Sudbury Arts Council concerned about the future of the Bell Mansion
The Sudbury Arts Council is concerned about the future of the Bell Mansion, the current home to the Art Gallery of Sudbury.
The historic mansion is owned by Laurentian University, which is in the midst of an insolvency crisis. As part of that process, the university is reviewing its real estate holdings, with an eye on selling property it doesn't need.
That leaves members of the council wondering what’s going to happen to the site. The heritage building is one of few in the city, an officials with the council said.
“A big part of our concern is that we could wind up losing it completely,” said Linda Cartier.
After the previous owner passed away in 1954, the building was left to the former Memorial Hospital. Within a year, there was a fire that led the hospital to give the mansion to the Mason family, who then found out the property could not be rezoned.
The Masons then sold it to the local chamber of commerce and, after extensive renovations, the chamber gifted the building to Laurentian in 1969.
“They gave this building for one symbolic dollar to the university, and the university signed an agreement that it would become an art gallery,” said Dieter Buse, also with the Sudbury Arts Council.
“So, it became the art gallery. The name has changed a number of times from being the University Art Gallery to being the Art Gallery of Sudbury, which became independent in 1995-96.”
Arts council members said with Laurentian University’s insolvency, it makes them wonder if they will have any say at all.
“The fear that we have is that it could be sold without any public input,” said Buse.
In response to concerns, Laurentian University released this statement:
“Laurentian University is undertaking a full review of its current real estate portfolio as part of the CCAA process. We understand that our real estate holdings have both cultural and community significance.”
Officials with the arts council said in 1984, the city designated the mansion and grounds as a heritage site.
“Which means that nothing can be done to the structure or the appearance of the building without going through city council,” said Buse.
He hopes the building will be left as is, and continue to be used for the cultural purposes it was designated for.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Watch fighter jet pilots pummel fake enemy ship off coast of Philippines
The United States and Philippines held annual joint-training drills just off the Southeast Asian nation’s western coast on Wednesday. Military forces sunk a 'mock' enemy warship – the BRP Lake Caliraya, which was a decommissioned tanker made in China.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his head more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
'I killed four people': Trial hears video evidence of Jeremy Skibicki at Winnipeg trial
“I killed four people,” alleged serial killer Jeremy Skibicki told two homicide detectives during a recorded interview played as evidence in his trial Wednesday.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.