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WAYNE THIBODEAU
As published by The Guardian, Oct 15, 2009
The City of Charlottetown is joining a growing list of Prince Edward Island municipalities that want to be home to a proposed provincial museum.
During a meeting of Charlottetown city council on Tuesday, Coun. Kim Devine commended the provincial government for deciding to build a new provincial museum.
Devine said she plans on outlining Charlottetown’s case to the Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour. She said Charlottetown’s proposal would be “sustainable, feasible and a very appropriate location” that would provide year-round traffic to the museum.
“We are a city that has a rich history,” Devine told councillors.
Charlottetown’s pitch is that it is a capital city for the whole province, the centre with the largest population, as well as a well-established tourist destination.
The capital city says locating the provincial museum in Charlottetown would enhance other cultural centres in the city, including the Confederation Centre of the Arts, as well as strengthen existing historical resources, including the Public Archives located in the Coles Building.
Charlottetown isn’t the only municipality looking to be home to the provincial museum.
The Town of Stratford also wants the honour.
But the capital city may have an edge in the competition.
A firm specializing in planning and designing museums has completed a study looking at the possibility of converting the vacant Dominion Building on Queen Street into a provincial museum.
Lundholm Associates carried out the study for Canada Lands Company, the company that has control of the Dominion Building.
But Cultural Affairs Minister Carolyn Bertram said Wednesday no decision has been made on a location for a provincial museum. She did say the province is committed to creating a “centrally located” provincial museum.
“We are not going to prejudge where it is going to be, that is part of the upcoming process,” Bertram said last November.
Last November the provincial government said it was going to build a provincial museum.
But it may be years yet before construction actually begins. While a provincial museum has been promised, no money has been budgeted for the project.
The former government had promised to build a provincial artifactory in Murray River. The $4.9-million project would have housed more than 80,000 items that are currently being stored at the West Royalty Industrial Park.
But the Liberal government killed those plans, agreeing with some history buffs that Murray River was too far off the beaten track to house the facility.
Devine said creating a provincial museum to interpret and celebrate the Island’s history is long overdue.
“We are currently the only province that does not have a provincial museum,” said Devine. “But we are a province that is rich in its history.”
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Let's build a provincial museum
As published by The Guardian September 26, 2009
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Editor:
If 'location' is the watchword of the real estate industry, so timing is everything when it comes to heritage. Last year, the provincial government announced its commitment to the construction of a central museum complex to complete the provincial museum system that was begun in 1973. That system was created by a provincial government committed to preserving the Island's heritage and funded in large measure by federal monies made available to mark the centennial of Prince Edward Island's entry into Confederation.
The provincial museum system, preserving and interpreting the Island's past for Islanders and visitors, became the chief legacy of our centennial year.
Another anniversary now nears. The year 2014 will mark the sesquicentennial of the Charlottetown Conference of 1864, now recognized as a critical milestone on the road to Confederation. In the early 1960s, Ottawa formally recognized the centennial of the conference as the launching pad for the celebration of Canada's centennial and invested the remarkable sum - for that time - of $2.8 million to help a citizens' group fund a national shrine in downtown Charlottetown to the Fathers of Confederation. That "living memorial", the Confederation Centre of the Arts, has become an architectural landmark, cultural mecca and tourism anchor in the province.
In a small province with limited resources, where it always costs us proportionately more to keep up with the Joneses, 2014 offers a rare and wonderful opportunity. Why not use this 'one-of' funding opportunity to create another cultural legacy that will enrich the lives of Islanders, both present and future? Let's use the special funding opportunity of the upcoming sesquicentennial of the Charlottetown Conference to complete the task begun so bravely in 1973 by building a state-of-the-art provincial museum to complement the provincewide network of small, theme museums that currently exist. If not now, will we have to wait until the bicentennial before there is another such chance?
