On April 15, the University of Saskatchewan’s board of governors decided to, “in the next few months,” demolish two unused properties on campus land at 113 and 114 Seminary Crescent, better known as Ogle Hall and the former Lutheran Theological Seminary. They have been vacant for five years, attracting various forms of vandalism, break-ins and other unsafe activities.

So, a quick recent history. USask decided some time ago to demolish these buildings, but after a fair amount of pushback, largely from a group called Friends of 114 Seminary Crescent, it held meetings and halted proceedings to ask for expressions of interest (EOIs) from those who may be interested in renovating and repurposing them. (To be clear, the Seminary building belongs to the Lutherans and sits on rented land. LTS will donate the building to any successful proponent.)

Tours ensued. Then USask received five EOIs in lickety-split time, considering their window was very narrow — between mid-December and mid-February. I am aware of three of these, but I will focus on the one provided by the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC), which I am the most familiar with and is very detailed, and due to space constraints. STC has proposed establishing an Indigenous Centre of Excellence in these two buildings. The original seminary, designed by renowned local architect John Holliday-Scott in the mid-century brutalist style, contained a chapel, residence, cafeteria and other amenities for the previous theology students. Much of this would be refurbished and maintained under STC’s proposal. STC’s EOI includes a residence for up to 99 students, childcare, a cultural space, a gathering space, classrooms, offices, and wellness facilities, among other amenities.

“This will set a precedent,” STC Tribal Chief Mark Arcand wrote in his preface to the EOI. “As communities worldwide grapple with the legacies of colonialism, land dispossession, and the exclusion of Indigenous voices in decision-making, this initiative stands as a beacon of what is possible. “It offers a new paradigm for urban planning, post-secondary partnerships, sustainability and truth-telling centred in Indigenous self-determination and land stewardship.”

This seems to fit with USask’s stated Indigenous strategy, it seems, which “uplifts decolonization, reconciliation and Indigenization.” Then we come to the hard details. First of all, STC’s EOI states a budget of $21.14 million for the Seminary building and $6.2 million for Ogle Hall. This is far, far below USask’s refurbishment estimate of $55 to $60 million, which, as a big, big number, was posited as one of the reasons behind deciding on demolition. What is difficult to grasp is why this is an issue, when STC would be putting up the cash — admittedly with support from various funding bodies and including the $4.5 million demolition cost coming via USask.

Furthermore, several architects dispute that larger number, saying the actual cost would be closer to the STC’s range. Even USask originally said, pre-EOI, that it would take $26 million, not too far off the STC proposal. What I found, perhaps, the most interesting was STC’s “activity” breakdown, which would basically begin immediately by establishing “peacekeepers and firewatch” that would be ongoing through the preconstruction and construction process. “Work is able to begin on this project immediately. Once in possession, STC will take responsibility for the building(s) to see them secured and made safe,” says the EOI.

STC also estimated that construction would begin in August, 2026, although windows and doors would be replaced this summer. If indeed demolition is slated for “within the next months,” is this proposal that far off the USask timeline? And would the STC’s vision not align with USask’s? Here’s what USask said about its vision for the land. “Demolition of the Seminary Crescent buildings is consistent with the university’s Core Campus Master Plan which identifies the area as “the River Valley precinct” — best suited not for development but for recreational and open spaces for the university community and the broader public. “As well, the riverbank area on which these buildings currently sit is designated to be part of a proposed Saskatoon national “urban park” — one of up to six that Parks Canada committed to create in the 2021 federal budget.” I cannot possibly say which financial estimates are accurate, or may prove to be down the road. I am no architect nor builder. I cannot say whether this proposed urban park would be a substantial boon to the campus or to the city. Perhaps. I would say that it might be worth taking a collective second breath and deeply considering this act of reconciliation, this unique residence for Indigenous students, and perhaps the other EOIs.

– Joanne Paulson