Macphail Homestead open for fall, winter bookings

As published by The Guardian on September 24th, 2010

The provincial Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal has stepped in and filled the oil tank at the Macphail homestead in Orwell. Guardian photo

Islanders are encouraged to consider the historic Macphail Homestead when choosing a venue for fall and winter gatherings, says Tourism and Culture Minister Robert Vessey.

“The Macphail Homestead is an outstanding Island historic site and ecological resource. It is spectacular in the fall and winter and I urge Islanders to continue to use it for special dinners at Thanksgiving and Christmas,” said Vessey.

The minister and area MLA Alan MacIsaac were recently given a guided tour of the site by Macphail chair Mike Oulton.

Oulton reported the homestead was busy over the summer months and there are several good fall bookings, such as an agricultural symposium on Oct. 7.

"The symposium will focus on research and support for Island farmers, as well as sustainable energy projects for the site including micro-hydro, solar and wind turbines," said Vessey.

In June, the provincial government announced a new agreement with the property to allow for a site manager. The province agreed to maintain the buildings and develop a plan to address capital needs.

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“Through the work of the board, the homestead has been transformed and can now be used to its fullest potential,” said Vessey.

“We are extremely pleased with the level of upkeep and support the province has provided over the summer months,” said Oulton. “This has allowed the volunteers to spend productive time planning events for the coming year.”

The Macphail Homestead in Orwell is a historic site and ecological resource located in Uigg, not far from the Orwell Historic Village. More information about programs at the Homestead can be found at http://www.macphailhomestead.ca.

Orwell Corner deserves better

As published by The Guardian on September 23rd, 2010
Editor:

We have been summer visitors to the Island for many years, and each year we look forward to visiting Orwell Corner Historic Village. This is one of the big highlights of our visit. It is sheer magic to visit Orwell – the staff are exceptional and very authentic in their roles and help visitors be transported back in the past to see what the Island was like then, and how Islanders and Lucy Maud Montgomery might have lived in that time. Sitting in the schoolhouse you can imagine Anne Shirley in school.

Unfortunately, it is apparent that over the years funding to Orwell has decreased which shows in the neglect of buildings, the cutbacks in staff and the general disrepair of much of the Orwell Corner site. This is an Island heritage treasure and one of the places that Islanders and visitors go to find the real history of the Island. Children visiting Orwell connect to a living past because it offers a hands-on experience. Museums are great, but children need interactive exhibits to bring history alive for them. In New Brunswick there is King’s Landing and in Nova Scotia, Ross Farm – these appear to get adequate funding to maintain the sites.

I read about your future provincial museum, and while this is an admirable idea, I would ask the government of P.E.I. not to neglect its valuable existing heritage sites. Orwell is a place tourists and visitors seek out for an authentic Island agricultural experience of the past – not available anywhere else. With more advertising and adequate funding Orwell Corner can be a much-sought-out attraction.

The P.E.I. government in the last year has signed a three-year contract with Cirque de Soleil at $250,000 a year and they gave $800,000 for Live! With Regis and Kelly. These investments admittedly bring in more tourists, but a long-term vision for maintaining heritage sites will bring in far more visitors in the long run.

Cultural tourism is the culture of the Island – past, present and future. I hope the government supports this, and gives Orwell Corner Heritage site the finding and support this Island treasure deserves.

Gillian Robinson,

Halifax

Payoff worth the price for provincial museum - Local - News - The Guardian

William Thorsell, former director of the Royal Ontario Museum, and Doug Deacon, sustainable economic development coordinator with the Town of Stratford pose in front of a cruise ship parked in front of the Charlottetown skyline. Thorsell gave a presentation in Stratford last evening. - Guardian photo by Al MacLeod

Payoff worth the price for provincial museum

Published by The Guardian on September 25th, 2010
by Al MacLeod

With the 150th anniversary of Confederation on the horizon in 2014, the call for a provincial museum on P.E.I. is gaining even more steam these days.

The current museum presence on P.E.I. is made up of multiple sites throughout the province, with each focusing on specific subjects like fisheries and shipbuilding.

The provincial Liberal government has been promising a centralized provincial museum since November 2008 and has financed a study into the subject, which concluded with the recommendation one be built by 2013.

The report also said the province’s approach to heritage is somewhat erratic and ignores important topics like women’s history and archaeological sites.

With this in mind, the town of Stratford brought in William Thorsell, the departing director of the Royal Ontario Museum, to talk about the challenges and processes he went through while rebuilding the ROM in Toronto and making it a vital part of both the city and the province during a presentation Thursday at Stratford Town Hall.

Thorsell said there are challenges involved with such an institution but the payoff is well worth the price.

“It’s a challenge because museums are complex creatures that are pretty expensive to build and pretty expensive to run,” Thorsell said.

“Museums are pretty important centres of identity, pleasure and culture.”

Thorsell came on board with the ROM about 10 years ago and saw the museum go through a fair amount of projects and changes that required substantial funds.

He said the museum took on the responsibility of the projects without government involvement and eventually the government asked to be included and subsequently, provided some of the funding.
Within a few years the institution was a vital part of the city and people flock to the museum every year to see the wide variety of exhibits and galleries.
The key to this success was to solicit interest from the community, Thorsell said.
“We had to create a landscape of desire.”
This was done in part by holding a contest for the architectural design of the renovation projects, which proved to be huge and drew the community into the process and got the media’s attention, Thorsell said.
“Don’t underestimate the power of architecture. It’s more than just a container.
“That created a firestorm of interest.”
It was also important the building stand out and the ROM has a unique architectural design that stands out in the city, Thorsell said.
“Cultural industries are supposed to be the ones to take the risk. They’re supposed to be pushing the limits and create a new sense of possible.”
Thorsell had some advice for P.E.I. on the potential location of its proposed museum.
“You have wonderful water, you have a wonderful waterfront,” he said.
“Don’t put it in a parking lot somewhere in the middle of the city.”