Edward MacDonald,
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Editor:
If 'location' is the watchword of the real estate industry, so timing is everything when it comes to heritage. Last year, the provincial government announced its commitment to the construction of a central museum complex to complete the provincial museum system that was begun in 1973. That system was created by a provincial government committed to preserving the Island's heritage and funded in large measure by federal monies made available to mark the centennial of Prince Edward Island's entry into Confederation.
The provincial museum system, preserving and interpreting the Island's past for Islanders and visitors, became the chief legacy of our centennial year.
Another anniversary now nears. The year 2014 will mark the sesquicentennial of the Charlottetown Conference of 1864, now recognized as a critical milestone on the road to Confederation. In the early 1960s, Ottawa formally recognized the centennial of the conference as the launching pad for the celebration of Canada's centennial and invested the remarkable sum - for that time - of $2.8 million to help a citizens' group fund a national shrine in downtown Charlottetown to the Fathers of Confederation. That "living memorial", the Confederation Centre of the Arts, has become an architectural landmark, cultural mecca and tourism anchor in the province.
In a small province with limited resources, where it always costs us proportionately more to keep up with the Joneses, 2014 offers a rare and wonderful opportunity. Why not use this 'one-of' funding opportunity to create another cultural legacy that will enrich the lives of Islanders, both present and future? Let's use the special funding opportunity of the upcoming sesquicentennial of the Charlottetown Conference to complete the task begun so bravely in 1973 by building a state-of-the-art provincial museum to complement the provincewide network of small, theme museums that currently exist. If not now, will we have to wait until the bicentennial before there is another such chance?
Edward MacDonald,
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Provincial museum acquires Trueman Pate collection of oil lamps
As published by The Guardian on Sept 29, 2009
EDITORIAL STAFF
The Guardian
The Trueman Pate Lamp Collection has been added to the provincial museum collection.
The Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, along with the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, announced the acquisition and said the addition is thanks to the generosity of Hyndman & Company Ltd., The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company and the family of Trueman Pate.
“This group of lamps is thought to be the largest museum collection of its kind in the country and the museum is proud to have it as part of the provincial collection,” said David Keenlyside, executive director of P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation.
The Pate Collection was the lifelong passion of Trueman Pate from Summerside, who amassed a large number of beautiful oil lamps over many years. It was his wish that the approximately 570 lamps stay together on P.E.I.
After an exhibit of the collection at Eptek Art & Culture Centre in 2008, negotiators began investigating the possible acquisition of the entire lamp collection by the P.E.I. Museum. A government news release says it would not have been possible without Pate’s tenacious collecting spirit and his family’s kind offer to help make his lifelong interest a part of the provincial museum collection for Islanders now and always.
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Hyndman & Company and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company made a significant donation to the P.E.I. Museum in order to assist in the acquisition of the Pate lamp collection.
“Hyndman & Company Ltd. and Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company are pleased to fund the acquisition by the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation of The Trueman Pate Collection of lamps and lanterns to become part of their permanent collection for the benefit of future generations,” said a company representative.
On the Net: www.peimuseum.com
EDITORIAL STAFF
The Guardian
The Trueman Pate Lamp Collection has been added to the provincial museum collection.
The Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour, along with the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation, announced the acquisition and said the addition is thanks to the generosity of Hyndman & Company Ltd., The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company and the family of Trueman Pate.
“This group of lamps is thought to be the largest museum collection of its kind in the country and the museum is proud to have it as part of the provincial collection,” said David Keenlyside, executive director of P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation.
The Pate Collection was the lifelong passion of Trueman Pate from Summerside, who amassed a large number of beautiful oil lamps over many years. It was his wish that the approximately 570 lamps stay together on P.E.I.
After an exhibit of the collection at Eptek Art & Culture Centre in 2008, negotiators began investigating the possible acquisition of the entire lamp collection by the P.E.I. Museum. A government news release says it would not have been possible without Pate’s tenacious collecting spirit and his family’s kind offer to help make his lifelong interest a part of the provincial museum collection for Islanders now and always.
