The Town of Battleford received two letters opposing a proposal to de-designate the former St. Vital Church building as a heritage site. The matter is scheduled to return to council on April 20 for a decision. (file photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Old St. Vital

Town receives two letters opposing de-designating old St. Vital Church heritage site

Apr 14, 2020 | 2:49 PM

The Town of Battleford received two letters so far from those opposed to the town’s proposal to strip the former St. Vital Church’s municipal heritage property designation. Council will make a decision on the proposed bylaw at its meeting April 20.

The town advertised the matter in March to give the public 30 days notice of the proposed bylaw. The suggestion to remove the heritage designation for the over a century old building was due to its dilapidated state. Town administrators are considering a demolition.

Members of the Battlefords North West Historical Society authored one of the opposing letters. The group said the old St. Vital church “reflects our collective history, defines the places where we live and work, and give our community its unique identity.” They said by retaining the designated heritage building status “we are retaining the character of our community.”

A Battleford resident also sent a letter to the town voicing the same concerns.

Coun. Shelley Boutin-Gervais said at council’s recent meeting she received a letter from a separate resident and plans to include it in council’s next meeting agenda.

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Battlefords North West Historical Society former vice-president Gil Bellavance told battlefordsNOW the property “is an important heritage site.”

He said the town should have put money aside over the past 20 years to help repair the building.

Bellavance said the group hopes to see some mediation from the province if need be, in an effort to prevent the town from de-designating the site.

The town’s original deadline for someone or a group to come forward with a plan to save the old St. Vital Church was at the beginning of January. While the deadline was extended to March 6, the group that hoped to raise funds to preserve the building was not successful in achieving the minimum of $50,000 required to help preserve the structure or begin to restore it.

The building is in poor condition and in need of significant and costly repairs to preserve it. Based on the town’s estimates, the project would also cost up to $250,000 to make the building fit for use. It would cost up to another $200,000 to have the building restored. A full restoration would cost about $500,000, according to an engineering firm’s estimate from administration’s prior report.

To have the property de-designated, the town is required to formally notify the province in a letter.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow