Parks Canada signals no involvement in Johnson Geo Centre’s future

Amid questions about what will happen to the Johnson Geo Centre currently being offloaded by Memorial University, Parks Canada says it has no plans to acquire the property which borders its Signal Hill National Historic Site.

Ray Kenny, public relations officer for Newfoundland’s east field unit with Parks Canada, said while it’s recognized there is public interest in the future of the Geo Centre, and while the federal agency hopes the Geo Centre and its grounds will remain available to the public, any expansion of Parks Canada’s programming must be of “national value” and be “financially and operationally sustainable over the long term.”

“The Geo Centre’s focus on science education and local geology is outside the heritage values of Signal Hill National Historic Site and Parks Canada’s core mandate,” Kenny told The Independent.

The statement comes after some residents in the Signal Hill area were calling on Parks Canada to get more involved, following an announcement earlier this year by Memorial University that it was divesting or selling off its ownership stake in the Johnson Geo Centre and nearby Emera Innovation building.

St. John’s residents uncertain, concerned over Memorial University building sales on Signal Hill

In an update Thursday, university spokesperson Elizabeth Furey said the Geo Centre has yet to be actually listed for sale, and that the Emera Innovation building has not been sold. Furey said in both cases Memorial is waiting on “some approvals to advance with the next steps of the divestment process” for the properties.