Dedicated to Preserving Our Built Heritage May 2018 Volume 45, No. 2 Heritage News Now It’s Time to Fight for the Château Laurier

HERITAGE By Peter Coffman 2 018 WALKING Time is running out to prevent the most disgraceful act of heritage TOURS vandalism of our generation. If the proposed addition to the Château Laurier goes ahead, it will forever disfigure one of the most iconic Join our experienced guides for and important heritage sites in the walks through some of Ottawa’s country. most interesting neighbourhoods ranging from Beaverbrook to The saga, you may recall, began back Briarcliffe. Our program offers a in September of 2016 when Larco number of new tours as well as returning favourites. Investments (and their architect Peter Clewes) unveiled plans for an We’re kick-starting this season’s addition to the north side of the 17 tours on June 10 with “Heritage Apartments in Centretown.” Back Château Laurier that was met with by popular demand, the tour will near-universal horror and revulsion. Peter Coffman Peter depart from the Main Entrance of the A “revised” version unveiled two Museum of Nature. months later turned out to be nearly Photos: Photos: Walking Tours are $5 for members indistinguishable from the first. and $10 for non-members. Finally, this February, we were shown Tours take place on Sundays, a substantially altered design – one and to work with, the architectural rain or shine, and begin at 2 pm that managed to look completely “language” of the existing building. (unless otherwise indicated). different, while still repeating all the That language is one of romance and Mark your calendars! Visit fundamental mistakes of the first two what is known as the “picturesque” our website for more details: versions. (See https://heritageottawa. – a playful, varied and intricate heritageottawa.org. org/news/heritage-ottawa-remarks- aesthetic meant to surprise us and revised-design-for-proposed-addition- excite our curiosity. The Château chateau-laurier) Laurier is meant to seduce and delight us. Its silhouette changes constantly So what are these fundamental as we walk around it; light and shade mistakes? The details are many, play dramatically off its complex but they all fall under the broad surfaces. It is rich in historical umbrella of a failure to understand, allusion, evoking the French tradition

1 It’s Time to Fight cont’d.

that is fundamental to our history. It conjures visions of Tennyson’s Heritage Ottawa is a non-profit Time is running out to prevent organization dedicated to the “many-towered Camelot.” It also preservation of Ottawa’s built heritage. evokes the opulence and romance the most disgraceful act of of the Gilded Age, and the kind of heritage vandalism of our Linda Hoad unimaginable luxury of buildings Editor like George Vanderbilt’s “Biltmore.” generation. If the proposed Jan Soetermans It is an invitation to dream. addition to the Château Laurier Graphic Designer goes ahead, it will forever Katari Imaging The proposed addition is none Printing of this. It is rectangular. It is flat. disfigure one of the most iconic It is a grid. It has neither curves nor Heritage Ottawa and important heritage sites 2 Daly Avenue diagonals. It evokes nothing. It offers in the country. Ottawa, K1N 6E2 no surprises. It is as romantic as a mathematical formula, as lyrical as a Tel: 613-230-8841 Fax: 613-564-4428 telephone book. And from Major’s Email: [email protected] Hill Park, or the mouth of the canal, a heritage building be fundamentally Web: www.heritageottawa.org or from the Ottawa river, it is all you will see of the Château Laurier. incompatible with its historic David Jeanes partner. This misconception is President Contrary to some of the claims probably rooted in the Ontario Leslie Maitland circulating in mainstream and social Ministry of Culture’s “Eight Guiding Past-President media, there are no regulations or Principles” for heritage conservation, Carolyn Quinn bylaws requiring that the addition to one of which states that “New work Vice-President Communications (vacant) Vice-President Operations Linda Hoad Vice-President Programs Anne Maheux Treasurer Louise Fox Secretary (vacant) Legal Consultant Danielle Jones Website Directors: Doug Beaton, Richard Belliveau, Peter Coffman, Ken Elder, Ian Ferguson, Krista Gowan, Glen Gower, Robert Martin, Heather McArthur, Hunter McGill, Carolyn Quinn, Martin Rice, Nicole Sammut, Katherine Spencer-Ross. Heritage Ottawa acknowledges the financial support of the City of Ottawa and the Ontario Ministry of Culture

