arts complex, it was “deconstructed” last spring. Lessard House, Edmonton, Alberta Demolished last June, this historic house associated with Prosper Edmond Lessard, a leader in the city's francophone community, was a victim of outdated planning decisions and zoning bylaws as well as weak heritage legislation. Although plans were under way to relocate the building, WAM Development Group demolished it without notice. Inn on the Park, Toronto, Ontario Opened in 1963, it quickly became a landmark along the Don Valley Parkway and one of the city's famous destinations. Demolition began the day before the modernist hotel's heritage designation was to be debated at North York's community council. The owner, Rowntree Automotive Ltd., is developing a car dealership on the site. St. Jude's Anglican Cathedral, Iqaluit, Nunavut Damaged by arson in November 2005, St. Jude's—one of the best known buildings in Nunavut—was demolished June 1, 2006. Engineers determined it to be structurally unsound and irreparable. Designed by Toronto architect Ron Thom in 1970, it was built in 1972 using volunteer labour. St. Jude's was the second loss of built heritage in Nunavut this past year. Igloolik's St. Stephen's Catholic Church, one of the oldest buildings in the territory, was demolished in August for safety reasons. |
