Dear Members,
On February 18th, the Mi'kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island invited
Friends of the Farm to a charrette ( ie workshop) to discuss possible plans
for the use of the Experimental Farm property. A total of eight different
groups were invited to send 4 representatives each to the workshop. The
Confederacy have engaged a firm from Calgary,O2 Planning and Design, to prepare a plan for
the
development of the property, and that firm conducted the workshop.
The Executive of the Friends of the Farm sent 4 representatives and two more of
our members were there representing the Parkdale neighbourhood. All of us
felt the workshop was conducted in a very professional manner. The firm from
Calgary will prepare a preliminary plan and bring it back to the workshop at
the end of March.
Your Executive is anxiously awaiting to see the proposed plan. It is
possible that a plan may evolve which would satisfy both the Confederacy and
Friends of the Farm. However, there is one crucial point upon which we do not agree
with the Confederacy. The Confederacy have proposed that a private corporation own
the land; and the shareholders in that corporation would be the two Mi'kmaq
bands on PEI. The corporation would generate revenue for the bands. There
would be a board of governors for the corporation; and Friends of the Farm
as well as a number of other groups would have a seat on the board of
governors.
Your Executive have always promoted the idea that the city of Charlottetown
or the Province of Prince Edward Island should own the land. Upkeep would be
financed by revenue generated from admissions to a 3.5 acre botanical garden as well as some
development such as seniors’ housing, small-scale university research centres, or even small
centres concerned with wellness. Our plan has always been flexible and we would support just
enough development to maintain the property. Our idea of development is institutional not
commercial and it would have to be suitably designed and carefully placed.
All this was outlined in the proposal which was prepared for us by Daniel
Glenn Associates in 2005. That proposal was based upon the results of our
workshop, to which the public was invited ( and about 120 people attended),
plus interviews of a number of groups and individuals.
The Executive will be talking to civic, provincial and federal government representatives once
again. The Mayor has already reconfirmed his support of the Friends’ plan. The Friends must
decide whether or not to attend the next level of talks on the Mi’kmaq proposal.
The Friends of the Farm now have over 350 members. Every member’s opinion is extremely
important to us. Please give us your feedback at friendsofthefarm@gmail.com.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Workshop to tackle future of Home Farm
DAVE STEWART
The Guardian
A new fire station and a military training centre are just two of the ideas being bounced around when it comes to the future of the Home Farm, also known as the Experimental Farm property.
The Mi’kmaq Confederation of P.E.I. is hosting a workshop in Charlottetown Wednesday that includes various stakeholders interested in the property — the confederacy, City of Charlottetown, UPEI, Holland College, Department of National Defence and the Friends of the Farm.
Jeff Brant, chief executive officer of the P.E.I. Mi’kmaq Development Corporation, said Thursday the whole idea is to advance the issue.
“We’ve always been open and honest as to our intent and desire to have the Home Farm come under the ownership of the Mi’kmaq in order to generate revenue,’’ Brant said.
“We see it as a potentially key economic engine for the First Nations.’’
Brant said the confederacy, which views itself as stewards of the eight-acre farm, wants to develop a common vision for the property, one where everyone wins.
“It’s just about getting everybody on the same page and how we develop the property in a manner that is respective of everybody’s needs and desires for the property its itself.’’
The Home Farm is still owned by the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and has yet to be officially declared federal surplus land. At that point it would be turned over to Canada Lands which handles all surplus land.
Bert Christie, with Friends of the Farm, said they’ve been invited to the workshop and will be sending four members. He said proposals on the property include building a new, central, fire hall at the corner of University and Belvedere avenues and moving the Queen Charlotte Armouries from the waterfront to the Home Farm but they’re just ideas being thrown around right now. The Friends want to see the property preserved as green space.
“Friends of the Farm is very concerned about all of this. We’ll have to wait and see what happens,’’ Christie said.
Brant wouldn’t comment on specific ideas for the site but he did say the vision definitely does not entail big buildings, malls nor does it have the flashy retail look of University Avenue.