2 should be distinguishable from freestanding hotels in LeBreton old.” This can be interpreted – and Flats, would be just fine. But But adding a wing to a building misinterpreted – in several ways, but adding a wing to a building of such given that five of the eight provincial of such historical importance historical importance as the Château Guiding Principles begin with the as the Château Laurier, on Laurier, on such an important word “respect”, it obviously isn’t an site beside Parliament Hill, brings such an important site beside exhortation to build incompatible special responsibilities. Both the additions. No heritage laws or Parliament Hill, brings special building and its setting are uniquely guidelines, anywhere, would responsibilities. significant. The ensemble of hotel, encourage this – in fact the mother canal and Parliament has been of all heritage guidelines, the commemorated on our currency Venice Charter, states: “Additions and our postage stamps. It is as cannot be allowed except in so far combination of both. Whatever the iconic for Canada as the Palace as they do not detract from the reason, we have to conclude that of Westminster is for Britain, or interesting parts of the building, its after three attempts over nearly two Washington’s Capitol is for the traditional setting, the balance of years, this owner and architect have USA. What is being contemplated its composition and its relation proven that they are not up to the here would be unthinkable with its surroundings.” job. The problems with the design are elsewhere. As Dr. John Goodall, fundamental to their approach, and an internationally renowned It’s clear that this is a matter of no amount of tinkering can fix them. architectural historian and choice: either the architect is Architectural Editor of Country Life uninterested in showing the required The Château Laurier is not just magazine in the U.K., observed: respect and sensitivity, or the another hotel. All three of the “That this national view should be client is forcing his hand, or some proposed designs, if built as sacrificed to a clumsily designed 3 4 The Château Laurier is meant The Château Laurier Hotel – a few interesting facts to seduce and delight us. Its The Château Laurier is one of Ottawa’s most beloved buildings and an silhouette changes constantly exceptional Canadian railway hotel. For over 100 years, the elegant Château as we walk around it; light and Laurier has been the setting of much of Ottawa’s important social, cultural and political life, yet always open to the general public. shade play dramatically off its complex surfaces. • Built for $2 million by the Grand Trunk Railway between 1909 and 1912, it is connected to the former Union Station by an underground tunnel under Wellington Street. • Luxurious materials include Indiana limestone, Tiffany windows and hotel extension — literally a massive Belgian marble. glass box — ought to provoke a • The opening planned for April 26, 1912 was postponed until June when national outcry.” GTR president Charles Melville Hays, who oversaw the hotel’s construction, perished aboard the RMS Titanic. Paul Chevré, who That outcry needs to happen right sculpted the bust of Prime Minister Laurier that stands in the hotel lobby, now. The City’s Built Heritage was the only male member of the party to survive. Sub-Committee (BHSC) and • In August, 1914, Major Raymond Brutinel enrolled the first recruits for Planning Committee will hold the Canadian Automobile Machine Gun Brigade at the hotel. a joint meeting soon to consider • In 1924, the CNR radio network station first broadcast from the sixth the proposal. Citizens can make a floor of the Château. Taken over by CBC Radio in 1937, the station 5 minute presentation at this joint operated from there until 2004. meeting. The recommendation • In 1929, the Canadian National Railway (which had absorbed the GTR passed at this meeting will go to in 1923) built an east wing along Mackenzie Avenue. Designed by City Council, who will vote on architects John Archibald and John Schofield, the seamless addition whether to allow this addition to go provided 240 rooms, a new state-of-the-art kitchen and featured the ahead. The City invites public input, renowned vaulted-ceiling ballroom. and it is crucial that they get it. • In 1930, the hotel added a stunning Art Deco style indoor pool and offered spa-like “therapeutic” treatments. Perhaps most importantly, it is time to write to your member of City • While serving as Prime Minister, R.B. Bennett made a specially created Council. Not all of them care about 17-room suite at the Château his official residence. heritage, but you can be sure that • Many important events with visiting dignitaries were hosted by the hotel, every single one of them cares about including the month-long First Imperial Economic Conference in 1932 votes. In this election year especially, and the 1939 visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. we need to send the message that • During the Second World War years the hotel hosted a number of the wanton destruction of our clandestine conferences with military and industrial leaders quietly built heritage will cost votes. If that entering the hotel by the tunnel from Ottawa’s Union Station and meeting behind closed doors. message comes through loud and clear, we can still save the integrity • Master photographer Yousuf Karsh maintained his studio and residence in of the Château Laurier and the the Château Laurier from 1973 to 1989. Parliamentary Precinct beside it. • In 1981, the Château Laurier Hotel was designated a National Historic The ball is in our court. If we want Site of Canada. to protect our heritage, now is the • The CNR hotel chain was purchased by Canadian Pacific Hotels in 1988 time to fight for it. and a year later changed its name to Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. • In 2000, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada chose the Château Peter Coffman is an architectural as one of the top 500 buildings constructed in Canada during the last historian in Carleton University’s millennium. History and Theory of Architecture • The hotel was purchased by Larco Investments in 2014. program. He is a member of the Board of Heritage Ottawa, and Past President • Over the decades, the Château Laurier hosted a star-studded guest list, of the Society for the Study including visiting royalty, international heads of state and other dignitaries. of Architecture in Canada. 5 The Government of Canada Should Step Up to Protect Our Heritage By Leslie Maitland

