Dedicated to Preserving Our Built Heritage May 2019 Volume 46, No. 2 Expropriate Somerset House,

HERITAGE 2 018 says Heritage Ottawa WALKING By David B. Flemming TOURS My first memories of Somerset House date back to the late 1960’s when it was known as The Ritz Hotel. The main floor tavern and the basement www.heritageottawa.org “ladies & escorts’’ section was a welcome gathering place for my Join our experienced guides for walks through some of Ottawa’s most friends and colleagues for lunch, after interesting areas like Lindenlea and work or on special occasions. Food the Civic Hospital Neighbourhood. was served in a small restaurant off Our program offers a number of new the rear of the tavern where one could tours as well as returning favourites. enjoy a cheap yet hearty meal. Information about the 2019 tours, the knowledgeable guides, and meeting When I returned to Ottawa in locations is available on our website 2000 after a 25 years absence, it was at heritageottawa.org known as Somerset House with the Walking Tours are $5 for members Lockmaster Tavern on the ground Somerset House in 1900 when Bank and $10 for non-members. floor and the Duke of Somerset pub and Somerset was a happening place. located in the basement replacing our Visit our website and beloved “downstairs at the Ritz.’’ Victorian Italianate style with its then mark your calendars! red brick walls, contrasting stone When the business finally closed in banding, brick corbelling and large heritageottawa.org/heritage- 2003, I was president of Heritage ottawa-walking-tours display windows. In 1900 a 4-storey Ottawa and we were pleased to learn flat roof apartment block of a that the building had been sold to similar style was added to the east TKS Holdings which planned to side of the building. modernize the interior. We looked forward to this important part of It was first home to Crosby & Ottawa’s built heritage again being Carruthers Dry Goods Company put to a commercial use. and other commercial enterprises before it became The Ritz Hotel in The building had not always been a 1937. From the 1930’s until the tavern. Built in 1897-98 by Thomas 60’s it was part of a vibrant

Cleary it was a fine example of the commercial area of Bank Street. Archives with permission of Ottawa Photo: City 1 Expropiate Somerset house cont’d.

Heritage Ottawa is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Ottawa’s built heritage.

Richard Belliveau Guest Editor

Jan Soetermans Graphic Designer

Katari Imaging Printing

Heritage Ottawa 2 Daly Avenue Ottawa, K1N 6E2

Tel: 613-230-8841 Flemming David Photos: Fax: 613-564-4428 Email: [email protected] Somerset House from Bank Street in 2018 – abandoned Web: www.heritageottawa.org Two other hotels – the Gilmour and servicing on all floors of an Board of Directors House and the Alexandra – further existing four-storey hotel’’ and south on Bank Street formed later to “install a new structural Richard Belliveau a “golden triangle’’ of drinking non-combustible floor infill in François Bregha establishments. a four-storey off retail building.’’ Peter Coffman City inspectors met with the owner’s Julie Dompierre Although the Ritz’s owner blamed engineer in September in anticipation the City’s smoking bylaw with the Zeynep Ekim of the approval of revised plans for decline in business in the early 2000’s, Louise Fox cellar excavations. it was evident that the old downtown Ian Ferguson taverns were fast giving way to newer On Friday, October 19, there was Hilary Grant establishments in other parts of the a partial collapse of the southeast Linda Hoad city. By the 1980’s, the Alexandra and corner of the building. In excavating David Jeanes the Gilmour had closed and the Ritz the cellar, a worker driving a Bobcat David Longbotham needed an upgrade if it was to survive. dislodged a support beam. Although Anne Maheux he was trapped in his vehicle for Somerset House was designated Leslie Maitland nearly two hours, he escaped under Part V of the Ontario Heritage uninjured. An assessment seemed to Heather McArthur Act in 1967 as part of the Centretown indicate that too much soil had been Hunter McGill Heritage Conservation District. removed causing an underpinning of Robert Moreau a portion of the walls. Carolyn Quinn Bad Things Started Martin Rice The Ontario Ministry of Labour Katherine Spencer-Ross to Happen declared it an unsafe worksite, which thwarted attempts to assess Plans to renovate the building were Heritage Ottawa acknowledges the the building’s condition. The City’s financial support of the City of Ottawa submitted in 2005. Building permits Chief Building Official subsequently and the Ontario Ministry of Culture were issued to permit the removal of then issued an emergency demolition “all interior walls, partitions, finishes

