So far, five objections have been filed including one from the Bruce Grey Catholic school board.
Chair of the city’s Heritage advisory committee Deb Haswell says the issue is that Queens Park is sending out mixed signals.
On the one hand, Haswell says cities are being told they have a responsiblity to preserve historic buildings but at the same time the Ministry of Education is offering zero funding to restore the 1891 building.
While offering no money for restoration, the Ministry of Education has given the school board 3.7 million dollars to build a new two storey addition, saying repairs the old high school are too expensive.
Bruce Grey Catholic school board Director Bruce McPherson says even if the city pushes ahead with the historic designation, it will not throw a monkey wrench into the board plan for a new addition.
McPherson says the first few steps have been made and they hope to have a shovel in the ground late this fall, with students in the new classrooms next September.
Councillor Haswell says the Planning and Heritage advisory committee will meet this Thursday at 7pm.
She says the issue of St. Marys will be up for discussion but she doubts any recommentation will come from her committee to council from the meeting.
The five objections to the move by city council, to designate the school as a historic building, now go to the Ontario Conservation review board for a hearing.
