Memorial Tower gets an official name

The Memorial Tower has a new official name.

"In conjunction with the Historic Sites Board, the veterans and the City, we're going to officially name the tower the Sault Memorial Tower," says Ward 1 Councillor James Caicco, chair of the City's Sports and Entertainment Facility Advisory Committee.

At a meeting of the committee yesterday, Caicco said that the tower will be designated a heritage site, pending City Council approval.

"It's important to give it [the tower] its own identity," Caicco said. "Once the tower is separated from the old building and it's restored, it's going to be very impressive."

Caicco and other members of the committee agree that the tower will become a major landmark and focal point for the whole Queen Street area in which it's situated.

He also said it was important to recognize the significance of the tower on its own and not as part of the new building, because it's the memorial component of the Memorial Gardens.

"It encompasses all that history and that whole memorial aspect," said Caicco.

The committee also tossed around ideas for the area around the tower, including a possible friendship garden, some benches and a European-style piazza.

Mayor Rowswell suggested that the City works staff could install and maintain the garden.

"We have some top-rate expertise in that area on our staff," the mayor said.

City Commissioner of Community Services Nick Apostle also said the tenders for demolition of the old Memorial Gardens building close tomorrow so work should begin on that soon.

Apostle said that one of the first tasks will be to disassemble the big score clock that has hung over centre ice.

"We'll be taking it apart to get it out of there," said Apostle. "We hope to sell the separate sections of it to help raise funds for the new building."