2 order for the building. Heritage Take Action, says opposed the owner’s application Ottawa strongly opposed the for further partial demolition until recommendation and urged the City Heritage Ottawa it had assurances that the 2017 not to make a final decision until In December 2007, Heritage Ottawa proposal would proceed. Despite our a thorough assessment could be recommended the creation of an objections, the City approved the undertaken. We also provided the emergency protocol to enable the further demolition of a substantial City with a list of structural engineers various city departments to respond section of the north wall and some with heritage restoration experience. in a timelier manner to heritage of the interior floors buildings at risk. (Five years later the Because of the Ministry of Labour’s The City continues to issue work City instituted such a protocol.) unsafe work place edict, the engineers orders to protect the surviving had to inspect the building from a Meanwhile, further work on the structure, the latest of which had “cherry picker.’’ It was recommended building ceased while the City and an April 30, 2019 deadline for that a large portion of the building the owner argued over responsibility completion. A third proposal, could be saved if there was a for both the collapse and the further to erect a six-storey apartment controlled demolition of some badly demolition and the cost of security building incorporating the surviving damaged portions of the walls and and traffic re-routing arising from the façade, is expected later this year. roof. This was done and the owner collapse. This matter was settled out- In the meantime, it has also been was ordered to take measures to of-court in December 2012. rumoured that the owner is seeking further secure the structure. to sell the property or to purchase The owner has since then submitted adjacent properties on Bank Street Local merchants whose businesses two proposals for the restoration of for in corporation into a much had been severely curtailed by the the building (2013 and 2017) both larger development. street closures, were successful in of which were approved by the City convincing the City to re-open at but resulted in no action by the The property is on the “Heritage least one lane of traffic and one owner. A steel support structure was Watch List’’ instituted in 2015 at sidewalk on both Bank and Somerset. built to support the north side of the Heritage Ottawa’s urging and the It would however be months later building. Heritage Ottawa strongly Mayor’s Heritage Matters Task Force until normal street traffic resumed. are provided with regular updates on the status of the property.

Heritage Ottawa believes that given the owner’s seeming inability or interest in developing the property, the City should consider expropriation of the property and its resale on the condition that the current structure be incorporated as part of a new building. The City has this authority to do this under the Ontario Municipal Act, but clearly lacks the political will to take such action. Meanwhile, the building has endured a twelfth winter exposed to the elements with no end in sight.

Stay tuned!

David Flemming is co-chair of the Advocacy Committee Rear of Somerset House from Somerset Street of Heritage Ottawa

3 Former Union Station is New Home of Senate of Canada By Carolyn Quinn Photos: Courtesy of the Senate of Canada CourtesyPhotos: of the Senate

Aerial view of the new Senate of Canada Building and the city beyond in late fall 2018.

Last December I had the privilege of In what seems like twisted logic, building rather than erect an interim touring the new Senate of Canada Union Station was then slated Senate Chamber in the courtyard of Building with some of the talented for demolition to make way for the East Block. Rob Wright, Assistant and committed people who helped cars and buses to park during the Deputy Minister for Public Services make the transformation of Ottawa’s 1967 Centennial. Destroy history and Procurement Canada who old Union Station possible. As well to celebrate heritage. Thankfully, welcomed our tour, told the group as adapting the historic Rideau Street pioneering advocacy efforts by that the decision bumped the former landmark to meet the requirements Heritage Ottawa’s founders saved Union Station from the bottom of of a functioning Senate, the six year the noble pile, which allowed for the list of federally-owned heritage rehabilitation project restored its most its renovation two years later into buildings in need of refurbishment to spectacular interior spaces. the Government of Canada the top, while saving taxpayers some Conference Centre. $200 million. A Beaux-Arts gem completed in 1912 as Ottawa’s central train station, the Forty-plus years on, the deteriorated The upgrades are impressive. building served as a transportation heritage site has returned to its former Diamond Schmitt Architects of hub until 1966 when rail was glory, thanks to senators who saw Toronto and KWC Architects of removed from the downtown core. an opportunity to reuse an existing Ottawa oversaw the challenging 4 project. The design integrates But the highlight of the project is seismic reinforcements, barrier-free In what seems like twisted the revitalization of the former train access, Green Globe certified energy- logic, Union Station was station’s grand public spaces. Two new efficient technologies — including then slated for demolition committee rooms and a mezzanine a green roof, water-saving plumbing to make way for cars and level were added to the monumental waiting room and the concourse fixtures and 1912 chandeliers buses to park during the retrieved from storage and refitted converted into the temporary with LED lighting — as well as the 1967 Centennial. Destroy Senate Chamber. ERA Architects Senate Chamber’s new broadcasting history to celebrate heritage. brought heritage conservation and acoustic requirements. expertise to the meticulous restoration of the vaulted plaster coffered ceiling, marble floors, faux travertine panels and columns, and arched cast-iron Diocletian windows. For the first time in decades, natural light floods into the hall. Original elements were refurbished providing visual reminders of the building’s transportation history, like the station’s clock over the entrance to the former ticketing block and the mahogany high-back bench — one of 12 that once sat here — donated by the Museum of Science and Technology.

