Discussions

From the press release below, the Dominion Exhibition Display Building II... better known as the Provincial Ex building on the Keystone grounds... is one of the top ten endangered buildings in Canada as determined by Heritage Canada.  
 
The building and it's fragile state have been the subject of much debate locally as the Provincial Ex races the clock to secure funding while its still possible to save it.  
 
Here's a full outline of the current situation from the Provincial Ex:  
 
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Why it matters  
Many generations of families have celebrated agriculture and manufacturing under the impressive domed roof of Display Building II. This architectural monument is the last surviving building of those constructed for the Dominion Fair held in Brandon in 1913. Designed in Beaux-Arts Classical style by Walter H. Shillinglaw and David Marshall, two prominent Brandon architects, it also served as a display space for the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba’s three annual events: the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, the Manitoba Summer Fair and the Manitoba Livestock Expo.  
Already designated a National Historic Site, the province declared the building a Provincial Heritage Site in 1984, recognizing it as “a rare surviving example of agricultural buildings constructed in Manitoba.”  
 
Why it’s endangered  
Display Building Number II is in poor condition and deteriorating rapidly. It is feared that the building may collapse over the next couple of years. There are holes and gaps in the walls, exposing the structure to vandals and risk of fire.  
Currently, it’s being used as a storage facility for Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, which is trying to find funding to restore the landmark and adapt it for office space to house five non-profit organizations, as well as an interactive museum for children.  
 
Where Things Stand  
There is tremendous community support for the building’s rehabilitation. As well as the non-profits wanting to relocate to the site because of its historical connection to agriculture and Brandon, all three neighbouring municipalities have agreed to pass motions supporting the project, as has Brandon’s municipal heritage committee.  
The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba was unsuccessful in its application for funding from the Building Canada Program, and general manager Karen Oliver is feeling less confident about the future of the site. “The building may have seen its last hurrah and that is a very sad thought. Time is running out and saving it is now beyond our means,” she worries. Oliver sees creating a hub of agriculture and education as a great use of the building and a sound solution to the problem. A substantial financial commitment from a provincial or federal body would give the building a fighting chance to recapture its former glory.  
 
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Having seen some of the restored historic buildings in other cities, I think it would be awful if we let a chance to preserve our history slip between our fingertips.  
 
The full press release from Heritage Canada:  
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/July2009/07/c4541.html  
 
and also a Vancouver Sun article written from that city's perspective (focuses on their local building that was on the list):  
http://www.vancouversun.com/Canada+endangered+historic+buildings/1768386/story.html