The finalists were chosen by a jury comprised of design professionals, content specialists, and a representative from Tribute to Liberty. The teams have until March 2, 2017, to complete their design proposals. The design concepts will then be posted on Christmas Eve in the Gulag 1955 the project website for the public to view and comment on. The winning design will be announced in April 2017. The jury will make a recommendation on the final design to the Minister of Canadian Heritage who is responsible for the final selection of the winning design on behalf of the Government of Canada.
The jury:
• Larry Beasley, CM, is the retired director of planning for the City of Vancouver and currently the Distinguished Practice Professor of Planning at the University of British Columbia.
• Ruth Derksen is Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia and a firstgeneration Canadian of Russian Mennonite descent. Dr. Derksen holds a PhD in the philosophy of language.
• Ludwik Klimkowski is the President of Moneyweb Financial, a financial planning and investment service, serves as Chair of Tribute to Liberty and is Vice-President of the Canadian Polish Congress for Canadian Affairs.
• Ted Merrick is the director of the design studio at Ferris + Associates and a founder of the acclaimed Winter Stations Design Competition in Toronto that reimagines lifeguard stations with temporary public art.
• Nadia Myre is a visual artist from Quebec and an Algonquin member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation. Ms. Myre is the recipient of several prestigious grants and awards, including the Sobey Art Award.
Tribute to Liberty Chair Ludwik Klimkowski says, “Tribute to Liberty is excited to see this project move forward with the Government of Canada's strong support. We appreciate the commitment of Minister Joly, who has worked closely with Canada's cultural communities represented by Tribute to Liberty to make this project a reality.” Design Teams Meet to Discuss Guidelines and Visit Site On November 7th the finalist design teams met with representatives from Canadian Heritage, the National Capital Commission and Tribute to Liberty to discuss the guidelines for the design competition and to visit the memorial site.
The design guidelines, a technical document and roadmap of parameters for developing the final plans, were reviewed. Due to the fact the design guidelines don't entirely convey the emotional suffering of the victims and their families or adequately describe their work in Canada to lay the foundation for a peaceful future, Tribute to Liberty board member Robert Tmej outlined for the finalists his family's story of fleeing the Communists that forcefully took over Czechoslovakia. Tmej's family arrived safely in Canada (Quebec City and Halifax) while the family that stayed back home would suffer the consequences of Communist rule. The punishment included imprisonment and forfeiture of property – no one was immune from the terror. Tmej also described how Tribute to Liberty is comprised of and represents citizens from around the world who suffered and sought refuge in Canada, and that the memorial will represent their agony and sorrow of fleeing their homeland, their joy and happiness of building a new life in Canada, and their continued fight for freedom and democracy. The group visited the memorial site at the Garden of the Provinces and Territories to enable the finalist teams to see where the memorial will reside and where hundreds and maybe even thousands will eventually gather to commemorate their ethnic heritage and struggle against Communism while celebrating their past, present and future in Canada.
Project status:
1. In October five teams have been selected by Heritage Canada to create designs of the Memorial. Their works will be presented for public and jury viewing on March 2, 2017. Soon after that final design of the Memorial will be selected and Development & Implementation Phase of the project will be launched (please see a link to press-release by Canadian Heritage):
http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?mthd=advSrch&crtr.page=1&crtr.dpt1D=6662&nid=1149479
The Development & Implementation phase will call for applications of construction companies. Heritage Canada included the following schedule in Phase I government procurement document (available at https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-16-00745784):
Phase 1 — Request for Qualifications (PCH)
Deadline for questions October 4, 2016
Deadline for receipt of submissions October 11, 2016
Jury review and evaluation period October 21, 2016
Notification of finalist teams October 28, 2016 (TBC)
Phase 2 — Request for Proposals (PCH)
Site meeting for design teams, Q&A session November 7, 2016 (TBC)
Submission of written materials for technical committee review February 8, 2017
Presentation of design concept to jury and ACPDR March 2, 2017
Public viewing of design concepts March 2, 2017
Jury review and evaluation period March 17, 2017
Winning design team notified April 3, 2017 (TBC)
Design Development and Implementation (NCC)
Contract award April 2017
Detailed design development August 2017
Fabrication and installation December 2018
Unveiling of major monument elements December 2018
Completion of site work/landscape March 2019
2. TTL has to transfer $1,5 mln to Heritage Canada after final design is chosen and approved. With consideration of pledges that may or may not be donated, TTL still has to fundraise $250,000 to bridge the gap by March 2017. Currently TTL is making fundraising push with hope for generous donations in pre-Christmas season.
