Bang, bang, all fall down
The local skyline looked different. Emptier. Buildings that have lived in the shadow of an old church for over eighty years were revealed to those who enter the city from the east this morning, after a busy weekend involving a good old wrecking ball. I wish I’d been there to watch, but some things just don’t get much advance notice.
I’ve been aware for several years that the St-Vincent-de-Paul building was living on borrowed time. Despite the original promise to integrate (architecturally), the promoter had a different plan. City officials and various “protectors” of heritage had raised their voices, shook their fists, swore that the last thing that would ever happen was wanton destruction in the name of progress.
Here, thanks to the local newspaper (Le Soleil), is what actually occurred. Sometime over the weekend, the street was blocked in the name of public safety. A huge crane with a massive lump of steel was wheeled in, and the pendulum began its swing.
By dawn, today, all that was left to admire was a few steel beams, originally placed to ensure the integrity of the stonework.
This is a Humpty Dumpty tale. The planned hotel won’t actually be completed for several years to come. The promoter won his side bet, and can proceed with his vision for the last interesting piece of land along the edge of Vieux Quebec. I doubt we’re going to be blessed with another Chateau Frontenac.
In the world of sports, the Own The Podium campaign has foundered. After a certain point, the possibility of Canada capturing a majority of the medals becomes a mathematical impossibility. This will be “just another set of games”, and the debt will live on for generations. An odd legacy.
