Heritage Canada Foundation Releases 2011 Top Ten Endangered Places and Worst Losses Lists

Cape Jourimain Lighthouse, Bayfield, N.B.
photo credit: archer10 (Dennis) via Flickr

OTTAWA, September 2, 2011 /Canada NewsWire/ - The Heritage Canada Foundation (HCF) has released its Top Ten Endangered Places and Worst Losses Lists drawing attention to a total of 13 architectural and heritage sites in Canada either threatened with demolition or already lost.

The Top Ten Endangered Places List, compiled from nominations received as well as from news items that HCF has been following and reporting on throughout the year includes:

...Bank of Montreal Building, Edmonton — a prominent modernist gem heading for landfill

...Civic Centre, Moose Jaw, Sask. — award-winning hockey arena facing demolition if new use not found

...Brighton Public School, Brighton, Ont. — a solid historic brick building on school board's chopping block

...Cockshutt Office and Timekeeper's Building, Brantford, Ont. — time is running out on designated heritage buildings part of the once thriving industrial heart of the city.

...The Guild Inn, Toronto — multiple levels of authority could scuttle plans of a would-be city partner willing to rehabilitate designated site.

...Historic District of Sillery, Quebec — condominium developers circling estates that make up this designated cultural landscape

...Cape Jourimain Lighthouse, Bayfield, N.B. — the clock is ticking as local groups try to raise funds to save iconic lighthouse

...Mount Allison Memorial Library, Sackville, N.B. — university Board of Regents pushing to demolish war-time monument - a case of academic indifference

...Fisherman's Row Houses, Port Union, Newfoundland and Labrador — an opportunity to preserve part of the Fisherman's Protective Union's legacy and provide affordable housing scuttled by unwilling absentee owners

...Kays Brothers Building, Charlottetown, P.E.I. — new owner looking to delist and demolish large and impressive historic commercial building for a new hotel.

Click Backgrounder for the full story and photographs.

Topping the Worst Losses List is the historic Empress Hotel in Toronto, lost due to neglect, lack of municipal resources and indifferent owners - and ultimately by an arsonist's fire.

Other examples of historic places needlessly destroyed by the wrecking ball are Vancouver's Pantages Theatre and the Methodist Episcopal Church in Picton, Ontario.

Click Worst Losses for more information.

The Heritage Canada Foundation is a national, membership-based, non-profit organization with a mandate to promote the preservation of Canada's historic buildings and places.