Dedicated to Preserving Our Built Heritage Fall 2009 Volume 36, No. 3 ’s House is our (Cattle) Castle: Let Heritage Live at Lansdowne By Brigid Janssen

he Aberdeen Pavilion is symbolic in T so many ways. Of course it is our symbol – the graphic in the centre of the Heritage Ottawa logo that depicts the silhouette of turrets, domes and the grand sweeping expanse of our beloved structure affectionately known as the “Cattle Castle”. aillantcourt

More than a decade ago, the Pavilion onica V er became a symbol of the victory of heritage

over destruction of our history, of citizens’ Photo: V voices over misguided municipal plans. It The Horticulture Building, another designated heritage building, was the 1914 was refurbished in 1994 after nearly falling creation of Francis Sullivan. prey to the wrecker’s ball. The developers behind the Lansdowne Live project Today again, the Aberdeen Pavilion is about to would certainly have us believe that the Aberdeen symbolize… something. Pavilion will be the centrepiece of their plans to transform Lansdowne Park into a hub of shops, a hotel, stadium and some open space. It will serve as the focal point of the Park, with vistas of the Pavilion preserved from Bank Street to the UNESCO World Heritage site of the and along chives the boulevards within the reconfigured Park. They promise a “special, unique and appropriate use” for installations inside “this architectural landmark heritage building” and wax eloquent at their presentation meetings alongside city officials Photo: ar about their respect for this designated Our “Cattle Castle” or the Aberdeen Pavilion as it proudly stands today. heritage building.