Celebrating its 100th anniversary, Hyndman & Company and The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company made a significant donation to the P.E.I. Museum in order to assist in the acquisition of the Pate lamp collection.
“Hyndman & Company Ltd. and Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company are pleased to fund the acquisition by the P.E.I. Museum and Heritage Foundation of The Trueman Pate Collection of lamps and lanterns to become part of their permanent collection for the benefit of future generations,” said a company representative.
On the Net: www.peimuseum.com
Architect sparks excitement about bid for museum in Stratford
as published by The Guardian on Oct 1, 2009
NIGEL ARMSTRONG
The Guardian
Passion and excitement swept through a meeting in Stratford Wednesday as the town pushes on with a bid to have a new P.E.I. museum on its waterfront.
An informal committee of interested people, led by Stratford deputy mayor Sandy McMillan, has for the past few days been hosting one of the world’s most famous architects, Douglas Cardinal.
He spoke at a public meeting attended by nearly 50 people at Stratford Town Hall Wednesday. Afterwards, the excitement was palpable.
Edward Rice presented his enthusiasm for the project to area MLA Cynthia Dunsford and Mayor Kevin Jenkins.
“All inclusiveness, the inspiration of a new building that is allowed to be free, to be formed, something new and imaginative, the site — which I think is ideal — somebody put all this together and that hasn’t happened in Charlottetown,” said Rice.
Cardinal spoke of the need for strong, determined vision and commitment to make projects happen even when it seems unlikely. He persevered for many of his renowned, curving structures, be it the National Museum of the American Indian on the Washington Mall beside the Capitol, or a northern Canadian hospital combining aboriginal and western medicine.
“It takes imagination, which everything starts with, your vision, your belief, and (Cardinal) brought that to us tonight,” said Rice. “Somebody somewhere in this group had the brains to put that together. They have a bid committee. Where are the rest of the few communities that could be interested? I see big players here and big dreamers too.
“Remember Frank MacKinnon built Confederation Centre of the Arts on a dream, with not a . . . hope . . . of getting a dime to do that, and he and a few other people did it. Not that I agree with it.”
Jordan Brown is the unofficial co-chair and sometime spokesperson for the Stratford museum bid committee. He lives in Frenchfort but was impressed with the idea of Stratford being home to a P.E.I. museum. He knows that the current town sewage lagoon will have to be moved if the museum is to occupy the open waterfront space south of the Hillsborough Bridge approaches.
“From a provincial perspective it makes so much sense to have it there, it is almost nonsensical to think of it being any place else,” said Brown.
He invited any interested Islander to contact him, McMillan or the Stratford town office to volunteer for the growing ad hoc museum committee.
“Government right now has announced its intention to build this museum and is currently undertaking a study . . . to define the scope of the museum, where it would go, what kind of facility it would need, parking, etc.,” said Brown. “Like (Cardinal) said here tonight, we have stated our intention that we want it here, now we are enrolling the people to do that.”
“The first step is to declare a very powerful intention,” said Cardinal in his address Wednesday.
Then it must be nurtured, he said.
“When you state your word, and you say it in a powerful way, the hardest thing is to keep your word because human beings have a whole bunch of agendas going on in their heads,” said Cardinal. “To bring a vision into reality, you keep your word, you keep your intentions pure which requires an unwavering commitment. You operate by commitment, rather than fear.
“Fear keeps us powerless and small and collapse the power of our intention.”
See public responses to this article at the Guardian site.
NIGEL ARMSTRONG
The Guardian
Passion and excitement swept through a meeting in Stratford Wednesday as the town pushes on with a bid to have a new P.E.I. museum on its waterfront.
An informal committee of interested people, led by Stratford deputy mayor Sandy McMillan, has for the past few days been hosting one of the world’s most famous architects, Douglas Cardinal.
He spoke at a public meeting attended by nearly 50 people at Stratford Town Hall Wednesday. Afterwards, the excitement was palpable.
