Description of Historic Place

The Pavilion is located on a high point of land between Sandy Beach and the camping area. It is a long structure with a low hip roof supported by a row of square posts. The sides of the building are open except for the west end, which is clad with log siding. The entire structure rests on a concrete pad. A distinguishing feature of the building is the attractive fieldstone fireplace in the enclosed portion at the center of the west façade. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Pavilion is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental value.

Historical Value
The Pavilion aptly illustrates the growth of the popularity of Elk Island National Park for recreational use and the development of its tourist facilities during the 1930s. It is the oldest and most prominent building at Sandy Beach. It was constructed under the Federal Government’s unemployment relief program during the Depression.

Architectural Value
The Pavilion is a product of the National Parks design office and is a simple but well executed public shelter constructed of rustic materials. The craftsmanship, particularly found in the stonework is of high quality. It exhibits good functional design. A similar configuration was used for many park shelters.

The Environmental Value
The historical relationship between the Pavilion and its site has remained unchanged. Its elevated and prominent location and long association with the Park have made it a familiar landmark to the thousands of visitors it accommodates each year. The Pavilion reinforces the recreational character of its popular park setting.

Sources:
James De Jonge, Pavilion, Sandy Beach, Elk Island National Park, Alberta, Federal Heritage Building Report, 87-028; Pavilion, Sandy Beach, Elk Island National Park, Alberta, Heritage Character Statement, 87-028.

Character-Defining Elements

The character defining elements of the Pavilion should be respected:

Its good functional design, well executed construction and high quality craftsmanship such as: the long structure resting on a concrete pad and built of post and beam construction, supported by a row of square posts along each side and running through the middle of the interior; the prominent low-hipped roof; the sides of the building that are open except for the west end which is clad both on the interior and exterior with log siding; the stone facing found on the portion of the building with a raised concrete foundation and the bases of the supporting posts around the exterior; the smooth uncoursed fieldstone fireplace in the enclosed portion at the center of the west façade.

The manner in which the Pavilion reinforces the recreational character of Sandy Beach as evidenced in: the unchanged historical relationship to its site; the elevated and prominent location, which makes it a familiar landmark to visitors of Elk National Park.

Heritage Character Statement

Disclaimer - The heritage character statement was developed by FHBRO to explain the reasons for the designation of a federal heritage building and what it is about the building that makes it significant (the heritage character). It is a key reference document for anyone involved in planning interventions to federal heritage buildings and is used by FHBRO in their review of interventions.

The Pavilion was built in 1933-34 to designs by the Architecture and Planning Division of the National Parks Service, of which William Cromarty was head. It was built to provide recreational facilities for visitors to the park. The Pavilion is still used for the same function. The custodial department is Environment Canada. See FHBRO Building Report 87-28.

Reasons for Designation
The Pavilion was designated Recognized because it is the oldest and most prominent visitor facility in the park, (the only surviving recreational facility of the period), it illustrates the growth of the popularity of Elk Island National Park for recreational use and played an important role in the development of the area. The Pavilion is an example of depression relief work. It is well sited in an area that retains much of its early character.

Character Defining Elements
The heritage character of the Pavilion resides in the building in general, its indigenous materials, its simple solid construction and its unaltered setting.

The Pavilion was a product of the National Parks design office and as such is a simple but well executed work in field-stone heavy timber and other rustic materials. The craftsmanship, particularly as found in the stonework, is of high quality. Vandalism and minor changes of materials and details have had some impact on the building. Preservation and enhancement could be achieved by reinstating missing or altered elements and continued use of the building as a public shelter.