Council adopts City heritage inventory

What do the Founders' Hall at the Augustana Faculty, the Canadian Northern Railway Station, Ukrainian Catholic Church, 41 Street grain elevator, residences on 48 and 49 Street, the Camrose Federal Building, Candler Art Gallery, Alice Hotel, Rosehaven heritage building and Mirror Lake have in common?

They're among the 41 historic places that have been included in a City of Camrose heritage inventory.

Developed by Heritage Collaborative Inc. with funding from Alberta Municipal Heritage Services and local input, the inventory will allow the City of Camrose to move forward on policies that could create potential municipal historical designation.

It will also provide opportunity for property owners to apply for provincial regulations and possible funding opportunities through the Alberta Main Street program.

"The adoption of the program is required prior to future involvement with the next phase of the Main Street program," said Camrose mayor Marshall Chalmers after council adopted the inventory Jan. 16.

Properties that were considered for inclusion in the inventory were displayed during an open house at the Bailey Theatre during the last Camrose Founders Days.

Criteria used in the evaluation included theme/activity/event/cultural practice, institution or person, design/style of construction, information potential, landmark/symbolic value, location, design, environment, building materials, workmanship, feeling and association.

"A task force of volunteers from the community provided invaluable assistance with the classification process," said City of Camrose director of planning and development services Brenda Hisey.

Founders' Hall (Camrose Lutheran College's Old Main) was built in the late Victorian neo-classical style and is one of the earliest post secondary institutions constructed of wood in Alberta. The Ukrainian Catholic Church was built by the parish of the first Catholic Church in Camrose as the St. Francis Xavier Church, and was moved to its present location in 1953 after being sold to the Bethel Lutheran Church. The Camrose Federal Building (now location of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce), housed the post office and the RCMP, while the Candler Art Gallery building was the location of the first store in Stoney Creek in 1905.

The City of Camrose Municipal Sustainability Plan recognizes the importance the past has on the strength of the community.  The plan's cultural pillar identifies significant historical resources within the community and suggests a heritage resources management plan be established with policies and procedures to protect them. The City of Camrose Strategic Plan Going Forward, The Roadmap to 2015 provides support to a plan which would preserve the city's heritage facilities.

"This is all about preserving our history," said Chalmers. "I don't think there is anybody that would disagree that we need to do that. The City of Camrose is very anxious and enthused to be part of moving this ahead."