Two historic northern Ont. buildings vie for $50K
Historic buildings across Canada are competing for up to $50,000 to help with restoration costs – the competition is called ‘The Next Great Save’ and it is being held by the charity National Trust for Canada.
Historic buildings across Canada are competing for up to $50,000 in the Nation Trust for Canada's Next Great Save contest. (Supplied/Nation Trust for Canada)
Two of the 12 finalists vying for one of the three top prizes in the competition are located in northern Ontario.
Lasalle Theatre
The Lasalle Theatre on Government Road West in Kirkland Lake was built in 1939 during the gold mine boom.
A still image from a video of the exterior of the historic Lasalle Theatre in Kirkland Lake, Ont. on April 18, 2024. (Sergio Arangio/CTV News Northern Ontario)
The Hollywood-style building is now far past its prime.
“It is a streamline modern art deco design, and that is a very late art deco,” said Michael Rawley, the theatre's artistic director.
“There’s only six of these style of theatres remaining in Canada, so that… makes it significant.”
Rawley told CTV News that the immediate goal is to repair the roof and ceiling – but staff hope to one day restore the theatre to its original condition.
“Let’s call her a fated old lady – a ‘grande dame’ who is in need of a little TLC,” he said.
St. Thomas’ Anglican Church
The Old St. Thomas Church located on Front Street on Moose Factory Island was built by the Hudson’s Bay Company in the mid-1800s with the help of the local Cree First Nation community.
An undated photo of the historic St. Thomas’ Anglican Church on Moose Factory island. (Supplied/Moose River Heritage and Hospitality Association)
Moose Factory is home to one of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s oldest trading posts and is one of Canada’s oldest Indigenous-European settlements.
“This was a building put up by people of mixed Cree and European ancestry – and Cree people, as well,” said the executive director of the Moose River Heritage and Hospitality Association, Cecil Chabot.
Chabot told CTV News that the building has been sustained by both the Cree people and others in the region over its entire lifetime.
The church was deconsecrated in 2006 due to its poor condition.
While the landmark symbolizes an almost two-century-old community – it is also tied to the country’s troubled history with residential schools.
Chabot said it is still a sacred place in the community.
“The idea is to try to draw from the best of that history, in order to heal some of the worst aspects of that history,” he said.
“We’re trying to restore the very best of the relationships that that church embodies.”
The Next Great Save
There were initially about 30 applicants for the Next Great Save contest.
Officials with the National Trust for Canada said the two northern Ontario buildings definitely fit the competition’s criteria.
“A site that has an important story to tell and a place that is continuing to play a vital role in its community today,” said National Trust for Canada executive director Patricia Kell, describing how finalists in the contest were chosen.
The 12 finalists are competing for the 3 Top prizes of $5,000, $10,000 and $50,000.
Kell told CTV News that even just being a finalist will boost their profile and help open up more funding opportunities for the sites.
People can vote online daily.
Voting opened Thursday and runs until May 6 with the winner announced May 7.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Wildfires are dampening against cool, rainy weather, but there's plenty left to contain
An opportune system of cool, wet weather Friday is dampening the spread of wildfires across Western Canada, but there's still plenty of work for responders and residents alike.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Dabney Coleman, actor who specialized in curmudgeons, dies at 92
Dabney Coleman, the mustachioed character actor who specialized in smarmy villains like the chauvinist boss in '9 to 5' and the nasty TV director in 'Tootsie,' has died. He was 92.
Information commissioner faces $700K funding shortfall, says system is 'overwhelmed'
Canada's information commissioner says her office is facing a $700,000 funding shortfall that could impact its ability to investigate complaints about government transparency and accountability.
Backlash over NFL player Harrison Butker's commencement speech has reached a new level
The NFL is distancing itself from controversial comments by Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker during a recent commencement address.
Craig Berube named as next head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have named Craig Berube as their new head coach.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta boundary: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.