A historic property in Memramcook is in the process of being sold by the provincial government.
According to Memramcook mayor Maxime Bourgeois, the Memramcook Institute is being acquired by Heritage Developments, a Moncton based property company that also owns the former Moncton High School property in downtown Moncton.
A provincial spokesperson told CHMA by email that the transaction is ongoing, and further details about the price, or any protections for the buildings may be released once the agreement is completed.
“I’m very, very happy, to be quite frank,” says Bourgeois. “Obviously with some concern just because we are losing some control on the future of the building.”
With the province on the deed for the large property—which completely surrounds the Monument-Lefebvre National Historic Site on rue Centrale in Memramcook—Bourgeois says local public opinion gave the community some control over its fate. On the other hand, he points out, despite a number of attempts to make something happen on the site, it has sat empty since 2012. “It’s such an important and imposing property in the downtown core of Memramcook,” says Bourgeois, “that it really was sort of dragging the municipality down.”
“I’m very happy that a local business owner decided to step forward and clearly wants to invest time, money, and energy in making something with this building,” says Bourgeois. “It’s also very comforting that they’ve been in constant communication with us, presenting their vision from the get go, wanting to establish a good relationship with the municipality.”
Heritage Developments will have its work cut out for it. Bourgeois says the Liberal government of Brian Gallant had been investing in the building up until 2018, when the newly elected Higgs PC government stopped the work. He says about $15 million dollars went towards solidifying the structure of the building.
While the exterior is “solid”, the interior is “completely gutted,” says Bourgeois. “You walk around and have electrical wires dangling.” In addition to electrical work, there’s plumbing and likely another elevator that needs to be added, he says. “So there’s definitely a significant amount of money that needs to be invested for the buildings be operational again.”
Heritage Developments has not responded to a CHMA request for an interview about its plans for the property, but Bourgeois says the company has been talking with the village of Memramcook for the past year, and is considering a number of options. One of those is a boutique hotel, which Bourgeois says would be complementary to the further development of the agritourism industry, which the village council is making efforts to encourage.
A gem of Acadian heritage
The history of the Memramcook Institute property dates back to its time as Collège St-Joseph, the first French-language, degree-granting college in Atlantic Canada, founded in 1864. “It was actually a bilingual institution, which a lot of people don’t know,” says Bourgeois. In 1881, the Collège hosted the first ever Acadian National Convention, when Quinze-Août (August 15) was selected as the national Acadian holiday.
The main building burned down and was rebuilt in the early 1930s.
Memramcook native and former MP, senator, and Governor-General of Canada Roméo LeBlanc studied at the Collège St-Joseph, which was later amalgamated with other French schools to form the Université de Moncton in 1963.
Eventually it became the Memramcook Institute, a school and resort for studying French. Since the Institute closed in 2012, different plans have been floated for the property, such as a community centre and government offices, and a bilingual, international private school. But none have made it to the finish line.
Concerns over loss of public control
Memramcook-Tantramar MLA Megan Mitton says she was disappointed when she learned that the Institute was being sold from DTI minister Richard Ames in legislative committee hearing.
“I think that the Higgs government lacks long term vision on a lot of files,” says Mitton, “and I think that’s true for this one as well.”
“Once it leaves public hands and goes into private hands, we lose control over what happens to it,” says Mitton.
Bourgeois says that some of his constituents share similar concerns about the property being transferred to private hands, but others are just hopeful to see something happen with the buildings.
“I think people are happy,” says Bourgeois, but “with some concern, because there’s still some uncertainty as to what they will do with the building.”
“I think some are outright frustrated with the situation and not happy,” says Bourgeois. “But I think, in general, there’s a lot more positive than negative.”
Heritage Developments’ track record
Heritage Developments has restored a number of other heritage buildings in the province, including the Capitol Theatre in Moncton and Ganong Place in St Stephen.
In 2017, the provincial government agreed to sell the former Moncton High School to the company with the caveat that it not be demolished, and that the auditorium and gymnasium be retained for community use. To date, the high school remains empty, though the company has done some work on the premises.
Bourgeois doesn’t think the delay on the Moncton High School project is a dealbreaker.
“We have to be realist,” says Bourgeois. “It’s not going to be renovated overnight, and we’re not going to see a boutique hotel overnight. It will take time.”
Megan Mitton says she is hopeful, but also wary of private ownership, and is asking the province for information on what’s in this new agreement with Heritage Developments.
“Are there conditions to protect the chapel? And anything related to the heritage? Is the province able to purchase it back if it isn’t developed?” wonders Mitton. “I would love to see something good happen, and for the heritage and culture to be respected.”
