Casavant Organ to be removed in Convocation Hall renovations

The University of Alberta will be removing the Casavant Organ from the Convocation Hall as part of its $7.4 million renovation. 

The renovation is meant to renew the 110-year-old space, which is used for academic programs, performances, and public events. The U of A’s initial statement about the renovations stated that the project would “respect and preserve that historic character.” Part of the reason for the renovations is to improve the accessibility of the space.

Now, the U of A is citing accessibility as a key reason for removing the historic organ. 

“Due to its size, location, and structural integration, the organ limits the ability to achieve full accessibility for individuals with physical disabilities and mobility needs,” the U of A’s public statement read.

The statement said the U of A is consulting experts and the organ community to decide the organ’s future.

“The university is approaching the future of the Casavant Organ with the highest level of respect. We are committed to treating its transition with the technical care and dignity it deserves, including identifying options to safely relocate the organ, in turn seeking a meaningful next chapter for the instrument.”

Faculty and community members have expressed opposition to the U of A’s plans to remove the organ online. 

The history of the organ

The Casavant Organ was built and installed in 1978, but the history of organs in the Convocation Hall goes back further.

The first organ was originally installed in 1925. According to the Government of Canada’s website, the War Memorial Committee and Alumni Association raised $12,000 to purchase the organ. It was dedicated as a memorial to 80 students, staff, and alumni who lost their lives in the First World War. 

In 1947 the university rededicated the organ to students, staff, and alumni who had lost their lives in both the First and Second World War.

That original organ was removed in 1976, though some parts of the facade pipes remain. Two years later the Casavant Organ was installed to replace it.

There were previous plans in 2019 to renovate the Convocation Hall and remove the organ. Marnie Giesbrecht, an organist and professor emerita of the U of A, started a petition against its removal. The petition garnered over 20,000 signatures.