Link to sign our petition in response to the Marine Museum lease controversy

www.ipetitions.com/petition/marinemuseum 

April 1st Update

Address by Mark Siemons, Chair Board of Trustees - Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston to Public Works and Government Services Canada, Toronto  28 March 2007

Thank you once again for allowing us the opportunity to meet with you to discuss our concerns for the proposed disposal of the PWGS properties known as the Marine Museum, the Kingston Shipyard and Drydock. 

I would like to take this opportunity to make the Museum Board's position clear with respect to these properties. 

We understand that Public Works has deemed the property surplus and that traditionally, surplus federal property must be disposed of at market value according to Treasury Board policy.

We feel that the Drydock and Shipyard site and the Marine Museum’s occupation of it constitute a unique case warranting special consideration.  

National historic sites are places of profound importance to Canada. They bear witness to this nation's defining moments and illustrate its human creativity and cultural traditions. 

Each national historic site tells its own unique story, part of the greater story of Canada, contributing a sense of time, identity, and place to our understanding of Canada as a whole.

Designations are an acknowledgement that what happened in a particular place is worthy of remembrance by people of an entire nation, if not beyond, and national authorities often conserve sites.  

A national historic site is a designation that an area possesses national historical significance. It may confer protected area status on the site, but not necessarily. . 

We believe that our site deserves this treatment and ask the Federal and Municipal Agencies involved to work together towards this goal. 

This particular site has no intrinsic market value just as Fort Henry doesn't.  We would not permit selling the Fort Henry lands to build waterfront condominiums and likewise we would not allow for the private development of the Kingston Drydock and Shipyards.

In 1974, the Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston was authorized to use the Kingston Shipyards and Drydock site by W. D. Saunders of the Federal Department of Public Works, who stated “it had become the policy of the Department to put such property to work for non-commercial use and enjoyment of the general public”.  

As was documented in Ann’s presentation, in 1974 the buildings were derelict and in need of an incredible amount of work as was the surrounding shipyards and drydock property.

In spite of the terrible condition of the buildings and the property, over time, it became clear that the Museum's location was an optimum setting, that significantly supported the Museum's mandate. 

This occupation of a National Historic site has served to preserve a significant National historical asset and make it accessible to the general public.

The Marine Museum as been an exemplary steward of the property for over 30 years

The Museum has met and surpassed the criteria of Public Work’s intention for the site set in 1974.

The standard rules for disposal of crown assets should not apply in the case of Museum site.

The Board of Directors of the Marine Museum and our supporters are united in our vision for this property and for this Museum:

Over 1300 individuals have signed our online petition.

Hundreds of others stood in line at the Museum to sign the petition by hand.

At their January 23rd, 2007 meeting, the Council of the City of Kingston passed a unanimous resolution supporting in the Marine Museum’s application for a long-term lease renewal of the Kingston Shipyards and Dry dock site.

At their February 12, 2007 meeting, the Sydenham Ratepayers Association passed a resolution supporting the Marine Museum's continued operations in its location as well as supporting the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center Project.

Numerous letters to local papers have been published supporting the Museum; as well our story has been carried by national radio and television news services.

Our regional Provincial and Federal elected officials are on record in support of our campaign.  Our Chamber of Commerce and the Kingston Economic Development Agency are also in support of our campaign.

It is not just the Kingston community that is in support of our campaign.  Instead it has gained national media coverage and international attention.

One final comment on the significance of the museum collections, the business archivist of the Library and Archives of Canada recently wrote to a Kingston Councilor:

“While Library and Archives Canada does hold records of the Federal government departments concerned with the Great Lakes, the Museum's private business collections far outstrip the non-governmental material held in Ottawa. Without the Marine Museum's holdings it would be impossible to analysis properly the economic development of the Great Lakes region.”

Councilor Glover continued "That this matter could have got to this stage this late in the lease … suggests to me that it has suffered too long too low on peoples’ priority lists. You do not just walk away from a national historic site. Public Works might have its agenda, but Heritage Canada, National Historic Sites, Cultural Property and the Department of the Environment will also have something to say. And so will the Ontario ministries that have provided funding support over the years."

The Marine Museum and the Kingston Shipyards and Drydock need to be protected. 

Kingston's Marine Museum is Canada's only museum solely dedicated to the collection, preservation and display of historical and archival material related to the maritime history of the Great Lakes. 

What we are asking for today is the logical progression from decisions made 30 years ago, and is only now possible today as a result of the continued accomplishments of thousands of volunteers, millions of dollars of investment by the Museum supporters and by the continuing support from Municipal and Provincial governments for over three decades.

The Board is actively seeking a 99-year extension to our current lease at a rate of $1 annually regardless of whether PWGS continues to hold the property or if Public Works is successful in transferring the property to the City of Kingston.

We are also requesting consideration of the transfer of the adjacent PWGS federal dock property, which will permit the Museum and the City of Kingston to complete the proposed Kingston Maritime Heritage Centre project as well we are asking for environmental indemnification for the properties.

Thirdly, regardless if the property is downloaded to the City or not, there is a requirement for $6 to $9 million current dollars for maintenance, structural stability and safety of the marine infrastructure, approximately $1 million of which is immediately required for public safety concerns in relation to the dry dock itself

In addition, we are requesting Federal financial support for the site’s heritage elements: to effect restoration and repair to the Pump Engine Room and to halt and repair the advanced deterioration of the 1929 Drydock extension.

Finally, we wish to advise you that due to declining stability of the Museum dock, we believe it will be necessary to draw the Museum Ship Alexander Henry forward into the Drydock at high water in June of 2007.

