THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay has announced that the Centennial Botanical Conservatory will remain closed at least until after Council views a report on the facility in early June. A report is being prepared by the City’s Facilities & Fleet Department to outline further action plans for the Conservatory.
The temporary closure began on Feb. 14 as a precautionary measure in response to pieces of the glass panels that have fallen from the facility’s ceiling over time. Access was already restricted in a section where glass fell in early February.
The Conservatory was opened in 1967 by the Fort William Parks Board as a Centennial project that was to be left to the community. The central and largest room in the Conservatory is the tropical house, a humid arboretum. The east wing is reserved for seasonal floral shows and the west wing contains a permanent display of plants native to arid regions.
The Conservatory is not a heritage building but its design is unique to this region and, based on comments received from tourists and local citizens, it’s evident that the Conservatory has made a significant contribution to the quality of life of the community over the years.
City Council and administration recognize the need for additional infrastructure funding for City facilities and other assets and, by 2014, are looking to increase annual funding by $9.5 million through the Enhanced Infrastructure Renewal Program (EIRP).