Many would be shocked spending, this is peanuts. But we’ll to learn that there is no legislative take the peanuts. protection for national historic Currently, there is no sites or other federally-designated legislative or procedural The successful Commercial heritage properties. -- Really!? Heritage Properties Incentive protection for the nearly Fund, which provided matching But the Government of Canada has 200 national historic sites funding for heritage properties with an opportunity to fix this. Recently, owned by the government a commercial purpose to restore the Parliamentary Standing and rehabilitate them, should be Committee on Environment and of Canada. re-launched. This program was Sustainable Development issued enormously successful in reviving “Preserving Canada’s Heritage: main streets in smaller cities and The Foundation for Tomorrow” towns. In Ottawa, the Parkdale (hereafter cited as the Parliamentary Board Office (FHBRO). Indeed, Fire Station, now housing several Report). The report is an analysis crown agencies and other arms- businesses and a catering company, of the federal government’s failings length federal entities are not was a beneficiary of this program. in heritage conservation, with required to submit their properties recommendations to rectify them. to the FHBRO for assessment of The big funding recommendation You can read the full report here: their potential heritage status. is the creation of tax incentives for https://www.ourcommons.ca/ the restoration and preservation That’s right: there is no legislative of heritage buildings. In the DocumentViewer/en/42-1/ENVI/ protection for the Parliament report-10 United States this has resulted in Buildings, or 24 Sussex, or Rideau the conservation of over 40,000 The recommendations fall into Hall, or the Central Experimental heritage properties, with benefits to three broad categories: 1. Getting Farm (CEF). Or even the Rideau urban and rural areas, businesses, the federal government’s house Canal World Heritage Site. and employment opportunities in in order; 2. Financial incentives; construction. and 3. Support for the heritage of Financial Incentives Canada’s Indigenous peoples. The Federal funding over the years has Recognition of Minister for Environment and been very hit and miss, which is Climate Change has 120 days to Indigenous Heritage a shame, given the tremendous respond, right about the time this achievements which can be made The Parliamentary Report article goes to press. with relatively small amounts recommends measures to identify of money. In the past, a cost- and protect places important to The Government of share program administered by Canada’s Indigenous Peoples; to Canada Should Get its Parks Canada helped hundreds of enhance the capacity of Indigenous property owners across the country. communities to protect their sites House in Order Currently federal funding for themselves; and to give Indigenous communities a stronger voice on Currently, there is no legislative or heritage conservation programs the Historic Sites and Monuments procedural protection for the nearly sits at 10 million dollars, but that Board of Canada. 200 national historic sites owned will now return to its base funding of $1 million. The Parliamentary by the government of Canada.1 In support of the Truth and Report calls for base funding of And there is no protection for the Reconciliation Commission, $10 million. Compared to the hundreds of properties designated the Report recommends adding by the Federal Heritage Review billions injected into infrastructure

