HC: What inspired you to do this work?
Grace: This building was first built to celebrate Canada’s centennial, and a lot of Calgarians have strong memories here. My mom spent time here when she was younger, so the nostalgia for many is strong. This building is an important part of our history and urban landscape. Being able to contribute to a building that will outlive me is significant. This is a place where memories have been made for so many people, and will continue to do so.
HC: Why is sharing stories about heritage important to you?
Grace: I feel like there’s a lot of embodied energy in these buildings. We need to look at what we have and modernize it for accessibility, and be able to breathe new life into it. It’s important for us to place value on the buildings we have, and then as they age, we can adapt them to be healthier, more inclusive and sustainable. When we work on heritage buildings, it gives us a chance to connect with others and apply the best methods to move forward – sometimes current knowledge isn’t always the best practice.
HC: What’s something specific you would like people to know about your work?
Grace: There were many people involved in the success of this project, and everyone was so passionate about it. It was truly a labour of love. We had hand drawings that we had to reconcile, we needed to open up walls, all while keeping in mind what we were trying to preserve.