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Federal government gives LLC $25K birthday present
This summer, the Government of Canada gave $25,000 of funding to the Laurentian Leadership Centre (LLC) in Ottawa. The funding will be used towards restoration of the historic John R. Booth mansion, located in downtown Ottawa. The Booth Mansion has been the only home the LLC program has known since its inception in the fall of 2002.
“Two winters ago, we had water damage inside the building because there was ice on the other side of the building. [Restoration] is necessary to maintain the integrity of the building for the winter,” said LLC Director Dr. Janet Epp-Buckingham.
TWU’s grant proposal was accepted by the federal government during the summer. Renovations will now be completed before the end of September.
“The university has a very good relationship with our local MP, Mark Warawa. His office did whatever they could to ensure TWU had access to funding under grants that were available. I believed that they encouraged a favourable response to it.
“We also have a lot of our LLC alumni in political offices. That really helps us to know how to approach the government. It can sometimes help open doors to us,” said Epp-Buckingham.
The John R. Booth mansion was built in 1909, and TWU bought it in 2001. “It’s one of the best preserved buildings,” says Epp-Buckingham. “It still has original tapestry wallpaper from 100 years ago.”
As one of Canada’s preserved heritage homes, it is important that the LLC is handled with care while it undergoes restoration. Parks Canada, the department of the federal government that oversees heritage buildings, took action by connecting the LLC with heritage restoration company Everest Restoration.
With federal funding for necessary renovations and the assistance of Everest Restoration, the mansion will continue to serve the LLC program well. According to Epp-Buckingham, “It’s a fantastic building to work in. It’s a beautiful building on the inside and outside.”
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