Heritage Planning on the Rock

Heritage is an amalgam of culture, language, music, history, the natural environment, and the built environment. Heritage planning at the municipal and provincial level is often concerned with historic houses, buildings, districts, and parks.

History was on the minds of many in 1997 during the 500^th anniversary of the discovery of Newfoundland (and Canada) by John Cabot; some claim that Cabot landed at Cape Breton Island rather than Newfoundland, but that is a debate for historians and navigational experts. In the aftermath of Cabot 500, the Province is launching a Matthew replica for promotional efforts; this is not the Matthew replica which was built in Bristol, England, and recreated Cabot's voyage across the Atlantic. The Province also reconstructed the Lester Garland house in Trinity, engendering a debate on why we rebuild lost buildings but failing to save old original buildings.

Heritage planning by local consultants has proceeded at Trinity and Brigus over several years, with provincial and local funding. Trinity is a jewel in the crown of cultural tourism; municipal infrastructure is being upgraded to accommodate increased visitation. Archaeological excavations are underway at Ferryland -(the Colony of Avalon, with past planning work by Mary Bishop, MCIP); Cupids; Burnside, Bonavista Bay (past planning work by John Baird, MCIP); Placentia; and Port au Choix on the Vicking Trail. A streetscape project in Placentia is intended to preserve the town's character before (and if) the Voisey's.Bay smelter is built nearby; Arvo McMillan, MCIP, is involved as the town planner. The Province may co-operate with St. John's on a downtown planning study, incorporating heritage and economic development. Concept plans for historic districts are being developed at Twillingate and Bonavista (with work by Mary Bishop again). Last year, Bonavista saw the opening of the Ryan fishing premises as a national historic site. Battle Harbour, Labrador, is also being restored with federal support as an example of a summer fishing station. Such diversification is necessary in the wake of the collapse of the northern cod fishery and the continuing moratorium on fishing.

Sadly, many historic buildings have been demolished over time. The list of demolitions since Confederation with Canada in1949 is disquieting. An old hospital complex in St. John's, built as a Cabot 400 project, may now face the wrecking ball. Adaptive reuse will be essential to save some historic schools and churches in the aftermath of educational and ecclesial reorganization and downsizing.

Heritage, in terms of historic buildings and design controls, is still seen in some quarters as a luxury. item. Heritage efforts appear to have a greater chance of success when combined with economic or tourism development. The combination makes a heritage project more palatable to elected politicians and to the public at large. A good question to ask: What legacies do we hope will endure, a century or more from now?

Ken O'Brien, MCIP is a Heritage Planner in St. John's, NFLD.

Atlantic Planners Institute

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