Date: Aug 24, 2014 12:34 AM Subject: Preserving our past is the way to becoming a world class destination To: Dear Minister Kousoulis - As the NDP Critic for Communities, Culture & Heritage I have great concern that the current Liberal government is of the mind that progress automatically precludes protecting, rehabiltating, revitalizing and celebrating the historic buildings which make our province unique - the type that tourists love to see when they come to visit. Tourists dont come to NS to see skyscrapers thats for sure. If they want that kind of experience theyd go to Toronto or New York! People come to Nova Scotia because of its natural beauty, its culture and its unique heritage. Please dont ruin it. Once a heritage building is gone its gone forever - and the replacement is usually nowhere near as interesting or unique. In fact often when these buildings are torn down instead of revitalized it seems to be more about increasing a profit for private owners than about adding beauty or grace to the urban landscape. Unfortunately there are many such examples in Nova Scotia already. Here in Truro for instance, people today still bewail the fact that our historic train station was demolished for a strip mall and our elegant Civic building demolished for a barren parking lot. Now I hear another historic building is in danger of the wrecking ball. The 150 year-old Dennis Building which sits across from Province House and was built to match it. The building clearly needs work - but could be fixed for less money than it would take to build a new building, or to lease a building for several years. There is more information posted on the Facebook group site, Keep the Dennis Building. Please read up about it so that you can understand why I and many others are concerned that as the Minister of Internal Services you recently publicly suggested demolishing this building. I certainly hope that the mandate for the new Internal Services department (for which you have been named Minister) is not to champion demolishing our built heritage. You may be surprised to know how many Nova Scotians care about our heritage and want to preserve it - including the Dennis Building. I have heard from many of them who are concerned since you publicly suggested it should be torn down and they have asked me to let you know they do not approve. They are hoping that you will say no to demolition of yet another beautiful historic building in downtown Halifax. Revitalization is extremely important for the downtown of many towns and for the city of Halifax which in my view has the potential to be a world class city. However all of the world class cities where I have visited and lived are famous for their beautiful heritage districts and for their historic buildings which their governments have protected for hundreds of years. In this way people like myself and others can marvel at them more many more years. Please remember that progress does not mean demolishing our past as a civilization that forgets its past is a civilization with no soul. Thank you Minister. I hope you will reconsider your earlier statement and help us protect our built heritage and in particular the Dennis Building. Sincerely - Lenore Zann NDP Critic for Cimmunities, Culture & Heritage
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 03:43:46 +0000
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