Future of 101-year-old Calgary school building up in the air as community pushes to save it
The historic Riverside Bungalow School building has stood tall since 1920, but it's also been sitting vacant for several years and now the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) intends to sell the property.
The Bridgeland-Riverside Community Association (BRCA) is now pushing for the 101-year-old building to be properly designated as a historic resource, otherwise the school could be torn down.
"It would be a huge blow to us and to the entire community -- the entire city, really -- and anybody who is interested in heritage. Because it is heritage building, it's important," said Deb Lee, who leads the BRCA's heritage committee.
Gian-Carlo Carra, the Ward 9 councillor, said he only learned that the building could be sold last week. He says he will be asking city administration to look into whether a partnership could save the building.
"I'm planning on asking a question on November 15 at (city council's) question period about how can we do this better in the future? And what specifically can we do about this situation?" Carra said Wednesday.
"I hope there's an opportunity to go back to the school board and say, 'Hey, why don't we look at the whole site?'," he added.
Carra says there may be an opportunity to come up with long-term plan to preserve the old school building and reconfigure the school yard area and better use it for the nearby Riverside School, which is located on the other side of 1 Ave. NE.
Bridgeland-Riverside school, Calgary, Nov.3, 2021
He says the city was asked by the CBE whether there was a municipal use for the building and it was determined it wasn't needed by any city departments.
The school board says it also has no more use for it.
"The most recent use for the building was for administrative purposes, but it has not been occupied for a number of years," reads an emailed statement from the CBE.
"It occupies the same lot as Riverside School and the lot is being subdivided to increase the options available to the CBE for the property."
Riverside Bungalow School was built after the First World War to accommodate an increase in school children in the area. It's one of three identical schoolhouses built in the city at the time that are still standing.
"Right now it could be demolished, it could be significantly altered. So, in the process of it being sold, it'll be sold as-is and a new owner will be free to do with it what they please," said Josh Traptow with Heritage Calgary.
Lee, the BRCA heritage committee lead, hopes the future of the old building will be reconsidered now that the public is aware it could be torn down.
"When we've got buildings like this that are public buildings, they are real treasures and we can't just turn away and let nature take its course," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
NEW 'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.