“Putting skyscrapers there is not conducive to the needs of Charlottetown. There is a need for green space but you need to generate revenue that allows that green space to be maintained.
“We see the property as a chance to generate alternate revenue streams for the First Nation but, as well, it could be a huge economic generator for the province, for the city. We’re in a time of economic downturn so having new development is crucial in getting us through that. This has to be responsible development.’’
The Mi’kmaq Confederacy has hired O2 Design and Planning, a firm based in Calgary, to facilitate Wednesday’s workshop, compile all the ideas for the property and present a report that features a uniform vision for the Home Farm.
Brant said doing nothing is not an option.
“The position that we’ll be in in 10 years time if we haven’t (moved this forward), if no one has done anything with that property, I think everybody loses.’’
DAVE STEWART
The Guardian
A new fire station and a military training centre are just two of the ideas being bounced around when it comes to the future of the Home Farm, also known as the Experimental Farm property.
The Mi’kmaq Confederation of P.E.I. is hosting a workshop in Charlottetown Wednesday that includes various stakeholders interested in the property — the confederacy, City of Charlottetown, UPEI, Holland College, Department of National Defence and the Friends of the Farm.
Jeff Brant, chief executive officer of the P.E.I. Mi’kmaq Development Corporation, said Thursday the whole idea is to advance the issue.
“We’ve always been open and honest as to our intent and desire to have the Home Farm come under the ownership of the Mi’kmaq in order to generate revenue,’’ Brant said.
“We see it as a potentially key economic engine for the First Nations.’’
Brant said the confederacy, which views itself as stewards of the eight-acre farm, wants to develop a common vision for the property, one where everyone wins.
“It’s just about getting everybody on the same page and how we develop the property in a manner that is respective of everybody’s needs and desires for the property its itself.’’
The Home Farm is still owned by the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and has yet to be officially declared federal surplus land. At that point it would be turned over to Canada Lands which handles all surplus land.
Bert Christie, with Friends of the Farm, said they’ve been invited to the workshop and will be sending four members. He said proposals on the property include building a new, central, fire hall at the corner of University and Belvedere avenues and moving the Queen Charlotte Armouries from the waterfront to the Home Farm but they’re just ideas being thrown around right now. The Friends want to see the property preserved as green space.
“Friends of the Farm is very concerned about all of this. We’ll have to wait and see what happens,’’ Christie said.
Brant wouldn’t comment on specific ideas for the site but he did say the vision definitely does not entail big buildings, malls nor does it have the flashy retail look of University Avenue.
“Putting skyscrapers there is not conducive to the needs of Charlottetown. There is a need for green space but you need to generate revenue that allows that green space to be maintained.
“We see the property as a chance to generate alternate revenue streams for the First Nation but, as well, it could be a huge economic generator for the province, for the city. We’re in a time of economic downturn so having new development is crucial in getting us through that. This has to be responsible development.’’
The Mi’kmaq Confederacy has hired O2 Design and Planning, a firm based in Calgary, to facilitate Wednesday’s workshop, compile all the ideas for the property and present a report that features a uniform vision for the Home Farm.
Brant said doing nothing is not an option.
“The position that we’ll be in in 10 years time if we haven’t (moved this forward), if no one has done anything with that property, I think everybody loses.’’
2009 Friends Executive
Chairman- Dr. Lloyd Macleod
Vice-Chair- Janice Simmonds
Secretary- Treasurer- Nora Jenkins
Membership- Gertie Purdy
Lane Maclaren
Dr. Bert Christie
Laura Lee Howard
Connie Mackay-Carr
Errol Nicholson
Catherine Hennessey
Kenneth Macdonald
Libby Martin
Vice-Chair- Janice Simmonds
Secretary- Treasurer- Nora Jenkins
Membership- Gertie Purdy
Lane Maclaren
Dr. Bert Christie
Laura Lee Howard
Connie Mackay-Carr
Errol Nicholson
Catherine Hennessey
Kenneth Macdonald
Libby Martin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
