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SUBJECT: The Right Hon. John George Diefenbakers Grave SiteGrave Sites of Canadian Prime Ministers Monitoring Report

Diefenbaker Canada CentreUniversity of Saskatchewan Campus, Saskatoon, SK

TO: Madame Julie Dompierre, DirectorHistoric Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC)Les Terrasses de la Chaudire25, Eddy Street, Gatineau, 5th floorQuebec K1A 0M5

FOR: National Program for the Grave Sites of Canadian PrimeMinisters

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

OHN GEORGE DIEFENBAKER

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PREPARED BY: Jim Wagner, Conservation ArchitectW&N Asset Management, Parks Canada Agency145 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3B 0R9

DATE: January 31, 2012

1.0 GENERAL INFORMATIONDATE OF INSPECTION: August 26, 2011PC FIELD UNIT CONTACT: Audra Norek, A/CRM Advisor,

Saskatchewan South Field Unit, Parks Canada,P.O. Box 13, Gerald, Saskatchewan S0A 1B0306-745-6234

CLIMATIC CONDITIONS: Clear sky, 20 degrees CelsiusGENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE GRAVE SITE ENVIRONMENT:The grave of The Right Honourable John George Diefenbaker is located on a grassyslope at the side of a paved path on the University of Saskatchewan campus. Itoverlooks a shallow ravine that leads to the South Saskatchewan River valley.Downtown Saskatoon is visible in the distance. The single grave marker for the PrimeMinister and his second wife Olive Evangeline is composed of light grey granite slabsset flush with the ground.

2.0 COMPONENTS OBSERVATION AND RECOMMENDED INTERVENTIONS

1. Awareness Panel

Description: Cast aluminum plaque with grey-greenenamel, approx 610mm x 1015mm, mounted to a steelback plate, supported by a 100mm diameter steel post witha black spun-aluminum base cover, on a circular concretebase, approx 1.8m high overall.

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Observation: Steel back plate has corrosion onsurface and at welds. Finish has continued to fadesince 2005.

Recommended Action:Medium priority:Determine type of finish on back plate and proposemethods for corrosion removal and treatment.

Paint steel back plate satin black to match basecover. Remove plaque from backing plate to permit

proper preparation and paint application. Re-installplaque.

Observation: Marks and oxidation on steel post.Finish has continued to fade since 2005.

Recommended Action:Medium priority:Determine type of finish on steel post and proposemethods for corrosion removal and treatment.

Paint steel post satin black to match base cover.

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2. Flagpole

Description: Black anodized aluminum pole with abrass ball finial and black spun-aluminum basecover, on a circular concrete base, approx 9m high.

Observation: Anodizedfinish on pole is scratched.

Condition is relatively unchanged since 2005.

Recommended Action:Ongoing: Continue to monitor condition of thefinish.

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Observation: Small dent

in base cover.

Recommended Action:Ongoing: Continue tomonitor condition of basecover.

3. 125th Confederation Anniversary Plaque

Description: Cast

bronze and maroonenamel plaque, approx300mm x 500mm,mounted on a light greygranite base. The granitebase has a slope andcoved-edge detailmatching the main gravemarker.

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Observation: Right edge

of plaque is abraded.Condition is relativelyunchanged since 2005.

Recommended Action:Low priority: Examineabrasion damage andadvise if repair ispossible.

Observation: Smallmarks and oxidation.

Condition is relativelyunchanged since 2005.

Recommended Action:Low priority: Examinemarks and oxidation andadvise if repair ispossible.

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Observation: Granitebase chipped at bothfront corners. Condition isunchanged since 2005.

Recommended Action:Low priority: Examinedamage to granite baseand advise if repair ispossible.

4. Former Prime Ministers Grave Marker

Description: Ten light-grey granite slabs,approx 400mm x 800mmand more than 100mmthick, arranged in asquare approx 2.4m x2.4m overall, set flushwith the ground. There isa central panel of lightgrey granite with blacklettering and a coved

edge around the top andbottom perimeter. Thecentral panel is tilted atan angle towards thepath and there are twosmall flower beds in theinterstitial spaces.

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Observation: Chips on

edges of severalperimeter slabs. Thereappears to be moredamage than in 2005.

Recommended Action:Low priority: Examinedamage to granite slabsand advise if repair ispossible.

Observation: Perimeterslabs are uneven. The

movement and settling ofgranite slabs is morepronounced than in 2005.

Recommended Action:High priority: Lift slabs,level and compact base,and re-set slabs in place.

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Observation: Chip atlower left (front) corner ofcentre panel. Condition isunchanged since 2005.

Recommended Action:Low priority: Examinedamage to granite centrepanel and advise if repairis possible.

Observation: Rust-likemarks on faces and

edges of slabs. Conditionis relatively unchangedsince 2005.

Recommended Action:Low priority: Examinedamage to granite slabsand advise if repair ispossible.

Determine cause of

marks.

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Observation: Grass is

growing between graniteslabs. This is an ongoingmaintenance issue.

Recommended Action:Ongoing: Removeblades of grass by hand.

5. Vegetation (trees, shrubs, plant material, lawn)

Description: Vegetationconsists oflawn and two

Little-leaf Lindenssymmetrically placed onthe grave (south) side ofthe path and a small risewith lawn and trees onthe opposite side of thepath.These trees consist of sixLittle-leaf Lindens approx6m high and spacedapprox 5m apart, and a

clump of three ScotsPines.A group of shrubs flanksthe left side of the path atits starting point.

Flower beds within the grave marker are planted with a selection of annuals.

