Latest news with #VimyRidge
Edmonton Journal
01-08-2025
- Business
- Edmonton Journal
From dragoons to dance floors: Edmonton's historic Connaught Armoury, once the notorious Club Malibu, listed for sale
Article content The City of Edmonton is selling a 1911 landmark — once a military hub, 1980s nightclub, and social service space — after it sat vacant for more than one year. Article content The decision to sell the Connaught Armoury follows the building's vacancy since last year, said Chris Hodgson, the city's branch manager of real estate, who noted the property no longer serves a municipal purpose. Article content Article content Article content 'The tenant chose to vacate in May 2024. We consulted city business areas and found no municipal need for the building. As such, we listed it for sale on July 10.' Article content Article content 'The city's main goals are to preserve the historically protected Connaught Armoury building, reduce costs by selling a property that is no longer required by the city and provide a potential development opportunity that positively contributes to the vibrancy of the surrounding community,' he said. Article content Constructed in 1911 in the former City of Strathcona at a cost of $35,000, the Connaught Armoury is one of Alberta's oldest remaining armouries. It was designed by the federal Department of Public Works in a fortress-like Baronial style, featuring brick construction, sandstone detailing, crenellated parapets, 'cannonball' finials, and a formal arched entrance. Article content Article content Originally built to house B Squadron of the 19th Alberta Dragoons, the building has military roots tied to both world wars. The regiment served at pivotal battles such as Ypres, the Somme, and Vimy Ridge. Article content After the Dragoons disbanded in 1964, the City of Edmonton acquired the building. It remained unused for more than a decade before being adapted for civilian purposes. Since then, the armoury has seen a range of uses, most recently by a tenant that vacated in 2024. Article content Before its more recent community uses, the Connaught Armoury was home to Club Malibu, a popular nightclub during the 1980s. Known for its music and late-night crowds, the club became a local landmark in its own right. While the venue added a lively chapter to the building's long history, it also left behind infrastructure and wear that posed challenges for future tenants. Article content Club Malibu was not a haunt for the city's 'cool kids' but rather a hotspot for university students and suburban visitors seeking cheap drinks and wild nights, also known for frequent closing-time fights and its reputation as a notorious pick-up spot. Article content Its architectural and historical significance has been recognized through its designation as a Provincial Historic Resource in 1979 and a Municipal Historic Resource in 2007. Hodgson said these designations come with specific obligations. Article content 'The Connaught Armoury is designated as both a provincial and municipal historic resource, which means it has two sets of regulations. The entire building is protected under both designations, requiring the city and province to review any work on the exterior or interior,' he said. Article content Sale process and restrictions Article content The property is listed for $2.47 million on the City of Edmonton's property sales website, and proposals are being accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. The city has also announced a holding window to ensure fairness. Article content Article content 'Considering the interest level and the complexity of this site, we want to give all interested parties an equal opportunity so we will hold all submissions received until Sept. 12 at 4 p.m.,' Hodgson said. Article content The Connaught Armoury and its surrounding 24,278 square foot lot, including a vacant parking area, are zoned DC1 (Direct Control), allowing a mix of residential, commercial, institutional, and community-oriented uses. However, 'use will have to comply with city zoning, and modifications will have to align with the historic designations of the building.' Article content Buyers are also expected to explain how their proposals will integrate with the city's vision and may need to subdivide the lot if redevelopment of the parking area is proposed. Notably, heritage protection technically applies to both the building and the adjacent land. Article content Article content 'The city is looking for a proposal or proponent that will maintain and use the historically protected Connaught Armoury and the rest of the large land parcel for an integrated development,' Hodgson said. Article content The city noted that while the Connaught Armoury itself is fully protected, the adjacent parking lot portion of the parcel, also technically under the heritage designation, could be eligible for redevelopment. With rezoning and subdivision, it may be possible to build a multi-unit residential structure with covered parking and limited commercial uses on the ground floor, in line with the Scona District Plan. Article content Article content The city also highlighted the building's location in the heart of Old Strathcona's Provincial Historic Area and Business Improvement Area, just off Whyte Avenue and near the Old Strathcona Farmers Market, University of Alberta, and Edmonton's river valley.
CTV News
01-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
‘Canadians are uniting': Carney evokes history in Canada Day address
Prime Minister Mark Carney called for national unity and growth Tuesday in a video address celebrating Canada Day. 'One hundred and fifty-eight years ago, a few provinces bet on a big idea: That they'd be stronger together than they ever could be apart. They were right,' he said in a video recorded in front of Rideau Cottage in Ottawa. 'They became a new federation that's now grown into our strong, bilingual, multicultural, ambitious country.' Lasting just over two minutes, the address wove together Canada's past with the federal government's policy goals for the coming months and years, from addressing interprovincial trade barriers to a renewed prioritization on defence spending. Past, present and future In his remarks Tuesday, Carney evoked moments of Canadian heroism, from battles at Vimy Ridge and in Normandy during the First and Second World Wars, to the story of Gander, N.L., where more than three-dozen flights from around the world were redirected in the hours following the September 11th terror attacks in New York City. 'Our shared history has been marked by inflection points; moments where Canada has had to step up,' Carney said. 'Now, we face another such moment. The world is changing, old friendships are fraying, our economy is being buffeted by a trade war we didn't start, our values are being tested by attacks on democracy and freedoms that we must resist.' Amid what Carney called an increasingly 'divided and dangerous' world, he commended Canada for pulling together. 'Canadians are uniting. Together, we will build one Canadian economy, connected by major projects, powered by Canadian energy, transformed by Canadian technology and crafted by Canadian workers,' he said. 'This is the greatest nation on Earth. Together, we'll keep making it even better. Happy Canada Day.'
