by Common Ground staff

With the BC Liberal government’s abysmal environmental record, it’s no surprise that the Campbell government wants to demolish Victoria’s Crystal Garden Conservation Centre (CGCC) in favour of retail space and a high tech attraction.
Unless there is a huge last minute groundswell, the architecturally unique glass-roofed heritage building on Douglas Street will close at the end of October and all the rare plants and animals will be dispersed. Built in 1925, the popular Crystal Garden was gifted to the people of Victoria 26 years ago as a refuge for rare plants and animals. There is no covenant on the donation of the property which can save it, and even its heritage designation cannot prevent the centre’s destruction.
The BC Capital Commission, a Crown corporation, says that Crystal Garden does not meet the commission’s new mandate of “connecting the capital with the rest of the
province,” though this concept has never been explained.
Eight of the 14 members of the commission are Campbell government appointees, which explains why no public input is being sought. The commission claims that this attraction has run its course, is losing money and that it’s time to replace it with a financially viable attraction. As the Crystal Garden is not a charitable entity as most zoos, aquariums, museums and public gardens are, there has been no opportunity to fundraise through charitable donations. CGCC supporters and employees say that contrary to commission statements, the centre has been making money in 2004.
As a backup plan the Conservation Centre Society of Victoria www.crystalgardensociety.com is consulting with the owner of Butterfly Gardens in nearby Brentwood Bay to build a new facility there and is also discussing with a local organization the possibility of temporarily housing the animals which include highly endangered lemurs and marmosets. The commission says it will take care of selling and shipping the animals and doesn’t want input from anyone.
There is a third way. People can be allowed to participate in the decision-making process. Crystal Garden could be maintained with an adjustment to the architect’s plan for development of the area. This would allow the endangered species to live out their lives whether or not you believe in keeping them in captivity. www.islandveg.com/liberate/crystalgarden. If you care about this decision, get involved: contact the premier’s office, premier@gov.bc.ca; MLAs, www.legis.gov.bc.ca/mla/3-1-7.htm and the capital commission www.bcpcc.com.