1 Let Heritage Live ... on the site. Heritage Ottawa has consistently history, from serving as one of Ottawa’s first supported a transparent procurement process and community skating rinks and hosting the 1904 open international competition for the design of Stanley Cup, to housing troops during the Boer Yet the developers are cannily imprecise about Lansdowne Park.” War, the First and Second World Wars, and more the use to which the Aberdeen Pavilion will be put. Our deepest wish and that of many Ottawa citizens, recently as the home of the Cameron Highlanders At the time of the recent public information is that the intrinsic natural and historic value of and Princess Louise Dragoon Guards. sessions, the tentative thought was to populate Lansdowne Park should anchor its future. Its commercial The adjacent Horticulture Building was designed the lower part of the great Pavilion with glass value should be sustained – as in so many wonderful by Francis C. Sullivan (1882-1929) a protégé of the boxes which would house boutiques and history-based developments in , across great American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. restaurants snuggled at the foundations. The Canada and in tourist magnets of Europe such as The simple 1914 building has trademark Wright protective enclosures would leave little sense or Photo: Landsdowne LIve web site Paris, Copenhagen, Rome and London – by the features, such as an unadorned façade with regard for the wonderful reach and height of the Aerial view in Landsdowne Live’s proposal. fascination, charm, and capriciousness of its history. overhanging eaves, a band of casement windows structure that was an engineering feat of its time, Our deepest wish is for the Aberdeen Pavilion to tucked under the eaves and terracotta capitals policy that a heritage-designated building can only with no centre supports – only the grandeur of once again be a symbol – this time, of enlightened either side of the entrance. be moved if “relocation is the only way to conserve voluminous space. It seems – although clarity is development. The Aberdeen Pavilion is a federally designated the resource”. Never mind the ever-louder protests not a strong suit in this project – that the plan for national historic site. It has been protected by a of farmers who demand that the Horticulture the interior is now being reconsidered in light of federal-municipal cost-share agreement since 1994 Building be left where it is, and by the way, that Brigid Phillips Janssen is a member of the Heritage Ottawa protests that enclosed boxes shielding the people which requires the city to retain the building in its they be left where they are to sell their fresh board and chairs the committee on Lansdowne Park. She is from the architecture was hardly special, unique, restored condition without significant modification produce in their current market area and not President of the Grange of the Gatineau, a not-for-profit appropriate or even vaguely imaginative. for a period of 42 years. The Pavilion is also (as the plans would have it) to move the farmers organisation that promotes heritage from a refurbished 200-year-old barn in Cantley, Quebec. protected by an easement with the Ontario Skepticism about real commitment of the to two smaller, separate spots that might provide Heritage Trust, which in perpetuity preserves the developers to heritage can be forgiven with a a touristy attraction but would kill the market. glance across the way to the next-door neighbour heritage attributes of the building and its features. At the time of publication, Heritage Ottawa was of the Aberdeen Pavilion, the Horticulture Both the Aberdeen Pavilion and the Horticulture preparing to intervene before city council to state Lansdowne History Building, another designated heritage building. Building are also municipally designated as heritage our firm opposition to relocating the Horticulture The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired flat façade and The area bounded by Bank Street, the Glebe and buildings under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. prominent overhang, is the 1914 creation of Building and our strong encouragement of a much the Rideau Canal was acquired in 1868 to hold The adjacent Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Wright’s protégé Francis Sullivan. But for the more appropriate and imaginative use of the agricultural exhibitions and in 1888 the City bought Heritage Site, a designation that can be removed if Lansdowne Live scheme, it’s in the wrong place. Aberdeen Pavilion. the land to become the home of the Central Canada the site and its value and character are damaged. That’s where the cars need to go, into underground In a press release (see www.heritageottawa.ca) Exhibition. Its 140-year history as a centre for parking, and where the commercial development we stated: “Heritage Ottawa has not taken a position agricultural shows, fairs, sports, recreation, needs to extend in order to make it big enough to on any particular plan for the development of farmer’s markets, and the like should be the core be commercially feasible. Lansdowne Park, but believes it is in the interests of development plans in the image of other world So the plan is to move the Horticulture Building. of taxpayers for development plans to revolve capitals that have reaped popular and financial Never mind that this is a clear violation of the city’s around the natural and heritage treasures that exist returns by developing sites around culture, entertainment and public recreation. The Aberdeen Pavilion, dubbed the Heritage Ottawa is a non-profit Directors: John Arnold, “Cattle Castle”, was opened in 1898 and has organization dedicated to the preservation Richard Belliveau, always been the centrepiece of Lansdowne of Ottawa’s built heritage. Susan Buggey Ken C. Clavette, Park and a landmark of the city skyline with Vacant Ken Elder, Ian Ferguson, its fanciful domes and imposing structure. The President Brigid (Phillips) Janssen, Pavilion, named for the seventh Governor Veronica Vaillancourt Heritage Ottawa David Jeanes Leslie Maitland, John McLeod, Vice-President Heather Perrault, General of Canada and nicknamed for the Editor 2 Daly Avenue chives Carolyn Quinn, Paul Stumes exhibitions it housed celebrating progress in Jan Soetermans Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6E2 Willam R. Price Secretary Graphic Designer Tel: 613-230-8841 agriculture and livestock, was refurbished in David Ivison Heritage Ottawa acknowledges 1994 after a long campaign by Ottawa citizens Tina & Company Fax: 613-564-4428 Treasurer the financial support of the Printing Email: [email protected] City of Ottawa and the who refused to see such an historic and David B. Flemming Web: www.heritageottawa.org Ontario Ministry of Culture splendid building demolished. It is now a Past-President national historic site that boasts a proud Aberdeen Pavillion, Circa 1896. Photo: City of Ottawa ar

