MP Mark Holland hopes for federal heritage designation
Feb 04, 2010 - 12:30 PM
By Kristen Calis
PICKERING -- The Greenwood library is about to experience a big birthday and Ajax-Pickering MP Mark Holland knows the perfect present.
"For the 150th anniversary of the building, it would be a great opportunity to get the house federally designated and recognized," he said in an interview.
During the Jan. 30 opening of the Durham West Arts Centre, currently based in the Greenwood library, Mr. Holland announced that he'll be initiating the process to designate the building as a national historic site of Canada. The designation proposal will be based on the building's age, architectural and local historical significance and its connections with prominent Canadians.
The Greenwood library, historically known as the Greenwood schoolhouse, is a great example of a Victorian-style one-room schoolhouse, Mr. Holland said. The building was originally a schoolhouse where some prominent Canadians, such as former Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, were educated. Mr. Diefenbaker's father also taught there.
"This is a great school that a lot of great Canadians have gone through," Mr. Holland said. "It's a staple of our history."
Mr. Diefenbaker even returned to the school after moving from the area and often spoke highly of the building's significance.
A federal designation of the building would make it almost impossible to destroy and make its maintenance imperative, Mr. Holland said.
Mr. Holland is a former Greenwood resident, having spent 10 years living in the hamlet.
"It's very close to me personally," he said. "The building has become a building of the community."
In 2008, the library was forced to shut down for about a year due to a defunct furnace and a ruined foundation. After a long debate on whether it was worthwhile to re-open the library doors since circulation numbers were down, Pickering council approved $50,000 for the repairs. The doors re-opened last January and library officials have reported a rise in the library's usage.
In October, the former schoolhouse was granted provincial historic designation for its historical and architectural value and interest.
Although there isn't yet an official date for the celebration of the library's 150th anniversary, Mr. Holland would like to have the federal designation in place by then.
"I want to make that designation happen as soon as possible," he said.
Canadian historic designations are ultimately made by the federal minister of the environment.
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