The chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council says he is disappointed the University of Saskatchewan is choosing to demolish an old seminary on campus.
The university is demolishing the Lutheran Theological Seminary Building, as it has been vacant for the past 5 years.
University officials cited roof issues, flooding, electrical failures and hazardous materials as reasons they believed the building should be demolished.
However, STC chief Mark Arcand says they had expressed interest to convert the building into Indigenous housing for students.
He is disheartened by the plan to demolish the building instead.
“It’s the second time we’ve asked the university for student housing, and this is the second time we’ve been rejected.” said Arcand. “So it’s heartbreaking, when they’re supposed to be a champion of truth and reconciliation, and that’s not happening.”
Previous comments by the university suggested it would cost between $50 to $60 million to make the building operational again.
However, according to Arcand, estimates from architects they hired had the renovations pegged at $22 million.
He says they had already acquired over $2 million in grant funding to start the project and, with the $2-3 million set aside for demolition, that would have been a good starting point.
“It was going to be a drug and alcohol free facility, it was gonna have a daycare attached to it, it was going to have all these positive things, but it wasn’t what the board of directors had in mind. So it’s disheartening.”
The university’s decision to demolish the building also drew the ire of some who felt the building had significant historical value.
In the meantime, demolition is expected in the coming months and the area will be reverted to green space.
(TOP PHOTO: STC Chief Mark Arcand speaks at a press conference at the STC Head Office in Saskatoon. Photo by Joel Willick)