2 3 lobbying pressures. The appearance Kanata Set to Lose Historic Church of numerous parishioners, Des Adam (Deacon and By Ken Elder former Mayor of Kanata), the aint Isidore, one of the last remaining exceeded the congregation’s fund raising capabilities Archbishop of Ottawa, and churches in Ontario designed by noted of $1.5 to $3.5 million. An option to phase in the other objectors to designation at S priest-architect, Canon Georges Bouillon, work was estimated even higher at $9.0 million. the meeting had its effect. If we lost a bid for designation at city council last June By 2007 the option to demolish the existing church are to make an adequate case for and faces imminent demolition. While it may be and build a new church on the same site was designation in the future we will too late to save the historic Catholic church in old approved at a cost of $3.5 million. need to assemble community South March, we may still learn a few lessons from members with a heritage a heritage standpoint for dealing with possibly Designation of St. Isidore Catholic Church sensitivity and interest, knowledgeable local historians similar cases in the future. In July 2008, a request to designate St. Isidore and preservation experts. Catholic Church was received by the city’s What triggered this threat to a 122-year-old heritage staff. They recommended that the Priest-architect Canon building which has served its congregation building be designated. On 26 May 2009, the Local Photo: Ken Elder Georges Bouillon designed six faithfully for so many years? Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee church or chapel projects Simply put, the expanding suburbs of Kanata (LACAC) unanimously proposed that Agriculture St. Isidore Church showing memorial windows and pressed metal interior, May, 2009 (excluding interiors) in Ontario. now extend into what was once a rural parish. and Rural Affairs Committee recommend that Two of the churches were Today, the church cannot accommodate the number Council approve the designation. However, two destroyed by fire, one chapel of parishioners wishing to attend Sunday mass. days later, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs stained glass windows and the bell that forms part of the was demolished and another so heavily modified The building lacks both washrooms and space Committee recommended: That Council approve in existing church as well as a replica of the former steeple. as to be unrecognizable as his work. Two churches for comforting babies and suffers from several lieu of the recommendation for the heritage designation, On 10 June, 2009 city council rejected a motion for remain: Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel in La Passe, liturgical shortcomings such as the absence of a that the expanded church include: the stonework, the designation and carried the recommendation Ontario, a Gothic Revival style building dating gathering space (narthex), (Report 41) of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs from 1886 and St. Isidore in Ottawa, a French a baptismal font for Committee. Classical style building, designed in 1885 but immersion, and a chapel completed in 1887. St. Isidore is therefore a rare for the reservation of the What are the lessons learned? surviving example of the work of Canon Georges Eucharist. Bouillon in Ontario and the only example of his use The options presented to the parishioners of of the French Classical style in the Province. The What steps were St. Isidore did not include a single genuine heritage staff at the city and LACAC agreed to conservation option such as the rehabilitation and followed to find a designation, but the politicians who should have adaptive re-use of the existing building. The cost solution to this dilemma? been considering the proper administration of the estimates for the initial option are excessively high Ontario Heritage Act listened instead to cost arguments As early as 2005, a task suggesting a lack of knowledge about the original and token gestures masking as preservation. force comprised of craftsmanship and durability of materials. An Ada Louise Huxtable, architectural critic at the parishioners and clergy intervention during this part of the process might New York Times got it right when discussing the was established to make have informed parishioners on the importance of preservation efforts for the Grand Ole Opry recommendations on the site and why the building merited designation. House/Union Gospel Tabernacle of 1892: expanding the church. Further, a discussion on architectural conservation “In the name of reasonableness, the company An architect was engaged could have helped the congregation understand the has sponsored studies that have come up with and a number of options implications and recognize how preservation need the not surprising news that preservation is proposed. The first option not be expensive involved the incorporation ‘economically unfeasible’ due to extraordinary One would expect that the Agriculture and costs for rehabilitating the old building. This is of approximately one-half Rural Affairs Committee would be concerned about of the existing church into par for the course. There is probably no landmark the preservation of this outstanding surviving rural rehabilitation that was not called economically a new expanded worship parish grouping which includes St. Isidore church space. A construction cost unfeasible before it was successfully done.”

Photo: Kevin Smith (1886-1887), the cemetery (1898), and church rectory estimator priced this out at (1898-1899) on seven acres of land. But, like any Ken L. Elder is a member of Heritage Ottawa’s Board $7.1 million which far Principal elevation of St. Isidore Church with demolished steeple, June, 2009 political body, this committee is not immune to of Directors.

4 5 From the Vice-President… Heritage Ottawa 2009 – 10 Lecture Series

Heritage Ottawa continues our mission to conserve Once again Heritage Ottawa is proud to present The Rideau Street Convent Chapel has been called and interpret Ottawa’s heritage buildings, districts, its annual lecture series. Come join us for a the most beautiful chapel in Canada. It is an and landscapes through a range of advocacy activi- varied and rich range of topics relating to extraordinary creation, a nineteenth century Gothic ties and programs. Ottawa's built heritage. Revival chapel built for the Rideau Street Convent,

