Adriana Davies said the province’s open call for proposals on repurposing the former home of Royal Alberta Museum (RAM) has made her year. “We’ve been fighting about this for a long time,” said Davies, a heritage consultant and member of Save the Old RAM. After the NDP government reached out for proposals to demolish the building in 2015, community member June Acorn, who recently died in her 90s, led a protest, starting with a petition which has collected some 27,000 signatures. The issue resurfaced within the last couple of years, where the province proposed to demolish the building and turn it into a park. “We’re in the middle of one of Canada’s – if not the world’s – greatest river valley systems that is protected,” Davies told CTV News Edmonton. “We really need to preserve this historic building of the 1960s. It was a Canadian centenary project.” The massive mid-century modern style building with an exterior of marble, brass and Tyndall stone from Manitoba, sits at the top of Government House Park in Glenora. It first opened its doors in 1967. Tyndall stone is a fine grain limestone which often has fossils embedded into it. “Architecturally, it’s of enormous significance,” said Davies. The new museum, located north of city hall, is the largest in western Canada. It opened in 2018. Martin Long, Minister of Infrastructure said Albertans have a very strong connection to the former museum. “We have heard your suggestions, your feedback and your ideas,” said Long in a statement Friday. “We’re creating this opportunity to ensure that we explore all avenues for repurposing this site.” Proposals can be submitted through the Alberta Purchasing Connection.