The Senate Chamber features a 20-metre-long illuminated skylight uncovered during the restoration. The historic senators’ desks were carefully identified, moved from the Red Chamber in Centre Block, and reinstated in their rightful location inside the temporary chamber. The introduction of new materials and craftsmanship are artistically juxtaposed against the classically inspired ornamentation. All 10 varieties of maple leaves found in Canada are depicted in the chamber’s walnut entry doors and the translucent glass panels that separate the antechamber. The traditional carving skills of Phil White, the Dominion Sculptor of Canada, were merged with digital techniques developed by Carleton University’s Immersive Media Studio under the direction View of the monumental Senate foyer. Adorning the lower walls are large bronze panels of Dr. Stephen Fei; an innovation perforated with thousands of tiny holes to create landscapes of the country’s regions. developed here and exported around

5 the world. The resulting carved walnut panels depicting Canadian flags that flank the Senate thrones create the illusion of movement, as though the flags are fluttering in the wind.

The overall approach to this stunning revitalization focused on its reversibility. The Senate is scheduled to return to Centre Block in 2030, but the building will be ready to adapt to a new function. You can see for yourself. Guided tours of the award-winning new Senate of Canada Building can be scheduled at visit. parl.ca.

Carolyn Quinn is member of Ottawa’s Built Heritage Sub-Committee as well as Board of Heritage Ottawa.

A new mezzanine level added to the grand former waiting room with the massive cast-iron Diocletian windows restored.

All ten varieties of maple leaves found The Red Chamber with new royal thrones (each incorporating a piece of English walnut in Canada are depicted in the Senate gifted by Queen Elizabeth II) set against panels of white marble from Vancouver Island Chamber’s walnut entry doors. under the restored and repainted original coffered ceiling and skylight.

6 The Firestone Collection of — An Evening with Brenda Firestone By Danielle Jones

Each February during Heritage Week, Heritage Ottawa’s annual Phillips Memorial Lecture honours the memory of Bob and Mary Ann Phillips, pioneering advocates of heritage conservation and co-founders of Heritage Ottawa.

This year’s event, held in the Alma Duncan Salon at the spectacular new Ottawa Art Gallery, also honoured the memory of another couple who have left a lasting cultural legacy for our city. Heritage Ottawa was pleased to host guest speaker Brenda Firestone, eldest daughter of O.J. and Isobel Firestone, as she presented the fascinating story of her family’s significant collection of Canadian art — now permanently housed at the OAG’s Firestone Gallery. Photo: Danielle Jones Danielle Photo: O.J. and Isobel Firestone were passionate collectors of Canadian art. Barbara Firestone lecturing with a slide of the former Firestone family home on In the early 1950’s, they embarked Minto Place in the background upon a collection that would grow to more than 1,600 works by now- Riopelle and Paul-Émile Borduas, The Firestone home was the site famous Canadian artists, spanning and female artists including Ghitta of frequent dinners, concerts and the modern era from 1890 to 1985. Caiserman-Roth, Ann Savage and special occasions hosted by the Molly Lamb. couple (A.Y. Jackson famously Most works in the Collection were celebrated his 80th birthday there in purchased directly from the artists By 1960 the family’s modestly sized 1962) and regular tours of the many themselves. While travelling across dwelling on Springfield Road was paintings and sculptures displayed the country on business, the couple filled with Canadian art. Dr. Firestone throughout. often visited artist studios and spent worked closely with architects Sam hours in conversation over sketches, Gitterman and George Bemi to In 1972, the Firestone family drawings and paintings. Several close design a new, landmark modernist made an extraordinary decision. personal relationships developed home on Minto Place in Ottawa’s Recognizing the significance of their with artists including Jack Shadbolt, Rockcliffe Park. Featuring state-of- collection and the importance of A.J. Casson and A. Y. Jackson. the-art lighting, temperature and keeping it intact, they unanimously humidity controls, an open salon agreed to donate the collection of Along with an extensive number with soaring ceilings, and three levels 1,600 works—along with their of works by the , of living space totalling some 8,000 modernist home for the collection’s the Collection includes works by square feet, the resulting space was a continued display, and a $100,000 prominent Quebec artists of the stylish combination of family home endowment fund—to the Ontario 1950s and 60s such as Jean Paul and private museum. Heritage Foundation (now the