6 Linda Hoad Linda Photo: Photo:

Parkdale Fire Station

First Nations, Métis and Inuit Heritage Ottawa’s Role Government of Canada must get its representation to the Historic Sites house in order. We shouldn’t have and Monuments Board; integrating This is an ambitious suite of to battle the Government to protect Indigenous history, heritage values recommendations which Heritage the heritage places significant to the and memory practices into Canada’s Ottawa supports. The National entire nation. national heritage and history; Trust has launched a Year of Action, As well, Ottawa is of particular commemorating residential school focused on the financial incentives, importance to Indigenous Peoples. sites, and the contributions of seeking tax credits by the time the We are on the traditional, unceded Indigenous peoples to Canada’s 2019 federal budget is ready to be territory of the Algonquin Peoples, history; and commissioning and launched. and Ottawa is additionally home for installing a Residential Schools Why does this matter, especially to other First Nations communities, National Monument in the city of Ottawa and to Heritage Ottawa? As Métis and Inuit. We should do what Ottawa to honour those children the National Capital, Ottawa has an is within our capacity to contribute who were lost, as well as the abundance of nationally significant towards Reconciliation with survivors. structures. To protect them, the Indigenous peoples.

7 The Parliamentary Report’s Recom- mendations

• protect heritage features of federal heritage buildings to prevent demolition by neglect; statutory protection for federal heritage buildings;

• require FHBRO review of Crown corporation buildings; federal protection for archaeological resources on federal land and in waters of federal responsibility; Photo: Carolyn Quinn Carolyn Photo: • legislation to protect Booth Barn, built 1867, Central Experimental Farm Barn. national historic sites and FHBRO-designated properties belonging to sites. We have worked closely with the federal government; other federal departments, such as We need to work for meaningful • owner departments to the National Capital Commission, progress in the protection of invest 2% of asset on individual heritage properties. replacement value for the our national heritage in this We have engaged with the media maintenance and time and again. Year of Action. … Heritage restoration of federally- owned heritage properties; Ottawa encourages its members We need to work for meaningful progress in the protection of our and supporters to write to • give precedence to heritage national heritage in this Year of properties where federal the Minister responsible for Action. To that end, Heritage Ottawa accommodations are sought; National Historic Sites and encourages its members and supporters to write to Catherine McKenna, the the Federal Heritage Buildings • ensure federal actions do Minister responsible for National not threaten heritage Review Office, and to the Historic Sites and the Federal Heritage properties owned by others; Minister of Finance, to support Buildings Review Office, and to Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance, to • create statutory protection the Parliamentary Report’s for Canada’s World support the Parliamentary Report’s Heritage Sites; Recommendations. Recommendations. Please visit https:// heritageottawa.org/ for draft letters • give statutory recognition and addresses that you might use. to the Canadian Register of Historic Places and Heritage Ottawa has reached out the Standards and to the Minister of the Environment Leslie Maitland is a member of the Guidelines for the and Climate Change, the Board and Co-Chair of Heritage Conservation of Historic Honourable Catherine McKenna, Ottawa and Co-Chair of the Places in Canada. responsible for national historic Advocacy Committee.

1 Another nearly 700 are owned by other levels of government or private individuals, and their protection varies depending upon the jurisdiction within which they are located, and only if they are also locally designated.

8 summer-fall walking tour program From the President and our next lecture season will again feature an evening of talks By David Jeanes by several emerging scholars presenting their research. For the Students and Young past several years we have actively sought a young professional to sit Professionals on our board.

