Happy 150th birthday, Canada! As July 1 approaches, celebrations from coast-to-coast are materializing?from themed art exhibitions to free national park access.
The federal government is spending half a billion dollars on the sesquicentennial, and the lion?s share is going towards construction. The $300-million Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program (CIP 150) was first announced in 2015. It?s one of three key fund-ing pools for Canada 150, alongside programs to support large-scale celebrations and community-oriented activities, respectively.
But little of this funding will be seen by architects. CIP 150 is geared towards the rehabilitation and renovation of existing structures, rather than new builds. A broad range of projects qualify: from cultural centres and museums to bike paths, golf courses, local airports and wastewater infrastructure. Unfortunately, the deployment of the program has seemed rushed. Municipalities were given only a month to apply after the program?s announcement, and preference was expressed for projects that could be completed by the end of 2017. These criteria limited submissions to construction-ready, mostly smaller-scale initiatives.
It?s a far cry from the solid architectural under-takings commemorating Canada?s centennial in 1967. Architecture was a key part of Canada?s 100th anniversary celebrations, with modernist arts centres and museums erected across the country, from the Fathers of Confederation Memorial Buildings in Charlottetown, PE...