The Guardian
03-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
In defence of Canada and its war efforts
Following King Charles's speech in Canada (27 May), it is time to challenge the repeated claim by Donald Trump that Canada has been a freeloader on America with regard to defence. In the first world war, Canada lost around 61,000 people out of a population of 8 million. US combat deaths were 53,000 from 100 million. In the second world war, both nations lost similar proportions of their populations. Canada supplied quality and technical skills for the frontline, from the tunnellers of Vimy Ridge, portrayed in the Canadian parliament chamber, to the strategic bomber crews (40% Commonwealth) and the corvettes that protected American ships in the Battle of the Atlantic. In Britain, we benefited from Canadian generosity. The US charged interest for decades on its postwar loan to the UK, while Canada donated $1bn. Prof Nick BosanquetYork Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
CTV News
08-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Maritimers mark 80th anniversary of VE-Day
Maritimers mark the end of the Second World War – 80 years later. On this day 80 years ago, the world celebrated Victory in Europe (VE-Day) and the end of the Second World War. 'On September 10, 1939, which happened to be my birthday, Canada declared way on Germany,' recalled Joyce Peach of Port Morien, N.S. Peach was just 15-years-old when the good news came across the Atlantic Ocean that the war was over. She's 95 now and, though she never thought she would mark the 80th anniversary of VE-Day, she still remembers the celebration on May 8, 1945. 'There was a building here in Morien that we called the Old Orange Hall, and I did have a picture of the community in that hall celebrating,' Peach remembered. Peach has a close personal connection to war, too. Her father Stanley Smith fought at Vimy Ridge during the First World War. 'He was wounded twice in France, and the doctor wanted to take his leg off and he refused,' Peach said. 'And until the day he died there was shrapnel in his leg.' Mel Birmingham is a longtime legion member in North Sydney, N.S., and a retired peacekeeper who served in Kosovo. He said he can relate to what Canadian men and women went through during the Second World War and the sacrifices they made. 'I'm old enough that I've sat and had a few refreshments with them and heard their war stories,' Birmingham said. 'I admire these gentlemen, and when I was overseas with the United Nations, I made a pilgrimage to visit every one of their graves that I could from Belgium right up to the tip of Norway. I walked through the cemeteries, and I don't think I had a dry eye.' The Second World War was one of the deadliest conflicts in human history, with tens of millions killed worldwide - including more than 45,000 Canadians. While most of those who survived are now gone as well, Birmingham says their bravery will never be forgotten. 'To look at the ages: 18, 17, 19,' Birmingham said, his voice filled with emotion. 'Just amazing. Just amazing what it takes to leave home, go over there and fight for your country.' 80th anniversary of V-E Day Members of Branch 19 Legion in North Sydney, including retired peacekeeper Mel Birmingham (right), marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
National Post
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- National Post
U.S. as the 11th province could be 'the best thing': Shatner jokingly makes a counter-offer to Trump
Canadian actor and comedian William Shatner had a counter-offer to President Donald Trump's suggestion of turning Canada into the 51st state. Article content Shatner spoke to host Jesse Watters on Fox News after Prime Minister Mark Carney met with the American leader at the White House on Tuesday. In the interview, Shatner joked about what he thought could be a good solution for Carney to turn the tables on Trump. Article content Article content 'I've dealt a little in real estate and I'm going to say to Carney, 'Do a real estate deal. Make a counter offer.' Let's offer … to the United States to be the 11th province,' he said. 'Think of the joy… It's the best thing.' Article content Article content Tensions between Canada and the United States have been heightened since Trump took office. This is largely due to the president's rhetoric about making Canada the 51st state, as well as an ongoing trade war and stricter travel policies. Canadians have been resolute in trying to buy local goods and have even been opting to travel within in the country, rather than vacationing in the U.S. Article content Shatner said that everyone was acting 'so serious about what is an unserious offer' from Trump. Article content He also brought up Canada's history, highlighting the country's role in the Second World War. Article content 'Canada's been around for 150 years more and they've had a noble service… Vimy Ridge, Juno Beach, Dieppe. Tens of thousands of Canadian soldiers have died in the fight for freedom and making the world playable for all of us. You can't denigrate that. You can't deny that,' said Shatner. Article content Article content Watters brought up the fact that by persisting, Trump may eventually get what he wants. Article content Article content 'At a certain point, persistence becomes insulting,' said Shatner. Article content At Tuesday's meeting in the Oval Office, Trump and Carney addressed talk of the 51st state. Article content
