HERITAGE OTTAWA

On June 26, 2015 the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Heritage Ottawa, and architects Barry Padolsky and Shirley Blumberg filed an application in the Federal Court challenging the National Capital Commission’s decision to break ground for the Memorial to the Victims of Communism on Wellington Street, just southwest of the Supreme Court of Canada. 

The "Long Term Vision and Plan" approved by the Government for this location includes completion of a harmonious "triad" within the judicial precinct with a new Federal Court building to be erected on this site, not a memorial.

The lawsuit alleges that the National Capital Commission violated its procedures for public consultation and acted against the National Capital Act in its decision to begin site preparation before having a finalized and approved design for the Memorial to the Victims of Communism. The law requires meaningful public consultation and prohibits breaking ground on a project before its design is approved.   

The applicants do not oppose the commemorative intent of the memorial, and believe that other appropriate sites for the memorial exist.   

Donations in support of this legal action can be made "in trust" to Champ & Associates, solictors for the applicants. 

Donations can be made in any of three ways:

1. To make a secure Donation In Trust using Paypal, please use the following link: http://bit.ly/1KldP3u

2. Cheques can made out to “Champlaw, In Trust” with Move the Memorial in the memorandum line, and mailed to: Champ & Associates, 43 Florence Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0W6.

3. Donations can also be sent directly by electronic bank transfer to pchamp@champlaw.ca, with an explanation in the message that the donation is being made In Trust to “Move the Memorial”. 

We are pleased to include you among the national coalition of groups and individuals asking the government to move the Memorial to the Victims of Communism to a more appropriate site. Please circulate this appeal to others in your network. Thank you for your support.

The Notice of Application filed in Federal Court on June 26, 2015 can be viewed by clicking here.

The Coalition of supporters to "Move the Memorial" includes the  Royal Architectural Institiute of Canada; Heritage Ottawa; Canadian Society of Landscape Architects; Canadian Institute of Planners; Ontario Association of Architects. 

Supporters are encouraged to sign the Change.org Petition by clicking here.