Re “City adds to its heritage designation inventory”, May 9. I was reading about buildings that have been designated or are about to be designated heritage sites here in Peel. Your readers will be shocked to know that just because a building has been designated a heritage site does not mean the building could not be torn down in the future. For example, in St.Thomas there is a beautiful and historic building, once home to Alma College. This majestic building was built in the late 1800s. In 1976 a ceremony was held out front of the college, a plaque designating the site as a heritage site was unveiled. All the dignitaries were there, applauding this designation, supposedly protecting Alma College from any form of neglect. Now fast forward to 2008. The present owner of the college has applied for a demolition permit, and the City of St.Thomas has given the go ahead. The only thing standing in the way of the wrecking ball is thousands of supporters throughout Ontario and Canada who have signed a petition demanding the McGuinty government step in and put a stop work order on the demolition to protect the college under The Heritage Act. So as nice as the plaques may look on the front of these heritage buildings, don’t get too comfortable, because in the not too distant future, a wrecking ball could be swinging at any one of these heritage sites as well. Our heritage is being taken away from us, one building at a time. If we don’t take a stand for our heritage, the only thing that will remain of these buildings is the plaque out front,designating them a heritage site.
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