News in brief: Roslyn Road apartments added to heritage list

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/01/2019 (2814 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Roslyn Road apartments added to heritage list

A historic property along Roslyn Road has been protected by the City of Winnipeg.

Locarno Apartments (1 Roslyn Rd.) was added to the City’s list of historical resources following a meeting of the property and development, heritage and downtown development committee on Jan. 7.

Elements protected under the designation primarily include the exterior facade, courtyard, garage, pilasters, entrances, and concrete-capped parapet. Inside, the building’s finishes on the main staircase has been protected.

The 37 suite apartment block was built in 1929 and was designed by the original owner, Alexander Pollock.
According to the City, the property is the first A. Pollock building evaluated by the City of Winnipeg Historical Buildings and Resources Committee.

Notable character defining elements are found in the hallways and main staircases, which feature ornamental tile and terrazzo flooring and a metal bannister with wood accenting.

MHC Gallery opens two new exhibits

The Mennonite Heritage Centre Gallery is welcoming two new artists into its space this month.

On Jan. 25, Reverence: Icons and Motorcycles by Michael Boss, and Legacy: An Exhibition by Anita Kroeger will open to the public.

In a statement, Boss, a longtime Winnipeg resident, said “both subjects — icons and motorcycles — are treated with reverence when I approach them in my art work.

“The icon subjects I revere for their beauty, spiritual and historical references, and the direction, desire and hope they encompass. The motorcycles I also respond to as objects of beauty and power, as they offer the possibility of transformational experiences.”

Kroeger, who is originally from Winnipeg but has spent several decades in Los Angeles, is related to the famous Kroeger clockmakers of Russian Mennonite lore, clocks which for many are the equivalent of Mennonite icons, the gallery stated. 

Her exhibition features collages and acrylic paintings, as well as historical artifacts from her family’s past. Her art asks questions about the nature of oppression, the meaning of exile, and the ways in which the past informs the present.

The two exhibits open at 7:30 p.m. and will run until March 9 at 600 Shaftesbury Blvd. For more information go to http://gallery.mennonitechurch.ca

Residential school survivors have options for claims records

Residential school survivors who made claims during the Independent Assessment Process and Alternative Dispute Resolution process can choose to have their documents preserved at the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, located at the University of Manitoba.

The Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat has launched a program to alert former students who made claims of abuse at Indian residential schools about their options on what happens to the records from their claims.

According to the NCTR, records from the two claims processes will be destroyed on Sept. 19, 2027 unless claimants ask for a copy for themselves, or choose to share or preserve them.

The Secretariat has set up a website, MyRecordsMyChoice.ca, where claimants can find information about their options.

The NCTR was created to preserve the history and legacy of Canada’s residential schools and already includes millions of records about residential schools, including statements from former students and other records gathered by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

To share records with the NCTR, claimants must complete a consent form, available on MyRecordsMyChoice.ca

Claimants who aren’t sure whether they want to share their records can request a copy of their records from the Indian Residential Schools Adjudication Secretariat to review before they make a decision.

To request a copy of records, contact the IAP Information toll-free at 1-877-635-2648 or visit MyRecordsMyChoice.ca

Province to refinance stadium loan

The provincial government will assume responsibility for a $35.3-million loan taken by Triple B Stadium Inc.
According to a Jan. 7 news release, refinancing the loan will protect taxpayers from about $500,000 in annual interest charges.

Minister of Finance Scott Fielding said the $500,000 in annual savings will be achieved because the province can borrow at a lower rate of interest than the rate of the loan obtained by Triple B.

This refinancing will have no adverse impact on the province’s financial exposure because there is no difference between providing a loan guarantee and directly providing a loan, in the event of default, Fielding said.

In 2015, the previous government provided a loan guarantee to Triple B to borrow up to $35.3 million for repairs needed to Investors Group Field. As of November 2018, a total of $25.5 million has been borrowed by Triple B.

In addition to the construction deficiency loan, the previous government approved an initial loan of $160 million to the University of Manitoba in 2011 to finance construction of IGF.  

The U of M then loaned that money to Triple B. 

Fielding said it was a “deceptive scheme” that made it impossible for Triple B and the Winnipeg Football Club to pay the interest on the loan.

Last year, the provincial controller determined that Manitoba was unlikely to recover the $160-million loan. As a consequence, in accordance with public-sector accounting standards, an allowance was made in the 2018 and 2017 Public Accounts for what has been deemed to be a doubtful loan.

The province continues to collect on the terms of the $160-million loan, and both Triple B and the Winnipeg Football Club remain obligated to meet their contractual commitments under the terms of that loan agreement, the release stated.