Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Apr 02/04) - There are at least six sites that Fort Simpson that should be preserved, according to Stephen Rowan.

To ensure the selected structures are never bulldozed, he has brought the federal Historic Places Initiative to Fort Simpson Village Council's attention.

Stephen Rowan has selected six locations he would like to see designated as heritage sites under the Historic Places Initiative.

"We shouldn't be knocking it all down to build new developments and that sort of thing," said Rowan, a member of the Fort Simpson Historical Society.

He has chosen Albert Faille's cabin, McPherson House, the Papal teepee and drum circle, Lafferty House, the old barn, and a Hudson's Bay warehouse as historic treasures.

Officials to decide

Under the federal Historic Places Initiative, the Canadian government will send an official or a delegation to assess the designated buildings. Federal funding for restoration will be allotted accordingly, Rowan explained.

Lafferty House, for example, must be stabilized, requires new shingles and needs work on its north wall, said Rowan.

Incidentally, the old Catholic rectory -- erected in 1911, making it Fort Simpson's oldest building still standing -- was not selected because it requires so much costly work. Rowan said that $12,000 has already been spent removing asbestos from the rectory, but that only revealed a serious problem with rot in the basement. Other structural problems also exist, he added.

Village council will have its heritage bylaw on the agenda at Monday's village council meeting. Senior administrative officer Bernice Swanson noted that any members of the public can make presentations for or against any aspect of the bylaw at that time.