Based on discussions with City personnel we understand that municipal employees negotiating may have asked for a 2 or 5-year extension to the lease as an interim solution.  We stress to those in the negotiation process that a short-term leases of less than five years prevents us from acquiring the necessary funds to operate the facility in a safe and secure fashion.

In conclusion, on behalf of the Marine Museum community, we thank you once again for meeting with us today. 

I hope we have made a compelling argument for you to consider.

We look forward to working together in a constructive and collaborative method to see the successful continuation of the Marine Museum and for the preservation of the historical lands on which she sits as this is not only in the interests of the Museum, nor not only for the City of Kingston but is more importantly in the interests of our national heritage, our culture and our national identity as well.

Please consider what we have said today when you continue your work on this portfolio.

Thank you.

Mark Siemons

Chair Board of Trustees - Marine Museum of the Great Lakes at Kingston

March 1st Update

MARINE MUSEUM OF THE GREAT LAKES AT KINGSTON

PROPERTY LEASE RENEWAL

The Federal Government is in the process of disposing of an estimated $6 billion in publicly owned property across Canada, including a number of sites in Kingston.  The Marine Museum’s Shipyards and Dry-dock site, which carries both national and provincial heritage designations, is currently leased by its owner Public Works and Government Services Canada to the City of Kingston which in turn leases it to the Marine Museum for $1 a year. The lease on this property is due to expire in November of 2007, clearing the way for its disposal.

At their 23 January 2007 meeting, the Council of the City of Kingston passed a resolution supporting the Marine Museum’s application for a lease renewal of the shipyard site, which the Museum has occupied for thirty years.  Achieving formal support of Kingston’s Council marks round one in the Museum’s campaign to remain in its current location.  The Marine Museum’s Board of Trustees must now take their request for a long term lease extension or property transfer to Public Works and Government Services.

Since 1977, when the Marine Museum moved into what was then a derelict building, over $3 million and countless volunteer hours have been invested in the shipyards and dry-dock site to create a first class museum which is renowned for its library and archival collection.  The Marine Museum is the only Canadian museum collecting material related to the maritime history of the Great Lakes.  It’s also a proud caretaker of historical material related to Kingston’s shipbuilding origins and home of the Museum Ship Alexander Henry, a retired Coast Guard light icebreaker.

Should a lease renewal not materialize, the possibility that the Marine Museum would be forced to leave Kingston is real; as cultural trustees, the Museum Board has an obligation to keep the collection together.  The irony is that the synergy of the Museum in its current location: a former shipyard and dry-dock on the shores of Lake Ontario, seem obvious.  In addition, two of Kingston’s most significant tourism draws, its superb sailing and sport diving, are both supported by the presence of the Marine Museum. 

The Marine Museum Board is hopeful that their lease issue can be resolved in the near future.  In 2000, the Museum unveiled plans to build a Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center complex at their site, which if completed in its entirety, would include a new visitor and orientation centre, a deepwater dock for visiting ships and a Mariner’s Walk connecting the Pumphouse Steam Museum.  Planning and fundraising for this multi-million dollar project has been on hold since, due to uncertainty about the Museum’s future.

City of Kingston Councillor Bill Glover was instrumental in securing the Council resolution and Senator Hugh Segal and Speaker Peter Milliken have both taken the Museum’s message to their federal colleagues.  If you wish to help in the campaign to ensure that the Marine Museum remains in Kingston and that the Kingston Shipyards and Dry-dock remain in public ownership, please add your name to that of the over 1600 individuals who have signed the Museum’s petition to date.  The petition may be signed at the Museum or via their website: www.marmuseum.ca . (Please note there is NO cost to sign the petition.)

Position Paper for MMGLK Lease Controversy

MARINE MUSEUM OF THE GREAT LAKES AT KINGSTON

 1) Kingston's Marine Museum is Canada's only museum solely dedicated to the collection, preservation and display of historical and archival material related to the maritime history of the Great Lakes.  Since 1977, the Museum's location at the former Kingston Shipyards and Dry Dock has been an optimum setting, which has significantly supported the Museum's mandate.  In turn the Museum's complementary occupation of what is a National Historic site has served to preserve a significant historical asset on the Kingston waterfront and make it accessible to the general public.

 2) The Marine Museum's continued presence in Kingston is currently under threat for two reasons:

a) The lease on the federal property we have occupied for thirty years expires November 2007 and we have been unable to date to secure either an extension to the lease or confirmation that lease extension is being contemplated.  The City of Kingston in their role as property managers, have assumed that vacant occupation of the Museum site will be required. b) Without a long term lease, the Museum is ineligible for senior government grants to support its operation and development.

 3) The principal goal of the Marine Museum's Board of Trustees is to achieve a long-term, independent lease for the Kingston Shipyards and Dry Dock property, from the federal government.  A long term lease will: a) enable the Museum’s collection, including the Museum Ship Alexander Henry, to stay together at an appropriate site in Kingston; and b) enable the Marine Museum to move forward in the development of the Kingston Project – Great Lakes Heritage Centre, which has received approval in principle by the City of Kingston.

 4) The Marine Museum endorses the Creative City concept as a municipal planning strategy.  Creative Cities are vibrant, culturally diverse, facilitate exchange and understanding and attract visitors and business. The essential premise of the Creative City concept is community development and growth based on the principles of:  urban revitalization and renewal; cultural tourism; quality of place, quality of life; culture as an economic engine; and community identity and pride.  The Marine Museum is proud of its role as a model and as a trailblazer, especially in the redevelopment of Kingston’s waterfront.

 5) The Marine Museum Board of Trustees is committed to working collaboratively with all levels of government and the community to achieve these objectives.