Photo by Curtis Galbraith

By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

Historical designation for downtown building meant to restart program to save such buildings

May 23, 2022 | 6:00 AM

A local expert says the Centre for Creative Arts building, also known as the old courthouse, being designated a Municipal Historical Resource is a way to restart a program to preserve such buildings.

Charles Taws is the historical resources supervisor for the city and the curator of the Grande Prairie Museum.

He says the old courthouse represents a “focal point” from the past.

“It represented the court administration in this community at various municipal, provincial and federal levels.”

“The exterior of the building is a federal style that was very popular when the building was built in the late ’50s and it actually looks very much like it did.”

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Taws says in this case, it is the outside of the building that is important. He adds the inside has been modified by the exterior is still the same.

As for future plans, Charles Taws says there is already a good maintenance plan in place.

“It does have some renovations planned in the upcoming years. I don’t have those details with me, but certainly, if we designate this property, there is the potential that we could open up an avenue to some provincial funding to help with the renovations.”

Taws says having the Centre for Creative Arts in there is “a wonderful use for the building.”

Taws adds a list compiled in 2006 of possible historical resources included 19 possible locations, 15 of which are still around.

Council voted in favour of designating the old courthouse a Municipal Historical Resource at its May 2 meeting.

Two other buildings, the old high school that is now part of the Montrose Cultural Centre and the Forbes homestead, have been designated Provincial Historical Resources.