Governments fund Craigflower repairs

Times Colonist (Victoria)
Wed Aug 26 2009
Page: A4
Section: Capital & Van. Isl.
Byline: Jeff Bell
Source: Times Colonist

Historic Craigflower Manor House, badly damaged in a fire last January, has been given the injection of government funds it needs for a full restoration.

Total funding of $250,000, split between provincial and federal coffers, was announced yesterday at a gathering at the View Royal site -- where one of the first European farming communities on Vancouver Island was established in 1853.

Provincial pledges to help restore the house were made a few weeks after the blaze, sparked by a faulty heater. Butchart Gardens recognized the significance of the site in February with a $10,000 donation to the restoration effort.

Prominent among the visitors at the funding announcement were some of the firefighters whose quick action saved the building from ruin.

"The work they did was remarkable," said Alastair Craighead, chairman of the board for The Land Conservancy, which manages the Craigflower property.

He said re-establishing the manor house for public access is important for the site -- one of 91 national historic sites in B.C.

"This place is special, it's a beautiful place," Craighead said.

"It couldn't have been easy to create a Georgian manor house from a Hudson's Bay Company log building."

He said the manor house and other buildings on the property have seen all sorts of uses through the years, from 19th century resort to nature sanctuary, summer camp for young ladies, Hudson's Bay Company staff club, service station and motel.

"And perhaps its worst indignity -- in the 1960s, a Big Ben's Burgers outlet," Craighead added with a smile.

So far, work on the house has been largely confined to damage assessment, said Ian Fawcett, deputy executive director of The Land Conservancy.

Fawcett said TLC wants to begin major restoration work as soon as possible so the site can open to the public again next season, which begins in May.

Federal money for the restoration comes through the government's Economic Action Plan and the Parks Canada National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program.