Heritage advocates float plan for ship stern

Protesters outside North Vancouver's city hall on Monday night called for council to reverse its decision to scrap the Flamborough Head.

City council voted unanimously in September to spend $250,000 to dismantle the waterfront landmark. Heritage advocates have campaigned to preserve the Victory ship stern since the results of the closeddoor meeting were made public.

"It's my belief that this iconic piece of history belongs not only to the citizens of North Vancouver but to all Canadians," said Jennifer Clay, vice-president of the North Shore Heritage Preservation Society. "This last remaining Victory ship represents not only the important role of Canada in World War II as a major supplier of these vessels, but she also represents a major change in society when women were first allowed into the workforce as employees of the Burrard Dry Dock.

A decision to scrap the stern without any public consultation is wrong, she said. "With just a little vision, it could become an integral part of the North Vancouver waterfront," she said.

However, Mayor Darrell Mussatto said council's decision is not going to change. "It's a difficult decision because this is a liability issue," he said. "The cradle was built as a temporary structure.

"If we're going to keep the ship stern, we have to put a lot more money into it. .. Otherwise we have to dismantle it."

Local resident George Pringle called for the release of the staff report presented during the closed-door discussion. The public should be aware of the expected costs of maintaining the stern, he said.

"I think that residents need to have all the facts," he said.

Peter Miller, president of North Shore Heritage Preservation Society, asked council to consider relocating the stern to the waterfront from its current position outside the Pinnacle Hotel.

"The decks can offer an exhibit on the dockyards, the Flamborough Head itself and a viewing deck with spectacular views across the Vancouver harbour and city skyline," he said.

Jay Straith, former president of the Artificial Reef Society, said that the Flamborough Head is the last bit of that kind of technology in the world. "When this goes, all that is gone and it's gone for good."

Coun. Pam Bookham has a motion on the Jan. 27 council meeting agenda to revisit the decision. Bookham must get at least three other council members to support her motion in order for the city to revisit its original decision.