Bids to save the engraved bricks of Calgary's Olympic Plaza resurface as demolition looms

Standing next to one of nearly 33,000 engraved bricks covering the surface of Calgary's Olympic Plaza, Valerie Salkeld castsher eyes downward as shereminisces about memories frommore than 30 years ago.

"It was January and so it was a little chilly, but they had a skating rink here in the winters. I worked downtown, [my husband] met me afterward and he brought me to Olympic Plaza," said the Calgarian.

"He gave me an envelope and the envelope said look down and I looked down and there was the little ring box right beside the brick and he was on his knee and he proposed to me."

Etched on that brick was a marriageproposal, albeit spelt incorrectly: 'Will you mary me Val.'

Valerie's husband, Laird, bought the couple that brick in 1988, but she was unaware ofit until twoyears later when she ultimately got engaged.

Watch | Valerie Salkeld talks about the day she got her brick:

What's happening to the bricks at Olympic Plaza with the transformation project looming?

4 days ago

Duration 2:35

As the downtown Calgary cultural hub gets set for a major makeover, an iconic part of the plaza won't be included.

That brick, along with the tens of thousands of othersthat have become synonymous with Calgary's 1988 Olympic Games, were sold as part of a fundraising campaign.

People could buy them at the time for$19.88 and were encouraged to engrave names or memories on them.

Decades later, the commemorative bricks face demolition as the city moves ahead with redevelopment plans for the area. The plaza is set for closure at the end of 2024.

Bricks unsalvageable

The downtown Calgary park will be shut until 2028 as amajor transformation project of bothOlympic Plaza andneighbouring Arts Commons, which begins in early 2025.

The etched bricks are not included in the redesign plans, according to the Calgary Land Municipal Corporation (CMLC), whichis spearheading the project.

In a statement, the organization told CBC News that while they understand and recognize the significance and sentimental value of the bricks, a number of factors makes preserving themnearly impossible.

"The project team has examined the possibility of removing and returning the bricks to purchasers, but individual excavation of the 33,000 bricks is not feasible and is unlikely to be successful without causing significant damage to the removed bricks and those around them,"reads a statement from the CMLC.

"Due to their age and condition, the bricks will not be re-purposed and integrated in the revitalized plaza."

The organization said that restoring the bricks willalso "come at significant cost" and impact the project's construction schedule.

"We were hoping that they would find a solution to be able to suit everyone because they're really special to people," Salkeld said.

Despite that disappointment, Salkeld said she understands the situation.

"As the wear and tearon the plaza happened over the years, I understand them needing to to do something new and fresh."

A last-ditch effort to save the bricks

Throughout September, CMLC held a number of events where people had the opportunity to come down and visitthe bricks and the surrounding plaza.

The organizationbrought in a professional photographer and name-rubbing equipment so those with a brick could get their engraving imprinted on a piece of paper.

That, however, seemingly wasn't enough.

Several threads have surfaced on social media sites where people are discussing how to remove their bricks for themselves or whether it wouldbe too dangerous due to the fragility of the bricks.

Gaps where bricks were laidare also evident along the park's surface.

"There's just so many stories here," Salkeld said. "I understand them wanting them.I want mine."

According to CMLC, the bricks that line Olympic Plaza's surface are considered public property. Under a bylaw, removing them is prohibited and carries a fine of between $250 and $400.

Calgary-Midnapore MP Stephanie Kusie still hopes the bricks can be saved.

She launched a petition on Oct.22 in a bidtorecognize, preserve and honour the history of the infrastructure, and what it represents in some form in the redesign.

"In destroying the bricks, it's not recognizing what is the significance of the most historical event that took place in Calgary, the 1988 Olympics," Kusiesaid.

"I believe that the Calgarians who invested in a brick in the Plaza really thought that they were going to be a part of Calgaryhistory for some time, certainly a time beyond 40 years."

While Kusie acknowledgesthe petition itself cannot legally forceCMLC to take any action, she hopes it will at least give the organizationsomething to think about.

The design of Olympic Plaza's transformation is expected to be revealed early next year.