'This is a double win': Advocates pleased with proposed funding for old archives building
Advocates are happy with the city's decision to include funding to renovate the old Winnipeg archives building in the proposed budget.
Last week, when the proposed budget was tabled, the city included $12.6 million in capital funding to renovate Carnegie Library at 380 William Avenue. The renovations would mean the city's archives would return to the building for the first time since 2013.
The library's roof was damaged by a rainstorm in 2013 and all the documents were moved to a Myrtle Street warehouse until a long-term solution could be found.
"We've been fighting for eight years to make sure that the archives, the city archives, came back to its home," said Cindy Tugwell, the executive director of Heritage Winnipeg.
"This is a double win because we're preserving the building by getting it reoccupied and we're bringing the city archives back so they can be utilized by everyone and that they're protected in perpetuity."
Gordon Goldsborough, the past president and head researcher of the Manitoba Historical Society, said he is cautiously optimistic about the news.
"There's been lots of other plans in the past that have not come to fruition. But if it does (go ahead), I think it is wonderful, because this is a facility that really needs the attention. It's deserved it for many years, hasn't got it. I'm glad it's finally happening now," said Goldsborough.
He said for this building to once again be the home of the city's archives is important because it will protect the city's history.
"The building that it's in (now) was never designed for archival storage in mind. I mean, it doesn't, for example, provide the kind of climate control that you really need for precious older records," he said. "The other reason is that the current location is awful for public use of those archives. I mean, it's one thing to keep the records, but if they're not used by anybody, then you know, arguably, what benefit are they?"
Goldsborough said having such well-kept documents in the city is a benefit for Winnipeggers as they contain everything from blueprints for all city buildings to documents showcasing the city's development over the year.
"It's just a wonderful collection, that to say, is available nowhere else.”
Whenever renovations get underway, Goldsborough hopes to see a commitment to proper archival storage conditions and also a proper setup so the public can view the documents in the best way possible.
He added the city also needs to show a continued commitment to keeping the building up to date.
"I hope they don't see it as just a one-time expense. It'll have to incur every year, an investment in this archive, otherwise, it's not worth keeping if you’re not going to put real resources into maintaining it."
Tugwell said this renovation project will really "seal the deal to celebrate the City of Winnipeg's 150th anniversary."
The proposed budget will be reviewed at Standing Policy Committee meetings starting on March 3 and council will debate the budget on March 22.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Freeland leaves capital gains tax change out of coming budget implementation bill, here's why
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Ontario woman surprised after 20-year-old fines suddenly tank credit score
An Ontario woman says that she was shocked when provincial fines from 20 years ago suddenly tanked her credit score last week, but the situation may not be as unusual as it seems, according to at least one debt expert.
Anger can harm your blood vessel function, study shows
Stress and anger can have a negative impact on cardiovascular health, studies have shown. New research points to just how the mechanism may work.
A 98-year-old in Ukraine walked miles to safety from Russians, with slippers and a cane
A 98-year-old woman in Ukraine who escaped Russian-occupied territory by walking almost 10 kilometres (six miles) alone, wearing a pair of slippers and supported by a cane has been reunited with her family days after they were separated while fleeing to safety.
Will an 'out of sight, out of mind' cellphone policy make a difference in Ontario schools?
Ontario’s cellphone ban in schools has been met with mixed reaction, with some teachers concerned about constant policing of kids and experts applauding the change as necessary for student learning.
A Utah couple accidentally shipped their cat with an Amazon return. A week -- and 3 'miracles' -- later, they were on a plane to meet a stranger
The Amazon returns employee wasn't at work the day one of her colleagues at a California warehouse found a small, furry stowaway in a box mailed six days earlier from Utah. But Brandy Hunter got the call anyway.
Protesters clash at UCLA after police clear pro-Palestinian demonstrators from Columbia University
Dueling groups of protesters clashed Wednesday at the University of California, Los Angeles, grappling in fistfights and shoving, kicking and using sticks to beat one another. Hours earlier, police carrying riot shields burst into a building at Columbia University that pro-Palestinian protesters took over and broke up a demonstration that had paralyzed the school while inspiring others.
Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Avalanche eliminate Winnipeg Jets from playoffs with 6-3 road win
Mikko Rantanen's first two goals of the playoffs propelled the Colorado Avalanche to a 6-3 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Tuesday that clinched their opening-round playoff series in five games.