Your pipe organ at the U of A is getting ripped out
So, you know Convocation Hall at the University of Alberta? The one that looks like something out of a particularly stern British university, all stately and brick, holding graduations and fancy lectures? Well, apparently, the powers that be at the U of A have decided that the venerable pipe organ that has graced that hall since 1957 is… inconvenient. They're removing it as part of a renovation. Not moving it, mind you, but *removing* it. For accessibility, they say, to make room for wheelchair ramps and the like. It's an interesting decision, given that the organ is not exactly a temporary fixture. It’s been there longer than some of the current buildings on campus, a kind of musical sentry.
Honestly though, it’s hard not to feel a bit of a pang for the old beast. That organ, built by the Casavant Frères out of Quebec, has filled that hall with sound for generations of students and faculty. Imagine the Handel oratorios, the solemn processional music at convocation, the sheer weight and beauty of those notes vibrating through the rafters. It’s a piece of the university’s soul, a sonic landmark. And now, it’s going. To make way for… well, presumably more accessible access, which is, of course, a good thing. But the timing, and the finality of it, feels a little like ripping out a piece of the city's musical history. It makes you wonder what else might get deemed "inconvenient" in the name of progress.
### What This Means for Edmonton
* **A loss of a cultural landmark:** That organ wasn't just furniture; it was a part of countless significant moments for U of A students and the wider Edmonton arts community. * **Accessibility vs. Heritage:** It highlights the often-tricky balance between modern accessibility needs and preserving historical elements. Could there have been another way? * **A quiet farewell:** No grand final concert, no send-off. Just... gone. A bit like those subtle changes that happen around the city when you're not looking, and then suddenly, something you took for granted isn't there anymore.
Edmonton doesn't need your approval. Never did.
Honestly, the crew on the morning show probably have some strong opinions on this. You should catch them live at mornings.live.