Stratford waterfront a perfect site for provincial museum

Letter to Editor published by The Guardian - January 28, 2009
by DOUG KELLY

I have read with interest your recent articles and letters regarding a site for a provincial heritage museum. I must say that I am in agreement that a museum must interpret the story of P.E.I. by showcasing both our natural and human heritage.

If a museum is to accomplish these goals, and draw Islanders and tourists alike, refurbishing an old, surplus building would not be the way to proceed. The old Dominion Building in Charlottetown was an office building, and would be a poor fit for a museum.

While no expert, I do think that a purpose-built building would be required given the strict environmental controls needed for an artifactory and provincial archives. I am quite sure that among the goals the province might have for investing in a provincial museum, finding a use for surplus office buildings is not among them. A retrofit building would be hard pressed to provide the necessary archival standard for conservation and preservation.

In Harry Baglole's letter on Jan. 5, he stated that a provincial museum should be housed in a purpose-built building located in a setting near woods or the shore. I would like to put forth the idea of Stratford's waterfront as the perfect location.

Central location: The IRIS Group's heritage study recommended a museum be centrally located to make itself accessible to the highest number of visitors. Stratford is in the capital region, and is now connected to Charlottetown via public transportation. The location has the added attraction of sitting on the bank of the Hillsborough River, a designated Canadian Heritage River.

- Space: Stratford's waterfront has adequate space not only for a museum and provincial archives but also for car and bus parking. The location would provide dramatic views of the harbour and Charlottetown's skyline.

- Government presence: The provincial government has demonstrated its commitment to the concept of 'one Island community' by finding new homes for government departments. As the third-largest municipality in province, there is a conspicuous absence of government presence in Stratford. Locating the provincial museum in Stratford would go far to address this deficit.

- Showcase opportunity: A purpose-built museum has the potential to be an architectural gem, reminiscent of the Canadian Museum of Civilization across the river from Ottawa. A provincial museum on the Stratford waterfront would be highly visible from Charlottetown and the Hillsborough Bridge. The design of a museum should be a drawing card in and of itself.

- The future: At some point, a marina is planned for Stratford's waterfront. Both municipalities would benefit if summertime tourists were able to take a pedestrian ferry from historic downtown Charlottetown across the Hillsborough River to the provincial museum in Stratford. A ferry could even complete the triangle, connecting to Rocky Point (Port la Joye/Fort Amherst) before returning to Charlottetown.

Before a location is chosen for the wrong reasons, let's hope the province follows the IRIS Group's recommendation and allows a professionally led study to recommend the preferred site for a provincial museum and archives.

Doug Kelly is chair of the Stratford Heritage Committee.
28/01/09

Two projects worth supporting

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR as published in The Guardian, Jan 21, 2009
Editor:

It is not often that leaders like Premier Ghiz and Mayor Lee have a chance of a lifetime to make decisions that will be remembered for generations to come.

Two related concepts and projects are available to them that would leave a legacy far beyond the norm. The proposed concepts and projects are founded on desegregation over segregation, diversity over uniformity, and inclusion over isolation.

Project number one: build the provincial museum as a centrepiece on the experimental farm property which would be the first step in the development of an inclusive people's park with gardens, playing fields and outdoor venues for all ages, all economic levels, and all backgrounds and beliefs.

Project number two: reconstruct the Dominion Building into a variety of living spaces from large apartments to small studios. A people's co-operative where the traditional and non-traditional families reside side by side. A place with living spaces for young families and elderly citizens, and kids and pets. A home where wealth is measured by kindness rather than by dollars.

Infrastructure money should be applied to more than just roads. Let some of the funds be used to support projects based on societal needs.

Sterling Stratton,

Charlottetown

Orwell Corner offers such a site

As Published by The Guardian Jan 10, 2008

Editor:
In response to Harry Baglole's letter in The Guardian on Monday, Jan. 5, 2009, 'Deja vu - all over again'.

He indicates that "a provincial museum should be located in a lovely natural setting, near woods or seashore and with ample parking in the vicinity for fleets of school buses."

One would wonder why he does not mention that such a site had been prepared at Orwell Corner, which I understand was the original planned location for this structure.

The land was cleared, a large parking lot was made and a new road was constructed. This site is in a lovely natural setting, has a picturesque view and has access to the Trans-Canada Highway.

Louise MacLeod,

Uigg

Déjà vu - all over again

As published in The Guardian - Jan 5, 2008
Editor:

The recent lobbying efforts by various Charlottetown folk to 'shoehorn' the provincial museum entity into a recycled Dominion Building contains, for me, a strong element of 'déjà vu'. In fact, it reminds me of the not-so-distant effort of the previous provincial government to provide a rationale for moving the artifactory to Murray River. In both cases, the facility (new or recycled) and locality came first; and the museum element was seized upon as a means to other ends, developmental and political.

But (attempting to put the horse before the cart), perhaps we should dare to think - to dream - more ambitiously. How about a brilliant purpose-built new building, designed by a modern-day William Critchlow Harris, and located in a lovely natural setting, near woods or seashore, and with ample parking in the vicinity for fleets of schoolbuses. There are, indeed, several such locations available in the Greater Charlottetown area.

Given the present economic down-turn and the stated intention of governments, pretty well everywhere, to 'spend' our way back to prosperity, there may never be a better opportunity to obtain major federal funding for such an undertaking. Suddenly, there's a lot of 'buzz' about large amounts of money becoming available for new buildings and 'infrastructure' generally.

Besides - I'm sure that creative minds can come up with other dynamic and appropriate culture-related purposes for the born-again Dominion Building.

Harry Baglole,

Bonshaw