Blanche Lemco van Ginkel, 98
Blanche Lemco van Ginkel has died. That we still have Old Montreal is largely credited to her work, a report condemning the idea of running an elevated highway right through it, proposed in the 1960s.
Update: More on Blanche Lemco van Ginkel from CTV and the Gazette.
Blork 15:26 on 2022-10-26 Permalink
Serious proposal: name the linear park that runs along the old port after her. For obvious reasons, but also because a name like that really needs to be immortalized!
DeWolf 23:51 on 2022-10-26 Permalink
What an amazing legacy. It’s a shame that so many people have only heard about it just now (including myself!).
I thought her surname sounded familiar and I realized that her husband was Moshe Safdie’s mentor when he was writing the undergraduate thesis that led to Habitat 67.
JaneyB 00:49 on 2022-10-27 Permalink
@Blork. Great idea. In fact, that’s worth a letter to the Mayor’s office. Count me in.
Also, this is the first I’ve heard of her. What a distinguished life.
Kate 10:01 on 2022-10-27 Permalink
I recall posting something about her, but it must have been before this recension of the blog. She doesn’t get mentioned much, considering the positive effect she had on this city.