Fredericton committee accepts proposal for programming that could replace ceremonial guard

Wolastoqey, Acadian and British heritage could be better reflected in Fredericton's downtown if council follows through with a recommendation to potentially replace the ceremonial guard with other, more diverse programming.

Members of the city's economic vitality committee voted Thursday to recommend council adopt a plan to develop heritage programming that would reflect more of the city's ethnic and cultural groups.

"I think it's [important] to include all the cultures, get everyone involved and, you know, make sure that everyone's included, everyone feels part of it," said Coun. Steve Hicks, the committee's vice-chair.

Hicks's comments followed a staff presentation about the future of the ceremonial guard program, which was paused indefinitely this summer after a fire destroyed uniforms and equipment used by staff.

Stacey Russell, Fredericton's manager of tourism and events, laid out three options for members of the committee to consider forwarding on to council for consideration in regard to the future of the ceremonial guard program.

The first option was the one members agreed to, which recommends her department develop a heritage program and interpretation plan that represents Indigenous, Acadian, British and post-Confederation cultures and time periods.

The move would involve budgeting money for next year to hire a consultant to engage with stakeholders about what the new programming should look like, said David Seabrook, the city's recreation and tourism director.

Once that's complete, the needed equipment would be purchased in 2026, and the new program would be implemented in 2027.

Sara DeGrace, deputy chief administrative officer, said the consultation alone would cost an estimated $130,000.

The second option would recommend no longer operating the ceremonial guard, and the third option would recommend operating the ceremonial guard and fully funding it in the 2025 budget.

Members want return of ceremonial guard

While committee members were in favour of the first option, some had concerns about the possibility that there would be no ceremonial guard during the time consultations for a new programming plan were underway.

"Basically we're looking at three years of non-presence of the guard," said Coun. Margo Sheppard.

"I'm thinking there's a way to have the presence of the guard while we're developing this other more fulsome and accurate interpretation of heritage."

Seabrook said staff would take whatever direction given from council, but noted that the cost to replace the uniforms and equipment for the ceremonial guard stands at around $160,000.

"So without knowing the future of the [ceremonial] guard, we would have to do all the up-front capital costs of renewing the uniforms, so it's a bit of a jam," Seabrook said.

"The consultation process and the future interpretation plan may take a different direction than the [ceremonial] guard and then we'd already have those sunk costs."

Council as a whole will consider the option recommended by the economic vitality committee at its next meeting, scheduled for Oct. 21.

The ceremonial guard has been an iconic feature of downtown Fredericton during the summer going back decades, with staff dressed up in military garb and parading between city hall and Officers' Square.

Regarded largely as a tourist attraction, the guard pays tribute to Fredericton's role in the birth of the Canadian military, with the uniforms matching those from the Infantry School Corps, Company A in 1883.

But in March, a historically significant building the city stored the uniforms in was heavily damaged by fire, prompting the city to suspend the program this summer.

Russell said that pause gave the tourism department the time to consider the future of the program, which was already facing challenges from increasingly hot summer weather, and difficulties hiring a new commanding officer after the last one retired.