An important aspect of our The Louise Fox Internship funds commitment to renewal is Heritage a one year part-time management Ottawa’s support for the involvement position which provides a learning of students and emerging young and development experience for a professionals in the heritage sector. young heritage professional. We hope that these initiatives foster an increased interest in heritage Finally, we encourage students to conservation. apply for the Gordon Cullingham Research and Publication Grant. In April we provided judges and an award for elementary school pupils at Upcoming Heritage the Ottawa Regional Heritage Fair, as we have for several years. Events By the time you read this, we will We encourage you to enjoy Doors We are a co-sponsor of the Carleton have held our Annual General Open Ottawa on June 2 and 3 and University Heritage Conservation Meeting where we will say farewell to Welcoming Ottawa Week in June Symposium, run by graduate students some board members and welcome which will once again make important in the School of Indigenous and several new directors. contributions to public awareness of Canadian Studies. the importance of our built heritage. This issue includes the first We are again offering subsidies for up See our website for more information: in a series of interviews about to two students to attend the Ontario https://heritageottawa.org/ the pleasures and perils of Heritage Conference to be held in undertaking the adaptive re-use Sault Ste. Marie in June. of a heritage building. Re-use is the best remedy for Demolition We are encouraging younger David Jeanes, President, Heritage by Neglect. volunteers to assist with our Ottawa / Patrimoine Ottawa

Become a donor and support Ottawa’s great built heritage! Donations over $10.00 will receive a receipt for income tax purposes. Heritage Ottawa is a Registered charity: 893096776RR0001.

Devenez donateur et soutenez le patrimoine bâti d’Ottawa! Des reçus pour fin d’impôt sur le revenu seront émis pour les dons de 10.00$ et plus. Le numéro d’enregistrement en tant qu’organisme de bienfaisance de Patrimoine Ottawa est : 893096776RR0001.

9 Adaptive re-use of heritage buildings in Ottawa – a conversation with a practitioner

Adaptive re-use of heritage buildings an event space. The key interior community investors, which are does not seem to get the attention heritage elements, such as the split approximately 50% – 50%. or uptake in Ottawa that it deserves. wood panelling, stained glass The potential for real estate Adaptive re-use can be the answer windows and the volume of the development on a portion of the to “Demolition by Neglect,” still a former church hall, though not property was key to making it critical on-going issue in our city. protected by a designation, create possible to preserve and adapt the distinctiveness of the adapted the main heritage structure of In an attempt to understand the space. But there are challenges also the church. motivation and challenges involved in protecting these features while in adaptive re-use, Heritage Ottawa upgrading to support new uses and 4. Who are the key people is approaching a number of people to conform to current building making the adaptation who have undertaken such projects. code requirements. The striking These conversations will form the possible: architects; stained glass windows in the former craftspeople; suppliers; basis of articles over the coming church worship space are particularly community? months in the Newsletter. noteworthy. The first of the conversations is Community support has been and with Leanne Moussa, developer of continues to be very important. allsaints Event Space in Sandy Hill. I have “invested” heavily in The key interior heritage consultation and communication 1. Why undertake an elements, such as the wood with immediate neighbours and with the community as a whole. ambitious adaptive panelling, stained glass re-use project? Some neighbours have gone so far windows and the volume as to become investors in the project. allsaints is in my neighbourhood. of the former church hall, There is an advisory design group I share the concerns of neighbours that we are just in the process of about the need to preserve this though not protected by establishing which also includes distinctive, important building a designation, create the heritage specialists and architects. which is significant not only in But this is not a zero or low-cost distinctiveness of the Sandy Hill but in the city of Ottawa. element of the project; it will It will be an important part of the adapted space. require considerable time and Prime Ministers’ Row initiative that money but will help to shape the looks to transform Laurier Avenue project. For the moment, availability East. I’m not new to this; I had is good for skilled trades and experience with the conversion/ 3. Financial considerations architects with the necessary skills, re-use of a building for the Betty Hyde influencing conversion but who knows what may happen as Day Care just around the corner. decisions? the Parliament Buildings restoration project gets going. 2. What is key about the People who invested in this project building that needs to did so because they believe in 5. The adaptive re-use be saved? preserving the heritage building. proposal involves a They also placed high social value on multi-storey building The exterior of the building is creating a community facility as well on the site. What is the protected through a heritage as jobs during the conversion and impact of proposed designation. Many interior features then its operation as an event space. change to the heritage are an important part of the appeal That is the case for our business of the building in its new life as investors and for our building/site?

