WATCH ABOVE: The 105-year-old Edmonton church is steeped in history, but it has seen better days. Eric Szeto explains a new plan to preserve it.
EDMONTON – The province has joined efforts to save McDougall United Church by helping establish a fundraising strategy and kick-starting it with $750,000 while the church seeks historic designation.
The 105-year-old church in downtown Edmonton has been the topic of much debate in recent months, as repair costs for the building soared and members tried to come up with a way to save it.
On Wednesday, the province announced the church council agreed to pursue historic designation and a new community partnership would be created to help support long-term preservation efforts.
In addition to the $750,000 from the province, the city will ask council for a further $500,000 to address urgent repairs at the church.
“Our governments have given us genuine encouragement with this sum,” said Greg Greenough, McDougall United Church treasurer.
“It will kick-start the revitalization and I am hopeful the business community will come forward as we move to establish a framework that allows the building to remain a vital part of downtown Edmonton.”
READ MORE: One final push to save historic McDougall Church
A team including people from the Friends of the McDougall United Church, leaders of the city’s arts, heritage and business communities, the city, province and McDougall officials will work on a fundraising strategy for the long-term preservation of the church.
“City Council, and indeed many Edmontonians, expressed real concern over the future of McDougall United Church, an important landmark in our city,” said Mayor Don Iveson.
“Today’s announcement affords us the time and space to focus our conversations on the future of this building and the role it can play in our community going forward.
“There is still a lot of work to be done, but this is an important first step.”
“Even as we face the fiscal challenges of today, we recognize the need to conserve the richness of Alberta’s past,” said Alberta Minister of Tourism Maureen Kubinec. “This partnership of government, the congregation and community is an example of what can be achieved by working together – all for the preservation of one of Edmonton’s most cherished historic resources.”
READ MORE: Soaring cost of repairs could spell the end for historic Edmonton church
In February, a city report showed the cost of repairing the church had more than doubled from a previous estimate. The latest bill was pegged at between $18.4 million and $25.5 million. It’s a price tag the church’s congregation of about 140 people said they could not pay and the building could be demolished if it couldn’t be saved.
The congregation then asked the city to step in to help, but councillors said they couldn’t justify spending several millions.
On February 24, councillors decided the city would work with McDougall United Church to try to come up with a solution.
“I think a long-term solution for this building is going to have to include some other partners from the community: arts organizations, philantropists, the province,” said Mayor Don Iveson.
“This is going to be all hands on deck.”
Once the notice announcing the intention to seek provincial historic designation is posted, interested parties have 30 days to share any concerns in writing. If concerns are received, the Alberta Historical Resources Foundation will arrange to hear those concerns within 60 days.
During this 60-day period, McDougall United Church Council will bring a motion before the McDougall United Church Congregation to approve designation of the church as a Provincial Historic Resource.
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