On Council agenda for January 9 there is a report on the subject of the Entrance gates at Marylake Monastery (15th SDRD/Keele.) These Entrance Gates are designated on the Heritage Register. As reviewed in the report the need for maintenance was identified as there was visible deterioration; but, 
rather than following the required process for a Heritage Permit, as required by the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA), the property owners proceeded without the permit. The disregard for process is surprising that initially the owners had met with the Heritage Committee and presented several options. This violation of the OHA regulations is serious as it sets a precedence which can impact our ability to protect our other heritage properties. As indicated in the report it does appear that some of the heritage features of the Gates have been harmed; hence a peer review is critical to define remediation requirements.
What a shame that the owners of Marylake Monastery had total disregard for due process. I hope that they are duly and heavily reprimanded. Please keep us updated in your blog.
I too am very disappointed. I do hope that they will comply: agree to the peer review, pay for the latter and make corrective action identified by that review.
Developer$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I will post this opinion but to confirm it is the opinion of the person who made the comment.
I am a local resident and have frequently walked past the gates and up through the Mary Lake property for the past 20 years. The Mary Lake gates are beautiful. I am also a Civil Engineer and I have been concerned about the condition of the gates which without remedial maintenance were destined to deteriorate and potentially collapse in the near term.
The engineering report provided to staff seemed very comprehensive and the $500,000 solution that it proposed to totally rebuild the gates with all new materials was a possible solution. I’m sure that solution would make the gates quite sound for many decades but it would be a completely new structure and not the original 1911 gate.
I believe that the current approach taken by the property owners to do ongoing maintenance of the surface stone cladding will protect the structural integrity of the gates and prevent their collapse for many years. However, it will require ongoing maintenance from the property owners. It is maintenance ….not rebuild. But it is an economically reasonable path forward.
I agree with your perspective that a rebuild might result in a very robust strcuture but it would not be the original gate. But I don’t believe the recent “maintenance” work has been done well; good example of the poor craftsmanship is the mortar “dripping” down in numerous places.