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Observation: TwoLittle-leaf Lindens approx 2.5mhigh are located about3.5m from either side ofthe grave. They wereplanted in 2008 andreplace aged poplars asper recommendation ofthe 2005 report.

Recommended Action:Ongoing: Provide

ongoing maintenance toensure vigorous growthof young trees.

Observation:Richardson groundsquirrels are nesting near

the grave. They do notappear to be having anadverse effect on thegrave site. Condition isrelatively unchangedsince 2005.

Recommended Action:Ongoing: Continue tomonitor squirrel activity.

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6. Landscape Features (pavement, benches and others)

Description: The gravesite is reached by anasphalt-paved pathleading from the parkingentrance. It isapproximately 2.4m widewith a concrete edge.A gravel landscapefeature, where theflagpole and awareness

panel are located,defines the entry point.Irregularly spacedaluminum light standards,approximately 3.5m high,are located along oneside of the path.The path connects twonearby parking areas andwill soon connect with thelarger path system on the

university campus.

Observation: Damagedconcrete edge. Condition isrelatively unchanged since2005.

Recommended Action:Ongoing: Continue tomonitor condition.

Replace concrete edge ifcondition worsens.

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Observation: Gravel

landscape feature atentry point to the path.

The 2005 reportrecommended installationof pre-cast concretepaving units to address amaintenance issue.

Current maintenanceappears to be adequate.

Recommended Action:Ongoing: Continue tomonitor condition ofgravel landscapefeature.

3.0 PREVIOUS CONSERVATION INTERVENTIONS

1994 Install 125th anniversary commemorative plaque

2000 Install Awareness Panel, flagpole and entry node2008 Re-enamel lettering on grave marker2008 Re-pave the path from entry node to approx 5m past grave site2008 Replace two poplars with Little-leaf Lindens

4.0 ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The 2005 Condition Monitoring Report makes some recommendations regarding themaintenance agreement between the Government of Canada and the University ofSaskatchewan. The University has confirmed that there is no formal maintenanceagreement. South Saskatchewan Field Unit has reported that preliminary discussions

about entering into an agreement were held in 2006/2007. A preliminary cost estimate toimplement the recommended maintenance was prepared by the University.

The 2005 Condition Monitoring Report recommends annually supplying a new Canadianflag to the University. None have been provided except possibly in 2009.

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The 2005 Condition Monitoring Report speculates that landscape maintenance and/or

snow clearance appears to be the source of damage at the grave marker andrecommends reviewing grounds-keeping practices with University maintenance staff. Itis not known if this was done.

The steel back-plate and supporting pole for the Awareness Panel had a poor qualitypaint finish applied in 2000. Significant fading was observed in 2005 and was already aforeseen concern in 2001. The Universitys cost estimate assumed annual paintingwould be required. Since the original paint specifications are obsolete, consider using acoating system that is better suited to a severe exterior environment.

Annual inspections have been done by the Field Unit but detailed records have not been

kept. Records of interventions have been kept by the Diefenbaker Centre.

5.0 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS

Awareness Panel

Medium priority: Determine type of finish on back plate and propose methods forcorrosion removal and treatment.Paint steel back plate satin black to match base cover. Remove plaque from backingplate to permit proper preparation and paint application. Re-install plaque.Determine type of finish on steel post and propose methods for corrosion removaland treatment.

Paint steel post satin black to match base cover.

Flagpole

Ongoing: Continue to monitor condition of the finish.Continue to monitor condition of base cover.

125th Confederation Anniversary Plaque

Low Priority: Examine abrasion damage and advise if repair is possible.Examine marks and oxidation and advise if repair is possible.Examine damage to granite base and advise if repair is possible.

Former Prime Ministers Grave Marker High Priority: Lift slabs, level and compact base, and re-set slabs in place.

Low Priority: Examine damage to granite slabs and advise if repair is possible.Examine damage to granite centre panel and advise if repair is possible.Examine damage to granite slabs and advise if repair is possible. Determine causeof marks.

Ongoing: Remove blades of grass by hand.

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Vegetation Ongoing: Provide ongoing maintenance to ensure vigorous growth of young trees.

Continue to monitor squirrel activity.

Landscape Features

Ongoing: Continue to monitor condition. Replace concrete edge if damageworsens.Continue to monitor condition of gravel landscape feature.

Following is a summary of the recommended actions over the next five coming years:

Recommendations 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016Awareness Panel Determine

type offinish onback plateandproposemethods forcorrosionremovaland

treatment.Paint steelback platesatin blackto matchbase cover.Removeplaque frombackingplate topermit

properpreparationand paintapplication.Re-installplaque.

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Determine

type offinish onsteel postandproposemethodsforcorrosionremovalandtreatment.

Paint steelpost satinblack tomatchbasecover.

Flagpole Continue to monitor condition of the finish and of the base cover.125th

ConfederationAnniversaryPlaque

Examineabrasiondamageand advise

if repair ispossible.

If possible, repair.

Examinemarks andoxidationand adviseif repair ispossible.

If possible, repair

Examinedamage togranite

base andadvise ifrepair ispossible.

If possible, repair

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Former Prime

Ministers GraveMarker

Remove blades of grass by hand.

Examinedamage tograniteslabs andadvise ifrepair ispossible.Determinecause ofmarks.

If possible, repairgranite slabs.

Lift slabs, level

and compactbase, and re-set slabs inplace.

Examinedamage togranitecentrepanel andadvise ifrepair is

possible.

If possible, repairgranite centre panel.

Vegetation Provide ongoing maintenance to ensure vigorous growth ofyoung trees and continue to monitor squirrel activity.

LandscapeFeatures

Continue to monitor condition (including the gravel landscapefeature). Replace concrete edge of paths if damage worsens.