Edward Rice presented his enthusiasm for the project to area MLA Cynthia Dunsford and Mayor Kevin Jenkins.
“All inclusiveness, the inspiration of a new building that is allowed to be free, to be formed, something new and imaginative, the site — which I think is ideal — somebody put all this together and that hasn’t happened in Charlottetown,” said Rice.
Cardinal spoke of the need for strong, determined vision and commitment to make projects happen even when it seems unlikely. He persevered for many of his renowned, curving structures, be it the National Museum of the American Indian on the Washington Mall beside the Capitol, or a northern Canadian hospital combining aboriginal and western medicine.
“It takes imagination, which everything starts with, your vision, your belief, and (Cardinal) brought that to us tonight,” said Rice. “Somebody somewhere in this group had the brains to put that together. They have a bid committee. Where are the rest of the few communities that could be interested? I see big players here and big dreamers too.
“Remember Frank MacKinnon built Confederation Centre of the Arts on a dream, with not a . . . hope . . . of getting a dime to do that, and he and a few other people did it. Not that I agree with it.”
Jordan Brown is the unofficial co-chair and sometime spokesperson for the Stratford museum bid committee. He lives in Frenchfort but was impressed with the idea of Stratford being home to a P.E.I. museum. He knows that the current town sewage lagoon will have to be moved if the museum is to occupy the open waterfront space south of the Hillsborough Bridge approaches.
“From a provincial perspective it makes so much sense to have it there, it is almost nonsensical to think of it being any place else,” said Brown.
He invited any interested Islander to contact him, McMillan or the Stratford town office to volunteer for the growing ad hoc museum committee.
“Government right now has announced its intention to build this museum and is currently undertaking a study . . . to define the scope of the museum, where it would go, what kind of facility it would need, parking, etc.,” said Brown. “Like (Cardinal) said here tonight, we have stated our intention that we want it here, now we are enrolling the people to do that.”
“The first step is to declare a very powerful intention,” said Cardinal in his address Wednesday.
Then it must be nurtured, he said.
“When you state your word, and you say it in a powerful way, the hardest thing is to keep your word because human beings have a whole bunch of agendas going on in their heads,” said Cardinal. “To bring a vision into reality, you keep your word, you keep your intentions pure which requires an unwavering commitment. You operate by commitment, rather than fear.
“Fear keeps us powerless and small and collapse the power of our intention.”
See public responses to this article at the Guardian site.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Give Island children, and visitors, a place to discover
Commentary
GUEST OPINION
PAMELA KORITANSKY
as published in The Guardian, March 24, 2009
I have returned to P.E.I. to raise a family after several years of being away. Since returning I have often heard it said that P.E.I. is the ideal place to raise a family. This has given me reason to wonder if this is really true.
My husband and I and our children recently took a trip to Portland, Maine and while there visited a "children's museum." The museum was an interactive discovery centre that engaged children in exploring and discovering lots of interesting things about the way the world works: how wind affects the movement of balls, how gravity affects different objects and what the inside of the space shuttle looks like. It afforded our children the opportunity to step inside a life-size fire engine and press buttons and see lights flash, to walk through a child-size storefront, take out money at an imitation ATM machine, pretend to be a veterinarian at the child-size clinic complete with stuffed animals in need of medical attention, and a tree for climbing, to mention only a few. It was a welcome place to visit as a family where we could explore and run around indoors on a cold February day. It was open every day, all day and offered a variety of really great programs for children of all ages.
My children are preschool-aged and I have found it difficult to find things to do with them and as a family here on P.E.I. We love being outdoors and enjoy all the excellent parks in Charlottetown, but often find ourselves "stuck" indoors due to weather that is too harsh for preschool children. We do enjoy visits to the CARI pool and the library, but apart from time and day specific playgroups there is no facility (to my knowledge) that families can visit together for children to run, play and discover.
