From Karen Cilevitz:

July 23, 2008, Toronto, Ontario: Yesterday the Board of Governors of The University of Toronto received a legal request asking that the historic contents of The David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill remain in place and any recent removals of scientific equipment, historic and cultural artifacts including furniture, paintings, books, photo albums and other documents be returned.

Under a long forgotten 1948 will, Dr. Mary Robertson, accessed a provision of her grandfather’s estate, forcing the University to “listen cordially and carefully” to her desire to protect the Observatory’s contents. Dr. Robertson is one of the surviving granddaughter’s of Clarence A. Chant, creator of the Observatory which opened to great fanfare in 1935.

Dr. Robertson said, “I am deeply distressed that they are taking the contents out. This is morally reprehensible, and all of these contents should be returned. My grandfather was not only the engineer of this remarkable vision, and, he gave them a lot of money in the process, virtually his entire estate.”

After hearing about local community groups efforts to save the Observatory buildings, contents and surrounding parkland, Dr. Robertson toured the Observatory campus in June. She was impressed with its museum-like quality. Issues surrounding the protection of the Dunlap campus are before the Conservation Review Board of Ontario. The University appears to be in contempt with its deliberate removal of the Dunlap contents, prior to the Board’s hearing sometime this fall.

Dr. Robertson has a clear memory of the opening of the Observatory May 31st, 1935, sitting after the ceremony with MacKenzie King and her grandfather in his Observatory residence, Elm’s Lea.

“Remarkably little about the Observatory’s workings has changed since that day. The greatest difference with the property is the lush mature arboretum. When I arrived for my tour I was fortunate to be greeted by a deer and her twin fawns – it was as if I was being welcomed back.”

Dr. Robertson only recently discovered her grandfather provided for this exceptional opportunity in his will. He ensured if at any time any of his children or grandchildren were “anxious to undertake a project requiring help”, they could legitimately appeal to the University for support.

Dr. Robertson said, “It is now my express desire to take on a project to ensure all the contents of The David Dunlap Observatory buildings remain in situ and any and all materials recently removed by the University properly belonging at the Observatory and related buildings, be returned.”

Contact:

Karen Cilevitz
(416) 990-6694
[email protected]

For Immediate Release – Richmond Hill, Ontario July 11, 2008:

The Richmond Hill Naturalists have filed a formal request with the Conservation Review Board (CRB) to halt the removal of the heritage contents of The David Dunlap Observatory by the University of Toronto.

Yesterday, the University of Toronto began a premature process of removing artifacts, library books and computers operating the Great Telescope at the David Dunlap Observatory & Park, despite the site being under the protection of the Conservation Review Board, which administers the province of Ontario’s Heritage Act.

“Clearly, the University has chosen to operate outside the rules set out by the CRB. We gave the University extra time to prepare for the heritage hearing, but instead of preparing, they’ve chosen to secret away the contents of this museum-like observatory. The articles being removed are not the personal effects of employees. These are the specific articles we hoped to argue before the CRB to remain permanently with these heritage buildings,” said Marianne Yake, President of the Richmond Hill Naturalists.

The David Dunlap Observatory & Park is a 189-acre site on which a small campus of buildings were constructed and donated in 1935 by Jessie Dunlap as a permanent memorial to her husband David, a philanthropist, an amateur astronomer and a Naturalist. Today, together with the pre-Confederation farmstead known as “Elms Lea”, the buildings are much the same as when they opened. Most of their original furnishings, library books, teaching tools and scientific equipment are still in place.

Last October, the Naturalists filed an objection with the CRB to ensure that maximum heritage protections could be placed on the Dunlap landscape, buildings and their contents.

“One of our greatest concerns for the contents is the Great Telescope. By removing the computers that operate it and defeat the effects of light pollution, it can’t function nor can it be maintained – it will be rendered permanently useless,” said Ms. Yake.

The Great Telescope of the David Dunlap Observatory is Canada’s largest and the only ground-based optical telescope that can confirm the accuracies of observations made by space-based telescopes like The Hubble. “Last week this telescope was doing work for the Canadian Space Agency and NASA. It could have been working this week, but the astronomers and their research were abandoned.

“The University did not have to take these rash steps. They could have respected the process of being before a tribunal of the Ontario government and let this thing play out, but it acted unilaterally.

One of the questions we continue to ask about the University’s handling of the Dunlap Observatory is what did it really plan to leave behind in this community? We’ve underwritten the world-class scientific work done here for the past 75 years with our property taxes. We have also shaped the community around the Observatory with our planning and lighting restriction by-laws. Many in the Town believe the best use of the Dunlap Campus is continued astronomical research, education and public outreach in a museum-like setting.”

In order to do this, the contents must remain in-situ and the telescope operational.

Key to keeping the telescope running are the machine shops in the basement of the Administration Building. These manufacture custom replacement parts which can’t be purchased anywhere. These machines were designed to be an integral part of a self-sustaining scientific facility in what once was a farming community of 900 people and is now a major urban centre with a population of 183,000 residents.

Asking the CRB for an interim order, the Richmond Hill Naturalists want the University to stop the removal of fixtures, equipment, furniture, wall hangings and materials made specifically for the purposes of The David Dunlap Observatory, commissioned for, prepared, collected and installed on site.

“If these items continue to be packed up, we are also concerned that people not sensitive to the historic and scientific importance are culling materials correctly. It would be terrible to later find out that some mover who didn’t understand the signficance of an object or paperwork had thrown it out”, said Ms. Yake.

Last week Ministry of Culture spokesperson, Ms Jill Skorochod, said “… until the process plays out and the review board hands down its final decision, the entirety of the site and contents are protected from destruction under the Ontario Heritage Act. Anyone who violates the Act could face criminal charges and fines.”

The RHNats are of the opinion that the David Dunlap Observatory & Park is of national and international importance with respect to cultural, scientific, historic and natural significance. “We are hoping the CRB will use its authority to set the University straight on this issue,” said Ms. Yake.

The RHNats urgently request concerned Canadians with interests including astronomy, culture, history, nature and science, contribute to their Legal Defense Fund at www.rhnaturalists.ca

The CRB Hearing to set out the heritage significance of the David Dunlap Observatory & Park, is scheduled sometime this fall.

Information Contact :

Marianne Yake
Richmond Hill Naturalists
(905) 883-3047
(416) 990-6694
[email protected]