Louise Imbeault completely in wood. In the early 1970s, plans were Doors Open in June was a big success, though • Admission is free and all are welcome once again the old Registry Office was not available made to demolish the Convent and its exquisite for Heritage Ottawa to host our information dis- Photo: • Light refreshments are served afterwards chapel. An epic battle to save the chapel ensued. While the Convent is lost, the Chapel is now one of play. Three Heritage Ottawa board members serve David Sacks, President of the New Edinburgh Community Alliance, • Except where otherwise noted below, on the Doors Open Advisory Committee. We con- receives a Heritage Canada Foundation Achievement Award from all lectures will be held at the Ottawa Public the centrepieces of the National Gallery of Canada. tributed a special Doors Open walk to Jane’s Walk Carolyn Quinn, Director of Communications for HCF (right), and Library Auditorium, 120 Metcalfe Street, This lecture will be in English. David Jeanes, Vice-president of Heritage Ottawa (left), at the days in May, led by Heritage Ottawa board mem- corner of Laurier Ave, at 7 pm. ber Ann Farouk. New Edinburgh Heritage Forum on 2 October 2009. • Call 613-230-8841 for further information Terra incognita: Unknown Landscapes Our summer-fall neighbourhood walking tours It was announced at the HCF awards night in Toronto and presented to David Sacks, president of John Zvonar, Heritage Landscape Architect, were very successful, with 13 tours by our expert volun- Public Works and Government Services Canada teer guides. Participation this year has been the second NECA, at the annual New Edinburgh Heritage Heritage Porches: highest ever; Mark Brandt’s new Chaudière industrial Forum on 2 October. Sow’s Ear or Buried Treasure Date & Time: Wednesday, March 17, 2010, 7pm tour broke records with 104 participants. Board mem- A major effort led by board member Brigid Janssen, Paul Denys, Renovator, DENYS BUILDS DESIGNS The ancients used the term Terra incognita to bers Richard Belliveau created the program and Ian with website support from board member Heather describe regions that had not yet been mapped Date & Time: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 7pm Ferguson, (with the help of Martin Rice), supervised a Perrault, has created bilingual content for our or documented; today it is used to describe any team of volunteer co-ordinators. brochures and website and is extending our outreach. This lecture will unexplored subject or field of research. Ottawa Heritage Ottawa’s winter lectures, organized by We are moving forward with training our celebrate some has a rich landscape heritage, with examples both board member Leslie Maitland, was launched in heritage keepers who will maintain a watch on of the styles obvious and less so. Join Conservation Landscape September, with an excellent talk by Robert heritage issues in different areas of the City. of porches and Architect, John Zvonar, for a tour of some of the Moreau, (stepping in for Dr. Larry Ostola), on Heritage Ottawa secretary Bill Price and board how they transform Capital’s less familiar, and consequently under- Canada’s National Historic Sites. Our October member Ken Clavette are organizing this. Brigid a home’s curb appreciated, landscapes. He will provide the context lecture is the first we have offered in French, by Janssen is leading our response to the controversial appeal. Paul Denys for understanding and appreciating these places.

Jan Soetermans is a designer Francis Beaulieu about Vanier’s Muséoparc. Lansdowne Park development proposal. This lecture will be in English who has built, During the Rideau Canal Festival and Colonel By Demolitions and alterations in heritage conservation Day weekend, we contributed a walking tour of districts continue; while we accept some, such as 10 Photo: restored and Landmarks Not Landfill: renovated homes architecture and engineering along the Canal’s first Bolton St. in Lowertown, we are concerned at the New Ideas for Old Buildings mile, led by David Jeanes, a Lowertown West tour impact of others on heritage districts, such as 545 since 1984. Paul will be discussing porch composition, Natalie Bull , Executive Director, by Hagit Hadaya and an information booth beside Springfield in Rockcliffe Park. tools and techniques, and he will also be showing Heritage Canada Foundation the canal. Designation is proposed for 114 Wellington, the photos of some of his favourite styles. During the summer, we employed two students 100-year old Soeurs de la Visitation convent, which This lecture will be in English Date & Time: Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 7pm to research the buildings of Old Ottawa South. This has just been sold to Ashcroft Homes. The 3-story “Old ideas can sometimes use new buildings. was made possible by four grants, from the Young convent, its frescoed chapel and large garden are Heritage Ottawa’s Fifth Annual Bob and Mary New ideas must use old buildings.” When urban Canada Works program administered by the not well known, as the cloistered order has been Anne Phillips Memorial Lecture thinker Jane Jacobs wrote those lines in The Life and Heritage Canada Foundation, Canada Summer Jobs hidden behind high walls. If designated, it may Death of Great American Cities in 1961, her vision of Program, Ontario Summer Experience Program, a still be adaptable as multiple residences. One corner The Rideau Street Convent Chapel: old buildings as assets instead of problems resonated city of Ottawa grant and private donations. John incorporates a much older stone house, built in Saving the Most Beautiful Room in the Nation with heritage advocates. Jacob’s timeless message Calvert primed the grant applications and project the 1860’s as a country mansion and occupied Leslie Maitland, architectural historian and underpins Heritage Canada Foundation’s Landmarks successively by prominent Ottawa businessmen and Julie Harris contributed the workplace and heritage consultant Not Landfill campaign – a recent chapter in the James Dyke, George W. Eaton, Senator James Skead, supervision for the students. longstanding call for federal heritage incentives for (the founder of Westboro), and the Holland family. Date & Time: Thursday, February 18, 2010, 7pm, Heritage Ottawa nominated the New National Gallery of Canada Canada. Edinburgh Community Alliance for a Heritage This lecture will be in English Canada Foundation national achievement award. David Jeanes, Vice-president

