Conexus says protesters bark up wrong tree
Group opposes location of credit union’s Wascana headquarters
With protesters crying out against tree-chopping, Conexus Credit Union is frustrated with misconceptions surrounding its Wascana Centre construction project.
“There’s some misconception that Conexus has made some secret deal to acquire a very pristine piece of land in the park — and to be candid, nothing could be further from the truth,” Eric Dillon, CEO of Conexus Credit Union said in a recent interview.
As they have periodically since the project was announced, around a dozen protesters gathered in Wascana Centre last week to protest commercial interests entering the park. On Wednesday, they were specifically incensed about the trees felled to make way for the new Conexus Credit Union headquarters building.
Dillon said Conexus worked closely with the Provincial Capital Commission for everything treerelated, and that 109 trees will be affected by the building construction and road relocation.
According to the Provincial Capital Commission, of those 109 trees, 54 — all ash — will not be considered for relocation. Wascana Centre has decided not to relocate this species anywhere in the city due to concerns with the emerald ash bore pest.
As for the rest of the trees, Dillon said Conexus hopes to relocate the vast majority.
“And for any that can’t be relocated for whatever reason, our commitment has been to plant three trees for every one that can’t be relocated,” he said. In interviews and social media posts, some protesters with the group No Business in the Park raised alarms that there were 100-year-old trees being cut down, but the Provincial Capital Commission indicates the oldest trees facing potential removal are 50 to 60 years old. Dillon also feels there has been confusion over why Conexus chose to build in Wascana Centre.
“We chose to respond to the university’s request for a proposal,” he said, speaking of Conexus’ partnership with the U of R to restore its College Avenue Campus, particularly Darke Hall.
“What we’re trying to do is really, genuinely help solve this very complex community challenge about the restoration of those historically significant buildings,” he said.
“(We’re) trying to do it in a way that at least people would understand that we’re genuinely just trying to help our community, and I don’t think that’s being well told.”
The Wascana Centre Authority approved the project in December 2016 amid controversy. Under the partnership, Conexus will contribute up to $8.25 million toward the renewal of the College Avenue Campus after the donated 2.6 acres of land is leased by the university to the credit union.
The agreement includes a proposed 80,000-square-foot building for Conexus immediately west of Darke Hall and east of Wascana Drive; plans for a business incubator site; and Conexus contributing separately to upgrades at Darke Hall.
Another concern protesters have raised is the increased traf- fic a business will bring to the park, but Dillon said Conexus is already working to minimize that issue. Any staff working at the new site will be asked to enter from College Avenue, so traffic will only increase on the short strip of Wascana Drive leading up to the building, ending before Wascana Pool.
While Conexus works to finalize the new facility’s design, preconstruction in the park, including the tree cutting, is currently being done by workers employed by the Provincial Capital Commission.
Dillon believes this should take a few weeks to complete, and is hopeful construction will start in late summer or early fall and be completed by the end of 2019.
What we’re trying to do is really, genuinely help solve this very complex community challenge.