7 Ontario Heritage Trust) on the — and in a feat of engineering, understanding that O.J. and Isobel incorporated in the new OAG could live there for the rest of their where it now leads, poetically, to the lives, and that Dr. Firestone would Firestone Gallery. continue to conduct public tours of the house and Collection by Warm thanks to Brenda Firestone appointment. for her engaging presentation, which concluded in the Firestone Gallery For many years Dr. Firestone where she conversed with many did just that — and with great attendees until closing time. And pleasure. Thousands of people had thanks to the entire Firestone family the opportunity to experience the for their wonderfully generous gift to Collection in its uniquely designed, the people of Ottawa. intended context. Detail of the modernest Firestone house The Ottawa Art Gallery is open daily But by 1990, his health had staircase in it’s new home. from 9 am to 9 pm. Admission is free. deteriorated and the family house For more information visit oaggao.ca became vacant. The Ontario Heritage In a cooperative effort between Foundation (OHF) considered the City of Ottawa and OAG, the Danielle Jones is an artist, designer and moving the collection to Toronto — a home’s original modernist staircase heritage advocate with a particular move to which the Firestone family was carefully salvaged and stored interest in modernist architecture. firmly objected, citing the condition of their donation that the Collection remain in Ottawa.

The OHF agreed to transfer ownership of both the Firestone house and Collection to the City of Ottawa, which in 1992 moved the 1,600 works to the city-owned gallery at Arts Court where it could be safely housed and secured for the future.

Sadly, the modernist house on Minto Place met a less fortunate fate. The city sold the building to private hands in 1995, eventually granting a permit for demolition to a subsequent owner in 2006.

While the loss was poignant for the family (and bemoaned by admirers of modernist architecture), Ms. Firestone was the epitome of resilience and grace in conveying the silver lining. In addition to the Firestone Collection now having its permanent home at the Firestone Gallery in the magnificent new Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG), an

integral part of the family home Sampoorna BhattacharyaPhotos: lives on. The modernist staircase from the Firestone house on Minto Place now incorporated in the new Ottawa Art Gallery 8 Reuse and Renewal of Historic Places By Sampoorna Bhattacharya

On Valentine`s Day, Heritage Ottawa use of glass as “expressions of The two days of inspiring lectures joined the National Capital Commission transparency on robust structures”. and brainstorming invigorated the and the National Trust for Canada to A representative from Safe conversation on adaptive reuse with co-host the two-part NCC Urbanism Wings pointed out how its use respect to the interplay between Lab “Reuse and Renewal.” can transform a “bird-friendly” heritage values, sustainability, and building into one that is economic viability, and within contexts Tom Morrison of Heritage Standing collision-prone. The importance of the monumental and the modest. Inc. opened the presentations by of environmental sustainability sharing insights he gained from a in adaptive reuse practices was Sampoorna Bhattacharya is the 2019 number of historical reuse projects strongly supported by students recipient of the Heritage Ottawa in the Maritime provinces. In his and youth in attendance. Management Internship. view, the key to adaptive reuse is understanding the relationship between people and buildings.

