Industrial solvent found in groundwater
The Canadian Canoe Museum (CCM) announced today that the results of its own independent investigations confirm that the designated site for the future building of the new Canadian Canoe Museum has been found to contain an industrial solvent, the chemical compound trichloroethylene (TCE). The ground water at 353 Hunter Street East, owned by Parks Canada, is believed to have been contaminated by chemicals seeping from an adjacent property.
“All of us at the Canoe Museum, our project partners and supporters are highly concerned and extremely disappointed by the situation,” said Carolyn Hyslop, executive director, The Canadian Canoe Museum.
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) this week issued a Provincial Officers Order, under the Environmental Protection Act (EPA), to the owner at an adjacent property directing it to undertake air quality, ground water and additional onsite investigations and to provide associating remediation plans.
“We are working with all parties including the MECP, Parks Canada and our community and funding partners to evaluate the overall impacts of these findings to our operations and our new museum build,” confirmed Ms. Hyslop.
The new museum is a purpose-built structure designed to showcase the world’s largest and most significant collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft. It was to be located along side the Peterborough Lift Lock on the Trent-Severn Waterway. The formation will blend almost seamlessly into its landscape, emerging from the drumlin and complementing and contouring the waterway. The 83,400 square-foot facility was designed by the award-winning Irish team of heneghan peng and Toronto’s Kearns Mancini Architects. Ground-breaking was originally scheduled to take place during the 2020 fiscal year.
“While the full implications of this environmental interruption are not yet fully known, we are fully committed to building a new world-class museum that will deliver on its vision and serve the needs of its patrons and local community while honouring and preserving this unique cultural asset of national significance,” noted Hyslop.
For further information on Trichloroethylene (TCE), please visit Peterborough Public Health’s website.
About The Canadian Canoe Museum
With a world-class collection as a catalyst, The Canadian Canoe Museum inspires connection, curiosity and new understanding. In partnership with individuals, groups and communities – locally, provincially and nationally – we work to experience and explore all that our collection can inspire. This sees students opening their minds in our galleries; community members connecting through artisanry; people of all ages getting on the water and learning to paddle; and exhibitions and events that spark conversation and collaboration.
For further information:
Caroline Spivak
Profile Communications Corp.
[email protected]
416.371.9740
