Extensive repairs needed to Citadelle
According to the Canadian Press, a federal assessment has found that the historic Quebec Citadelle, located in Quebec City, is in need of extensive refurbishment valued at nearly $100 million. The refurbishment would address significant deterioration of the structure, especially the Redoubt’s foundations, of which some parts date back to the eighteenth century.
The last significant renovation of the Citadelle was an upgrade to the Governor General’s residence from 1976 to 1984 when the East Wing was rebuilt following its destruction in a fire. Since then, piecemeal renovations have taken place to address life-safety concerns, such as a new fire alarm system installed in 2004-2005, and some restorative work to the gates and walls was performed in 2003 worth $11.5 million. In 2008, in preparation for Quebec City’s 400th anniversary, Land Force Command invested $4 million in a facelift of the fort; however, that facelift pales in comparison to the estimated $100 million worth of work required at the site (this price tag doesn’t include the cost of bringing buildings and ramparts up to the current National Building Code standards).
The completion of the work included in the estimate has found the Army in a bind, as, according to its 2007 Strategic Plan, it does not have the resource flexibility required to upgrade and maintain a historic site, given the strict work regulation by the Federal Heritage Building Review Office. To address this shortcoming, the Army has sought assistance from the Department of Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), which owns a portion of the site as well. According to the May 2008 Auditor General’s report, PWGSC has identified the Redoubt as being in poor condition; however, PWGSC has allocated just $0.5 million to maintenance work at the Citadelle from April 2007 to March 2012.
It is unclear whether additional funding will be allocated to deal with the $100 million deficit of work identified by the assessment. With the increasing cost of labour and materials in the Canadian construction industry, the estimated value of the work is likely to increase significantly over the coming years, especially given the sensitive nature of the restorative work required given the historic status of the Citadelle.
A Brief History of the Citadelle
A historic British fort in Canada, some portions of the existing Citadelle date back to the days of New France. In 1701, French commissary general of fortifications, Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban, approved a general defensive plan for the site that would ultimately be adapted by the British as they sought to improve the fortification in 1820 (though some British improvements on-site date back to 1794 and were erected under the guidance of Prince Edward of Kent). The fortification as it exists today was largely built from 1820 over a thirty-year period, and laid out as a four-pointed polygon with each point forming a bastion (to allow for considerable active defence against assaulters). The Citadelle currently houses the 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22e Regiment, one of Canada’s three regular infantry regiments, and serves as a seasonal home to the Governor General of Canada. The historic site is the only one garrisoned by an active military unit in Canada.
