BANFF – A treasured local landmark is to be protected in perpetuity.
The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies has applied to the Town of Banff to designate the Peter and Catharine Whyte Residence at 130 Bow Ave. as a municipal historic resource.
In exchange for a $50,000 matching grant to restore the building’s roof, the Whyte Museum is committing to legally preserve the 90-year-old former home of Peter and Catharine Robb Whyte, who were renowned artists, philanthropists and community members.
Based on direction from council on Tuesday (Sept. 8), administration will return with a draft designation bylaw and compensation agreement over the coming months.
“It’s a property which I’m sure is near and dear to all of our hearts,” said Mayor Karen Sorensen.
Town of Banff planners say the residence, designed as a live-in studio, merits designation for its representative Rocky Mountain folk design and excellence in craftsmanship, as well as its association with the Whytes.
“The lovely log residence, built in 1930-31, exemplifies a beautiful intact example of construction using local logs from Morley and local Rundle stone,” said Eric Bjorge, a development and heritage planner.
“It was also notably designed by Earl Spencer, who also designed Skoki Lodge, which is a national historic site.”
Peter remained in the home until his death in 1966, as did Catharine until she passed away in 1979.
In the 1930s, the block belonged to Dave White, Peter’s father, and the lots were distributed among his children for their residences.
By the 1970s, Catharine spearheaded the conservation of several historic Banff cabins near her residence on the Whyte Museum grounds.
“The residence’s orientation toward Bow Avenue tells a story of the townsite’s evolving morphology, demonstrating that Bow Avenue was once a main street onto which several lots fronted, including its neighbour, Abegweit,” said Bjorge.
The Town of Banff currently has 14 municipally designated heritage properties.
In exchange for the building’s legal protection, the Whyte Museum is seeking the maximum matching heritage grant of $50,000.
However, the heritage reserve account has an uncommitted balance of only $18,973. While funding to this reserve has been suspended for 2020 due to the financial impacts of COVID-19 on the municipality, Bjorge said it’s anticipated that an additional $30,000 will be transferred to the account in 2021.
“The Whyte Museum understands that the Town is not in a position to offer the grant in 2020, however is requesting funds to support a roof restoration plan scheduled for 2021,” he said, adding the Whyte expects to finish the multi-year project in 2024.
“Administration will work with the Corporate Services Department to structure a draft compensation agreement, which reflects these circumstances, to be considered by council in conjunction with the designating bylaw.”
Councillor Peter Poole, who is a council representative on the Banff Heritage Corporation, said the proposal to designate the Whyte Residence was wonderful news.
“For anyone who might not have had an opportunity to visit the Peter and Catharine Whyte Residence, my gosh, it is worth going in there and seeing,” he said.
“It’s really a wonderful place.”