The importance of that approach was made evident by speaker Laura Waldie from the City of Cambridge Gordon Cullingham Grant 2019 who described the restoration and addition to the Old Galt Post Office, a landmark overlooking the Ottawa researcher Emily Guy Grand River. Built in 1884, the is undertaking “The History of building was purchased by the City Cambridge Street, Ottawa,” a socio- of Cambridge in 2012 to house Idea cultural history of an important but Exchange, the town’s fully digital unassuming street in Centretown- library. The 2013 project by RDH West with a diverse cultural Architects included restoration of landscape that has been overlooked the existing structure, plus new in neighbourhood studies. glass additions, one that cantilevers Working with Women of out over the river. Architecture, Ottawa architect Bernard Serge Gagné spoke about Carolyn Gillespie is researching the the restoration of the Monastère contributions of women architects des Augustines in Quebec City. Part who have worked in Ottawa with of a UNESCO designated historic the aim of raising awareness of district, it was restored as a hospital their contributions to the city’s of holistic wellness, a spiritual retreat built environment. A user-friendly, for tourists and a conservation folded pocket-sized map and online facility for all Augustine monasteries digital map will be developed from Ottawa Heritage Photo: in Quebec. The project, while this research. deeply rooted in Quebec heritage, Janet Irwin with award winners Emily The grant awards, established was inspired by Spanish monastic Guy and Carolyn Gillespie, left to right. by Heritage Ottawa in 2008, adaptive reuse projects, which pay were presented to Ms. Guy and homage to history while adapting Ms.Gillespie on February 19 by for future needs. The annual Gordon Cullingham Research and Publication Grant was Janet Irwin, Gordon Cullingham’s In the discussion period, concerns awarded this year to Carolyn Gillespie widow, and Heritage Ottawa were raised regarding the increased and Emily Guy. president David Jeanes.

9 Thank You David Jeanes By Richard Belliveau

David Jeanes, who is stepping down The organization, with the gift of Ottawa’s walks, lectures and bus from the presidency of the board of a private donation, has been able outings. Indeed, David reminded us Heritage Ottawa after the Annual to staff the office from year to year that over the 17 years he has been General Meeting in May, is one of with an office-manager/intern. As with Heritage Ottawa, he has led 30 Heritage Ottawa’s most well known well, a vigorous semi-autonomous walking tours covering ten different and long-serving members. He has committee structure of the board has themes or locales. This is certainly made a variety of contributions to permitted a richer range of activities a record for any of our many the organization, including leading in the pursuit of its mission. volunteer guides. various popular walking tours, lectures on heritage properties and This requires the continued evolution David is also proud of his personal personalities, and administrative of new ways of managing and doing involvement in the successful assistance to the office. He has served things. And the key to that, according pursuit of heritage designation for as president from 2015-19. to David, is a renewal of leadership three important properties in the and continued recruitment to the city, namely the Maison Jeanne We had a conversation with David board of new members with specific d’Arc in Westboro, the Broadview to elicit his views on the challenges and varied talents. He also recognizes Public School, and the Soeurs ahead for Heritage Ottawa and the that an intense approach to revenue de la Visitation convent on future of heritage conservation in generation and fundraising will be Richmond Road. Ottawa. He spoke of the changes that required to meet these new challenges. had affected the organization in the So, on behalf of the board and last four years, noting that the City David himself anticipates remaining membership of Heritage Ottawa, grant had expanded, and – along with on the board and continuing we wish to thank David Jeanes important private donations – the with the activities he likes best – for his many contributions to organization’s resources and activities researching heritage properties, Heritage Ottawa and to the project have grown substantially. continuing with walking tours and of built heritage conservation and bus tours and talks in a number of appreciation over the years. During his time in office, Heritage fora – David has always been active Ottawa had to revise and re-enact its with Ottawa’s Heritage Day and by-laws to reincorporate in line with the city’s Doors Open events, and Richard Belliveau is a member of the new federal and provincial legislation. with Jane’s Walks as well as Heritage Board of Heritage Ottawa

Erratum: Sponsored Naming Rights Qualicum Beach of Heritage Property In the Spring 2019 issue of Newsletter, in the article by The HO Advocacy Committee The Chair of the Built Heritage Andrew King on Ottawa’s sent a letter to City Hall in Sub-Committee, Councillor Glen Qualicum neighbourhood, March recommending that Gower, took this issue immediately we inadvertently noted that the heritage buildings, such as the to the Mayor, and on March 12, neighbourhood was named for Aberdeen Pavilion, be excluded Mayor Jim Watson wrote directly Qualicum Beach in Vancouver. from the City’s Naming Rights to Heritage Ottawa confirming In fact, Qualicum Beach is on Policy so that heritage buildings that the Aberdeen Pavilion and the Vancouver Island. Heritage would not lose their identities to Horticultural Building would be Ottawa knows better, and corporate sponsors. removed from the list of facilities apologizes for the error. available for corporate sponsorship.

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