Clinton News-Record, 1985-08-14, Page 17Arc
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By James Friel
BLYTU - Chrintopher Borgal is a dark
haired man in his Mid -thirties with a thriv-
ing practice as an architect in the village of
Blyth. He looks a little like Alan Alda to me.
He also has a quiet yet intense mein, confi-
dent in the quality of the work he's done and
the quality with which he knows he'll hnbue
the projects he'll undertake, but still with an
accessibility which puts a layman at ease,
The only practicing Huron County ar-
chitect shares the office section of his busy
and crowded Blyth house, "which fell into
my hands through a strange series of cir-
cumstances," with two full and two paart
time staff members. The home part. lie
shares with his equally talented wife
Phillipa, the public relations director of the
Blyth Festival and a person with a list of ac-
complishments in the theatre and a family
background warranting a separate feature
story altogether.
Like Phillipa, the Nova Scotia born Chris
comes from a family on good terms with
success. His father was administrator of
Dalhousie University in. Halifax' until he ac-
cepted a position as anaccountant with the
11
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United ciAirchi'of Vanath in 1966. The'IraarI
worked $. .way to the loftiest position a
laypnan could attain la the organization - as
secretary of the division of finance, he was
the third, man in the church's chain of coin,
maid.
His father's career decision necessitated
a movefrom, hometown Halifax to -Toronto
but the uprooting didn't make an impact on
Chris' future plans. The reason? "I always
wantedjto be an architect - it was the first
thing that popped into my head. A lot of ar-
chitects seem to want to be architects from
day one," he said, smiling..
He grew up in a,city with an abundance of
historic buildings. And better than that it
had plenty of forts ("Halifax is the most for-
tified city in the world") to investigate.
As a student he came into contact with
Lewis Collins, a teacher who probably
solidified the youngster's interest in the
classic structures. Collins took his students
on walking tours, describing the notable
points in the design they encountered and in-
fusing his enthusiasm for our architectural
heritage into his interested charges.
"People thought he was nuts but he helped
people take a second look at the older
buildings in the city." So rather than just
destroy Halifax's earlier incarnation, time
was finally spent 'weighing the benefits of
preserving some history through renova-
tion, which Chris ended up adopting years
-later as his specialty.
Also during school, or rather in the sum-
mer interim between school years, "two
things of note happened. I briefly met Nick
Hill and I conducted an inventory of
Goderich's historic buildings." Both these
events shaped the work he does now.-
The
ow.The university education was completed
in 1974 and a three year apprenticeship then
began with a Toronto firm. Only after this
apprenticeship is satisfactorily completed
can an attempt be made to write the exam
leading to certification as an architect.
Working for the small firm owned by
Eugene Janiss, one of the few architects in
Canada with a doctorate in the profession,
gave the young graduate a chance to get in-
volved with all types of architectural pro-
jects, an,eiccellent training ground.
Chris headed for Goderich in 1977 and
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Eitsrol Today
Architect Chris Borgal's Blyth office is one of the most computerized in the profession.;.His work pioneering computerization for
architects has resulted in his running.seminarst, to fully explain the technology's applications.
joined forces with Nick Hill who finished his
education about the same time.
"We worked on something over 250. pro-
jects with Nick doing the planning and
design and me doing the technical and some
of the design too. After awhile we developed
our own interests and split up, Nick going to
London and I moved to Blyth."
In that time he also .establishedthe
reputation he now has as a renovator -of
public buildings, especially museums, a
complicated type of renovation.
Of course, that's not all he does. There are
also plans for work on private houses and
the firm has done work for the Blyth
Festival, a library, a fire hall, the Van Eg-
mond House in Egmondville, the Mon-
tgomery Inn, Etobicoke, and perhaps his
greatest projectto date, the restoration of
St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Ontario.