10 On the other hand funding from Yes, based on the response from the federal government to improve investors and initial signals from Combining the new accessibility to the adapted structure “the market.” But the answer re has been critical for us to install allsaints is still to come. structure with the heritage an elevator. This interview has been condensed building is key to the from the original conversation. financial viability of the 7. Are adaptive re-use projects of interests to entire project … clients and tenants?

The plan to use a portion of the site, now occupied by Bate Hall, which is not designated, to construct a medium rise residential structure (hotel, condos or rentals) is the most challenging part of the project. Combining the new structure with the heritage building is key to the financial viability of the entire project, but represents the most visible change to the site. As mentioned earlier, continued consultation with neighbours/the community is essential to persuading them to accept the final plans. Our credibility is key in relations with the community.

6. What actions can governments take to make adaptive re-use more feasible and attractive?

Funding for the project from all levels of government has been minimal.

The federal government had a program to offset restoration costs of heritage buildings, the Commercial Heritage Properties Investment Fund; this needs to be revived. At the municipal level, opportunities to off-set restoration costs against property taxes, as is done in other municipalities, would be Ross Caroline Photo: tremendously helpful. allsaints Event Space

11 Some recent publications about Ottawa’s history.

Obscure Ottawa, by Ray Corrin. municipal fiasco of the 1970s, it is the L’architecture dans une vie – Ottawa: Reprieve Press, 2018, 284 first photo in the book. Louis J. Lapierre, architecte. pages, $40.00, hardcover. Further information: http://www. Andrée Dupuis et Marie-Dina reprievepress.com/ Salvione. Montréal: Éditions Carte Ray Corrin, a long-time Ottawa Blanche, 2018, 170 p. $34.95. The Art and Passion of Guido resident, has published this personal Voici un nouveau livre sur un Nincheri, by Mélanie Grondin. view of the city. A collection of important architecte moderniste :Véhicule Press, 2018. black-and-white photos taken over canadien, Louis J. Lapierre, né en 240 p. $24.95, paper. several decades it “is a book about the 1924. Il est de la première génération arcane sights of Ottawa, the odd, the Guido Nincheri, a prolific Montreal d’une école d’architecture totalement unwanted, the lonely and lamentable” artist of stained glass windows and modernisée. to quote the author. For the fan of frescoes, also lived and worked Ottawa’s built heritage, however, La deuxième partie est une analyse in Ottawa. St. Anthony of Padua Obscure Ottawa will remind us of originale de huit œuvres choisies Church at Booth and Gladstone is important features, some lost, some parmi ses réalisations, incluant an important example of his frescoes still in place, which add to the charm l’édifice Union du Canada sur and stained glass windows. of the city. In case you wondered la rue Dalhousie à Ottawa, what happened to the Rideau Street Further information: http:// malheureusement démoli en 2014. covered bus mall, a noteworthy www.véhiculepress.com/q. Disponible en ligne à: https:// php?EAN=9781550654851 boutiquecarteblanche.ca/

Demolition by Neglect No More

Heritage advocates concerned by the deteriorating condition of the vacant Bradley-Craig barn were pleased to learn recently that the prominent landmark won’t be moving to Saunders Farm after all. The barn’s owner, Richcraft, now plans to keep the heritage barn on Hazeldean Road and renovate it for commercial use.

On February 4, about 40 “Friends of the Bradley-Craig Farm” assembled for a community photo. We were joined by friends young and old, some in costume, some with musical instruments. The freshly fallen snow and lots

of smiling faces made for a Hambly Rob Photo: charming picture. Bradley Craig barn

12