Title
Parkland County Historical Resource Photo Project Report
Proposed Motion
That the Committee of the Whole accept the Parkland County Historical Resource Photo Project report for information, as presented.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration supports the proposed motion.
Purpose
To inventory potential historical assets in Parkland County.
Summary
As proposed in the March 2016 Parkland County Historical Resource Photo Project, a public appeal for residents to provide photographs of pre-WW ll buildings, structures or artifacts was conducted May through September 2016.
The Multicultural Heritage Centre (MHC) offered support in several ways, and Administration met to view their current collection to understand cataloguing methodology so we collected the proper information. MHC was prepared to assist with entry into a data base and update of existing files as well as the processes involved in the Municipal Heritage Partnership Program. MHC has not recently been active in artifact cataloguing, their last up-date was in late 1980’s or early 1990’s and no further updates were done unless someone brought information to them.
The Parks, Recreation and Culture practicum student developed advertisements which were placed bi-weekly in the Reporter/Examiner, several times in The Voice, Pembina Post and on social media. On September 9, the Reporter/Examiner wrote a half page article on the project to further promote the initiative. Community Associations were provided information to share with their membership as were Multicultural Heritage Centre and Stony Plain and Parkland County Pioneer Museum.
There were a total of five responses as follows:
52204 - Rge Rd 15 Pre WW ll barn - Davidige
Carvel General Store & out buildings
Carvel Church and community hall (1937)
51528 Rge Rd 73 Building believed to have been a post office for Moon Lake area
Rge Rd 32 & Hwy 627 Mewassin Free Methodist Church - 1937
Perhaps the lack of response is a case of public "you don't know what you've got till it’s gone" and a lack of recognition that our "wooden" history is valuable, highly perishable and the primary physical history we have.
Ascertaining the historical wealth of Parkland County remains an initiative worth undertaking, as an inventory will provide:
o awareness of the number, types, distribution, kinds of resources
o scope for decisions relative to further ventures into historical preservation activity
o mapping of historic material as points of interest (tourism potential)
o a supplement to other historic materials in local museums and archives
o an additional heritage dimension to Sustainability Planning
Of the original five buildings that were the impetus for this project, one site has been bulldozed (Burtonsville church-risk management) and another is at risk as the roof and floor are increasingly compromised (Shoal Lake School).
It is proposed that future direction be considered within the context of the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan - Rural Heritage and Culture.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications
Healthy Communities - Parkland County communities create strong supportive cultures through design excellence and proximity to amenities, services and recreational opportunities.