Historic Alberta building — a potential home for Indigenous hub — could be sold instead

A historic building in downtown Lethbridge is at the centre of debate in the community after city council took steps to possibly sell it last month.

The Bowman building, built in 1912, hasn't housed a long-term tenant since 2013 but is being considered as a possible location for an Indigenous hub in the southern Alberta city.

Last month, Lethbridge city council passed a motion that approved a competitive request-for-proposal (RFP) that would look at divesting the property to private buyers rather than keep it in the city's portfolio. An update on that process will come to council on May 24.

This week, after a presentation by three Indigenous community leaders, a new motion was brought forward by Coun. Jeff Carlson aimed at rescinding last month's council decision on the Bowman.

That was voted down, 5-4, meaning the sale process will go forward as planned.

It is possible the hub could still be in the building, but that depends on the outcome of the RFP process and council's decision.

Bowman as possible Indigenous hub

On Feb. 1, the city voted unanimously to allocate nearly $500,000 toward the creation of an Indigenous resource hub in the city.

The hub was a recommendation that came forward as part of the city's community well-being and safety strategy. Its annual funding comes not from city dollars but through provincial and federal grants.

The goal of the hub is to "serve as a centralized access point for Indigenous resources, available to community members and organizations," according to a city report.

The Blood Tribe is charged with delivering the hub services that would offer social programs, culturally relevant programs and housing.

The Bowman building has been a top contender as a possible location for that hub, said Mike Fox, the city's director of community services, in an interview last week. But he says council started looking in December at divesting some of the buildings the city owns, including the Bowman building.

'A natural place for convening'

The building is on Fifth Avenue in downtown Lethbridge across from the public library and close to city hall.

Its location makes it a good spot for the hub as it is near where the people who might access its services typically congregate, says Dr. Esther Tailfeathers, a family physician on the Blood Reserve.

"It's just a natural place for convening for people there," she said. "They can warm up in the library … the warm bus station is just down the street from there."

Fox says the contract for the hub is for three years and they wouldn't want to set up the hub in a building that may be sold.

"From an administrative point of view, we wouldn't want to locate the resource hub and get the community used to being in one location and then move it if we are divesting of the property," he said.

He says the council wants to "have all the information before they decide on the use of that building."

Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen says that regardless of what happens with the Bowman building, the hub is going forward.

"It's not dependent just on this building," Hyggen said in an interview last week.

Blood Tribe concerns

Elder Mike Bruised Head, Blood Tribe councillor Travis Plaited Hair and Tanya Pace-Crosschild, the director of Opokaa'sin, an early intervention program, all spoke before council this week addressing the issue.

"I get a little frustrated when bureaucracy gets in the way of progress. If it was just a decision, fine, but there are people literally dying on the street," Plaited Hair told council.

He said no matter where the hub is put, he hopes the project moves forward quickly.

City manager Lloyd Brierley said there may be better locations for the hub.

"We're wanting to work with the Blackfoot and look at all of the available options. Should the Bowman be one of them, I think there are some other potentially viable options as well that might be equal or better," he said.

Tanya Pace-Crosschild said the decision to possibly sell the Bowman is not just about a building.

"The decision not to open the Bowmen to the Indigenous hub isn't merely about that one decision but about a decision to allow NIMBY to be endorsed at a leadership level," she said.

"Ask yourself what do you want your legacy to be?"

When asked whether the building's location in downtown Lethbridge went into the decision to possibly sell the building, the mayor rejected the idea.

"That's got nothing to do with that. We just want to make sure it's the right location," Hyggen said.

City Coun. Belinda Crowson voted against selling the building and says council could have been more strategic.

"Whether it's the Bowman or another location, I think it would have been best if the location and the money had been announced together … that would have kept the process moving along," she said in an interview.

She says not doing so has caused issues for the city's relationship with the Blood Tribe community.

Bruised Head says he doesn't understand why the building is being considered for sale now, after sitting empty for so many years.

"I am saying there has been a lot of dialogue that has happened and all it takes is one meeting to kill that progressive, respectful dialogue and communication," he said in an interview.

Possible sale of Bowman

Coun. John Middleton-Hope brought forward the Feb. 15 motion that carried 6-2 to begin the RFP process for the Bowman building.

Middleton-Hope says there has never been an "indication" that the building will be sold and not used for the hub despite the RFP process going forward.

"There are other options available. This is a business decision. We have a fiduciary responsibility to all the citizens of this community and that includes examining all the assets that the city has," he said during the council meeting.

He says this is consistent with city policy examining the city's assets and their future use.

Historical significance

The Lethbridge Historical Society doesn't want to see the building sold. It wants to see it continue its history of serving the community.

The Bowman building has been a school, a museum and a centre for the arts. In 1982, it was designated as a provincial historic resource.

"We don't necessarily understand why [the city] would choose this building when there are so many other buildings in [the city's] portfolio that are perhaps less significant, less historic and less viable," said Lorien Johansen, vice-president of the historical society.

She notes that 10 years ago, the building was being discussed by city council as a location to house non-profit organizations, even before discussions of the hub.

CBC Calgary has launched a Lethbridge bureau to help tell your stories from southern Alberta with reporter Jennifer Dorozio. Story ideas and tips can be sent to [email protected].