The museums are the intricate projects
Chris really enjoys. And it's obvious from
the list of museum renovations he has con-
tributed to that his expertise is appreciated
by museum boards and those levels of
government, providing funding. He's done
work for the Bruce County Museum,
Southampton, now considered a prototype
for museum restoration in Ontario;
Wingham Museum; Wingham; Simcoe
County Museum, Minesing; Huron County
Museum, Goderich; Oxford ( County;)
Museum, Woodstock; Bradley House
Museum, Mississauga; St. Catherines
Historical Museum; Oil Museum of Canada,
Petrolia; Lambton County Museum, Grand
Bend; Joseph Schneider Haus, Kitchener;.
and the Wentworth Heritage Village, Region
of Hamilton -Wentworth.
Working with architect Klaus Breede, he
is part of what is considered one of the finest
museum restoration partnerships in the
country.
First there was gaining his education, the
crazy hours at the University of Toronto try-
ing to earn his Bachelor of Architecture.
Trying to simulate the fluctuating rhythm of
an architect's year, the school arranged
days of sleeplessness for the students with a
tight schedule of demands for projects "to
soften us up or harden us, I don't know
which," he grinned.
Whatever the motivation, it helped.
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Chris Borgal tells his staff the "Joke for the Day" at his Blyth office, eliciting groans and
a big grin of satisfaction. Although the working quarters are a little more cramped than
ideal, "We have a lot of fun," said Chris. (James Friel photo)
Summer living made easier
For increasing numbers of Ontariaris,
summer lining is made even easier with the
convenience of propane appliances.
However, they can present a potential
hazard to the careless user.
Experts with the Ontario Ministry of Con-
sumer and, Commercial Relation's Fuels
Safety Branch offer the following tips for the
safe' handling of propane barbecues.
Play it safe. Test your barbecue for leaks
at the beginning of every season. Before
connecting the barbecue to the -propane
cylinder, make sure the rubber 0 -ring or
seal on the fuel -line connection is in good
condition. Then tighten all connections,
making sure the fuel line isn't strained or
close to hot metal parts. Open the main sup-
ply valve and brush a soap and water solu-
tion over all lines and connections. If bub-
bles appear, you' have a leak. Close the
valve immediately and have the barbecue
CHERT MEATS
*Try our own smoked pork chops
'10,for the bar -b -q season*
CUSTOM Il1LLING, FREEZING
Cutting & Wrapping
KILL DAY ON TUESDAY
Atl meat Gov't. Inspected:on the farm
1 MILE EAST OF WALTON
887-9328
REGISTRATION
for
Clinton ComOp
Nursery School
will be held
WEDNESDAY
AUGUST 21
7 p.m. -8 p.m.
In the
repaired before using it. Never test for leaks
with a flame.
Watch your barbecue closely for a few
minutes after lighting. Air pockets introduc-
ed into the fuel line during cylinder
leading to the dangerous release of unb
changeover may extinguish the flag
propane. For maximum safety, have your
barbecue professionally cleaned and service
ed once a year. Your propane supplier can
provide the name of a nearby pi opane fitter
certified by the Fuels Safety Branch.
Check the date stamped on the raised col-
lar that protects the cylinder valve. This in-
dicates the date of manufacture and if more
than 10 years have passed since manufac-
ture or re -inspection, the cylinder is due for
another inspection or replacement.
When it's time for a refill, drive directly
home with the full cylinder instead of taking
the time for other errands. Cylinders should
be transported inside the passenger com-
partment, secured in the upright position,
with windows open.
Never bring a cylinder indoors.
Barbecues may be 'stored indoors during the
winter months, but the cylinder should he
disconnected and left outside, away from
the home and garage. Even a slow leak can
release enough propane to cause a major ex- ..
plosion.
Make sure children know they shouldn't
play with the cylinder.
WESLEY WILLIS
UNIIED'CHURCH
Clihton
Waterloo, Ont.
•Hairstyling
• Barbering
•Ear Piercing
.' •Make•up
55 Erb St. East
886-6305
Monday to Friday
8:30 ant to 4:30 para