High Commissioner hosts Canadian studentsBy Anne Hilton Monday, March 14 2011
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Husband of Canadian High Commissioner, Bruce White (right talking with Joseph Yearwood (centre) and architect Michael Lee Poy....
On February 24 the Canadian High Commissioner HE Karen McDonald hosted a reception at her Residence for Canadian students of architecture with their Professor Cazabon of Carlton University, Ottawa, members of Citizens for Conservation and other distinguished guests to mark the end of the students’ two-week visit to Trinidad.
Speaking at the reception the High Commissioner said, “The aim of the project as a whole has been to draw attention to the small historical homes and buildings that form the foundation of Trinidad and Tobago’s heritage — and they could not have chosen two more beautiful examples than the Piccadilly House and the Boissiere House.”
She said the project involved measuring, documenting and digitally model ling both houses. She was very glad that Canadian students were able to take part in the Citizens for Conservation’s plans to preserve the built heritage of TT, pointing out that the Government of Canada is committed to the preservation of Canadian heritage primarily through the Ministry known appropriately as Canadian Heritage, which supports initiatives that engage Canadians and make them proud of their rich and diverse patrimony.
She was pleased to see linkages between TT and Canada through this project to preserve the best of the past of TT. She hoped the students enjoyed their short stay, felt it a pity they were going to miss Carnival, but hoped they’d return to experience the national fete in the not-too-distant future.
Speaking for Citizens for Conservation Rudylynn Roberts said this was but the first phase of the project, the second being to start raising funds to restore Piccadilly House. Exchanging cultural experiences was one bonus of the Canadian students’ short visit; another would be presenting copies of the surveys and documents to the Heritage Library, the UWI Library, the National Trust and possibly the Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Architects (TTIA).
Professor Cazabon thanked the Citizens for Conservation for their invaluable help with his students’ project. He hoped the documents wouldn’t only “archival” that they would be a means for action. He also thanked the owners of Piccadilly House and Boissiere House whose permission to document and measure the houses was vital to the success of the project.
“All in all an amazing 13 days,” concluded the Professor,” I thank you for your hospitality and exposure to what is an incredibly rich architectural and cultural heritage. Thank you.”
