| Because there is no funding for its restoration, a | | | | historic sites, the Wheeler house is in bad condition. |
| heritage building recognized by the federal | | | | His organization reviewed ways to renovate it, or |
| government will be torn down later this year by the | | | | even relocate it, but neither option is logistically or |
| government. The structure, known as the Wheeler | | | | financially possible. Malins said that Parks Canada |
| House and the Claremount House, has been | | | | sought the advice of several groups on how to |
| designated as a safety hazard. | | | | rescue the building, but no viable proposals were |
| The home, which rests on Sulphur Mountain's | | | | forthcoming. Part of the difficulty is that the home is |
| northern slope, was originally a summer residence for | | | | now in a designated wildlife corridor. |
| A.O. Wheeler, founder of the Alpine Club of Canada. | | | | Wheeler's great-granddaughter Jenny Crompton said |
| Wheeler was also a famous surveyor of mountains. | | | | she has spent 15 years in an effort to have Parks |
| The Wheeler building has been under the auspices of | | | | Canada maintain the building. She commented that |
| Parks Canada since 1991. Several years later, the | | | | she is disappointed that people will not benefit from |
| structure was designated a Recognized Federal | | | | the home in the future. She said that she received a |
| Heritage Building. It is noted as a pioneering | | | | letter last October from Parks Canada, informing her |
| development in Canada tourism. Wheeler once ran a | | | | of the house's disposal. |
| tourism business from the house. However, the | | | | Crompton has an ally in Dr. PearlAnn Reichwein, a |
| structure has deteriorated in recent years. If the | | | | University of Alberta associate professor. Reichwein |
| environmental assessment now being conducted on | | | | feels that Parks Canada should not abandon the |
| the place is approved, the home will be demolished. | | | | home. |
| According to Steve Malins, a manager of national | | | | |