It seems to me that as a family-friendly tourist destination, Charlottetown would be proud to add to its repertoire a state-of-the-art children's discovery centre that would beckon families to visit here year round. It would be an asset to many of the already popular Island festivals for families and children, and would not be dependent on the weather.
I just recently read the Island prosperity plan and couldn't be more convinced that an essential part of "creating a brighter future" and "investing in the people" is to build a place for children to explore, learn and discover. An interactive discovery centre or museum like the one I visited in Portland would promote creativity and a love of learning among Island children. The exhibits and displays could inspire Island children with ideas about renewable resources like wind energy and aquaculture innovations. I would love to see federal infrastructure money and provincial spending delegated to a project like this. With all the plans for a bioresearch park in place, perhaps the government should consider integrating an investment in the futures of Island children by committing to establish a children's discovery centre in Charlottetown as a part of this innovative plan.
The City of Charlottetown and the province would do well to put its heart, soul and resources into supporting a children's discovery centre because it would be an investment in the prosperity of Island families and that is an investment worth making.
A children's discovery centre would give families a destination to be together and "take 30 for the family." It would be an attraction for any family contemplating moving to P.E.I. as well as retaining Islanders who live here now and are starting their families. Not to mention the fact that this discovery centre could be a real meeting place for Islanders and newcomers alike to share in the joy and delight of their children learning and discovering together.
Where much can be said of P.E.I. being a great place to raise a family (relatively low cost of living, friendly, safe, etc...) we should not let that stop us from finding a way to make our Island even more family-friendly for residents and visitors alike.
Pamela Koritansky is a native Islander. After years of travel and study abroad, she came back to P.E.I. and earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science at UPEI in May 2003. She is currently a stay-at-home mother of two children, aged 2 1/2 years and six months.
GUEST OPINION
PAMELA KORITANSKY
as published in The Guardian, March 24, 2009
I have returned to P.E.I. to raise a family after several years of being away. Since returning I have often heard it said that P.E.I. is the ideal place to raise a family. This has given me reason to wonder if this is really true.
My husband and I and our children recently took a trip to Portland, Maine and while there visited a "children's museum." The museum was an interactive discovery centre that engaged children in exploring and discovering lots of interesting things about the way the world works: how wind affects the movement of balls, how gravity affects different objects and what the inside of the space shuttle looks like. It afforded our children the opportunity to step inside a life-size fire engine and press buttons and see lights flash, to walk through a child-size storefront, take out money at an imitation ATM machine, pretend to be a veterinarian at the child-size clinic complete with stuffed animals in need of medical attention, and a tree for climbing, to mention only a few. It was a welcome place to visit as a family where we could explore and run around indoors on a cold February day. It was open every day, all day and offered a variety of really great programs for children of all ages.
My children are preschool-aged and I have found it difficult to find things to do with them and as a family here on P.E.I. We love being outdoors and enjoy all the excellent parks in Charlottetown, but often find ourselves "stuck" indoors due to weather that is too harsh for preschool children. We do enjoy visits to the CARI pool and the library, but apart from time and day specific playgroups there is no facility (to my knowledge) that families can visit together for children to run, play and discover.
It seems to me that as a family-friendly tourist destination, Charlottetown would be proud to add to its repertoire a state-of-the-art children's discovery centre that would beckon families to visit here year round. It would be an asset to many of the already popular Island festivals for families and children, and would not be dependent on the weather.
I just recently read the Island prosperity plan and couldn't be more convinced that an essential part of "creating a brighter future" and "investing in the people" is to build a place for children to explore, learn and discover. An interactive discovery centre or museum like the one I visited in Portland would promote creativity and a love of learning among Island children. The exhibits and displays could inspire Island children with ideas about renewable resources like wind energy and aquaculture innovations. I would love to see federal infrastructure money and provincial spending delegated to a project like this. With all the plans for a bioresearch park in place, perhaps the government should consider integrating an investment in the futures of Island children by committing to establish a children's discovery centre in Charlottetown as a part of this innovative plan.
