'I am pretty pumped': Olympic plaza brick return program on solid ground

More than 5,000 engraved bricks have been removed from Olympic Plaza, ready to be returned to thousands of Calgarians as work begins on a major expansion of Arts Commons and redevelopment of the aging public plaza.

As part of a fundraiser ahead of the 1988 Olympics, people could purchase and personalize a brick to line the ground of the plaza on the east end of downtown for $19.88. Over the decades, some of the 33,000 bricks in the plaza became so eroded, the writing was barely visible, while many others were cracked and gouged.

So the city initially announced that the bricks couldn't be salvaged.

But in an 11th-hour turnaround last month, after getting an earful from people dismayed their beloved keepsakes would be trashed, the city said it would at least try to return some.

The city's parks director said the brick-return program has proven to be a massive undertaking.

"There were about 33,000 bricks with names on them in the plaza. We had requests for about 8,000 of those bricks, and we were able to salvage about 70 per cent of them to give about 5,600 bricks back over the next few days," Kyle Ripley said.

One of those lucky folks in the 70 per cent, is Guy Jubinville.

"I am pretty pumped, to be quite honest," Jubinville told CBC News.

"I know there is a little bit of damage but I am considering myself pretty lucky, if 30 per cent of the bricks didn't make the cut."

Ripley said that 70 per cent success rate is nothing to sneer at. He said five of each brick's six sides were mortared, leaving only the inscribed face exposed to 36 years of elements including extreme weather and high-volume traffic.

"So yes, we have done the impossible," he said.

• Here's what the $270-million expansion of Calgary's Arts Commons will look like

Jim Dickie found the two bricks his family contributed all those years ago.

"One for my wife and I, and one for the two kids," he said.

He called them heirlooms and a part of history.

"I think it's fantastic."

George Sutherland couldn't contain his smile.

"I am pretty happy with the city for doing this," he said. "Our brick was given to us as a wedding gift before we were married."

The bricks, there's more than one, will likely find their new home in Sutherland's garden.

"My father in law has since passed, so it's nice that those bricks are recovered too."

Meanwhile, Jubinville said he will find a home for his bricks, a little reminder of his connection to Calgary history.

"I don't know what I am going to do with it."

Bricks are available for pick up Friday and Saturday. The location is listed on the invitation.

A design for the $70-million plaza overhaul is to be revealed early this year and is expected to incorporate elements of the city's Olympic legacy. The overall cost for the Arts Commons expansion and plaza reconstruction is set at $660 million and the projects are slated for completion in 2028.