A group seeking to restore the exterior of the Canmore Miners’ Union Hall (CMUH) to its original condition sought council’s approval and involvement, Tuesday (June 21).
Bob Snape, speaking on behalf of the CMUH Restoration Committee, the CMUH management committee and Pine Tree Players, told council the goal of the restoration project is to return the exterior to how the municipally-owned hall looked when it was completed in 1913 by removing the stucco and replacing it with bevel spruce siding.
An anonymous donor has already committed $100,000 to the project, $75,000 for the physical work and the remaining $25,000 for ongoing maintenance, on the condition the Town of Canmore match the donation or at least a large portion of it.
“The Union Hall has provided a wealth of service to the community since it was completed in 1913,” Snape said during his presentation to council.
“We’re hoping that council will see themselves as a body of support and allow us to move forward and look at the 2012 budget to come near or match the anonymous donor.”
As part of the project, the committee is also planning to improve the landscaping and gardens surrounding the Union Hall and provide a location for the Canmore Miners’ Statue if the Centennial Museum Society of Canmore, which owns the statue, decides to relocate it from the grounds of the Canmore Hotel as the hotel is currently for sale and its future in doubt.
Canmore coal miners began building the Union Hall in 1910 after joining the United Mine Workers of America in 1905, in an effort to improve working conditions and wages. The Union Hall, built entirely by volunteer labour, was completed in 1913 and it quickly became a community hall to host meetings, dances, weddings, funerals, concerts and movies.
The hall fell into disrepair after the mine closed in 1979, leading the Town of Canmore to consider demolishing the building to make room for a parking lot.
Instead of allowing the Union Hall to go under the wrecking ball, Pine Tree Players, which had been using the Union Hall to mount productions since 1978, in conjunction with the Red Barn Committee, raised $105,000 to renovate the hall.
Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed re-opened the Union Hall on July 1, 1983 as a community centre.
In 1994, the Town of Canmore bought the Union Hall from the Lions Club of Canmore, which owned the hall and used it as a clubhouse at that time.
A $90,000 kitchen renovation was completed in 2006, while the stairs – modelled after the 1913 entrance – were replaced in 2008. A year later, all of the windows were replaced, again as close to the original building design as possible. The Town also renovated the washrooms after mould was discovered.
Snape said other potential funding sources include the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, a Community Initiatives Program grant, Bow Valley Community Foundation and a community fundraising campaign.
As part of that, Snape added, Pine Tree Players has already raised $4,000. He added the Lions Club, the Mountain Arts Foundation and the Centennial Museum Society support the project.
Following Snape’s presentation, Councillor Hans Helder asked that as the private donor has expectations the Town will match the donation or a large portion thereof, if the donor would withdraw the funds if the Town chose not to offer financial support.
“That is not stipulated in their letter, but we’d have to go back and discuss it. We hope council would consider being involved in the project,” Snape said.
“The committee intends to move forward in any case.”
Coun. Gordie Miskow, filling in for Mayor Ron Casey who was absent from the meeting, expressed his support and appreciation for the proposal, even though council could not make an immediate decision.
“Thank you on behalf of the town of Canmore and the citizens of Canmore. It is without a doubt an important facility,” Miskow said.