The City of Charlottetown and the province would do well to put its heart, soul and resources into supporting a children's discovery centre because it would be an investment in the prosperity of Island families and that is an investment worth making.
A children's discovery centre would give families a destination to be together and "take 30 for the family." It would be an attraction for any family contemplating moving to P.E.I. as well as retaining Islanders who live here now and are starting their families. Not to mention the fact that this discovery centre could be a real meeting place for Islanders and newcomers alike to share in the joy and delight of their children learning and discovering together.
Where much can be said of P.E.I. being a great place to raise a family (relatively low cost of living, friendly, safe, etc...) we should not let that stop us from finding a way to make our Island even more family-friendly for residents and visitors alike.
Pamela Koritansky is a native Islander. After years of travel and study abroad, she came back to P.E.I. and earned a bachelor of arts degree in political science at UPEI in May 2003. She is currently a stay-at-home mother of two children, aged 2 1/2 years and six months.
Children's museum worth supporting
As published in The Guardian - March 26, 2009
Editor:
I wish to wholeheartedly agree with the views expressed in the guest opinion 'Give Island children, and visitors, a place to discover' (The Guardian, March 24, 2009)
I have long held the view that a children's science museum here on the Island would be magnificent legacy to the Island's children. It could be a place of intellectual exploration, an introduction to important basic scientific ideas, and an enjoyable learning and entertainment experience for all Island children.
I lived in Sudbury when Science North was developed, and visit grandchildren in Vancouver where there is always a visit to the Children's Science Museum on our schedule. These museums are staffed mostly by volunteer retired citizens who have backgrounds in science and engineering, and who are wonderful learning conduits for the children who attend.
A children's science museum - with both basic scientific displays and changeable exhibits - would be useful to every school class on the Island as well as a unique tourist feature during the summer months. This is an idea which looks to the future and would help all Island students. Advancing this as a public project would be a refreshing change from some of the tired and fruitless programs that are funded from time to time here on the Island.
Michael Ross (P. Eng, Retired),
Stratford
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
The old, threadbare Dominion Building
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR as published in The Guardian, Feb 24, 2009
Editor:
The ease with which some folks are ready to spend other people's money can be breathtaking. Take, for example, the old Dominion Building.
Here's a dated structure that federal government tenants began abandoning years ago. There are rumours the old building is loaded with asbestos insulation. There is also talk the aged structure is unstable, which accounts for the braces on the exterior. An energy audit would almost certainly produce a failing grade. Despite these warning signs, there are some folks who want taxpayers to plow as much as $30 million into the salvage of this worn-out hand-me-down.
Here's the question. Is the Dominion Building worth saving? The architectural design is uninspiring. It can't qualify as a heritage property. And the structure has problems, which will be staggeringly expensive to fix.
By contrast, the estimated cost of demolition is about $2 million. Then what? Islanders can seize the opportunity to create something important and exciting and new on the site of something old and threadbare and lamentable.
Aubrey Bell,
New London
Editor:
The ease with which some folks are ready to spend other people's money can be breathtaking. Take, for example, the old Dominion Building.
Here's a dated structure that federal government tenants began abandoning years ago. There are rumours the old building is loaded with asbestos insulation. There is also talk the aged structure is unstable, which accounts for the braces on the exterior. An energy audit would almost certainly produce a failing grade. Despite these warning signs, there are some folks who want taxpayers to plow as much as $30 million into the salvage of this worn-out hand-me-down.
Here's the question. Is the Dominion Building worth saving? The architectural design is uninspiring. It can't qualify as a heritage property. And the structure has problems, which will be staggeringly expensive to fix.
By contrast, the estimated cost of demolition is about $2 million. Then what? Islanders can seize the opportunity to create something important and exciting and new on the site of something old and threadbare and lamentable.
Aubrey Bell,
New London
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