6 7 planning, often tangling with city councillors who “We have to get organized," in those days resented this “interference” into said Mary Roaf affairs they regarded as their sole domain. In addition to her work with Action Sandy Hill, she A reminiscence lent her energies to organizations and initiatives such as Heritage Ottawa, A Capital for Canadians, By George Wilkes and Norman Dahl the Local Architectural Conservancy Advisory One could reminisce long and lovingly about Committee, and Development Sandy Hill, which Mary Roaf and all she has meant to the Ottawa morphed into Sandy Hill Community Health community and to the whole concept of citizen Centre. Mary joined others in the memorable battle participation in community planning, including to save the Rideau Street Convent from demolition, the vital issues surrounding heritage preservation. including writing letters and attending meetings On a visit with her in her beautiful apartment in and vigils. And in the end she was able to gain Vancouver just a few years ago, everything seemed some satisfaction in the fact that the chapel, as usual with Mary, even with the passage of years, thanks in part to the intervention of the as she launched into animated talk about politics, indomitable Jean Boggs and the efforts of the and, of course, community planning. Mary at the Friends of the National Gallery, is now ensconced time was pushing for more tunnels to ease the in the heart of the National Gallery of Canada. traffic problems in Vancouver! And after a time she There were other battles, failures and successes, donned her jaunty driving cap and drove expertly which readers of this piece can add to. And those to places she wanted us to see including her former stories have come to us, and will come to many, home in Shaughnessy Heights, a fine old area with news of Mary’s passing at age 95 still which had been in danger of unplanned planning, still trying to make it right. “re-development” and for which she had fought Mary and Bill Roaf filled deep places in the City Hall, successfully, to enshrine in law its hearts of many, and the thoughts of their warm heritage status. And she talked, as we drove, of her and glowing humanity stay with us. work with Nicholas Goldschmidt in planning and executing the spectacular Vancouver International Festival, and of the trees lining streets of down- Guide Book with a Difference town Vancouver. “Those are my trees,” she joked. Quentin Gall, a geological consultant and teacher, has written an But of course our truly heart-warming and out of the ordinary guide book of Ottawa titled A Walking Guide, vivid memories of Mary are those days in Ottawa Ottawa’s Building and Monument Stones. when she worked with us on community planning Gall, a long-time resident of the city, takes the reader on a tour and heritage issues. We’ll never forget her arrival of 115 locations and describes the type of stone used in each with her husband Bill at our house at 369 Daly building. He includes a brief historical note for most of the older buildings as well as colour photographs of each site and close-ups when they had just decided to buy the house two of the actual stone used. In addition, the author provides an doors down in Philomène Terrace. Mary talked ani- overview and geologic history of the region, five simplified location matedly about all the things she saw that needed maps and a list of quarries in the Ottawa area along with the types doing in preserving the splendid architecture and of stone quarried. He also includes a glossary and bibliography. neighbourhood ambience of Sandy Hill, a neigh- Amateur geologists, historians or anyone interested in stone will enjoy using this guide to see Ottawa from a new and bourhood they had chosen because of its history, different perspective. still redolent of a colourful past. “We have to get Heritage Ottawa is pleased to have contributed funding for the organized,” she said at last, as she extended her publication of this guide. hand and fixed us with those shining eyes as she and Bill took their leave. Well, the creation of Action A Walking Guide: Ottawa’s Building and Sandy Hill and countless briefs to City Council and Monument Stones the Ontario Municipal Board were the result. Quentin Gall Mary Roaf led many forays, with us and Geological Association of Canada Miscellaneous Publication 7, 2009 countless others, into the field of sound community

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