From Anna Lapwood / Marnie Giesbracht, and others
Sadly, plans have been made at the highest levels of the University of Alberta, Canada to remove the 1978 Casavant Memorial Organ from Convocation Hall in the Old Arts Building. These plans were confirmed when Joachim and I (Marnie Giesbrecht) met with Dean of Arts, Robert Wood and Faculty Manager, Eva Glancy on April 2nd 2026. While hall renovation plans have not yet been revealed, second floor accessibility and increased seating capacity were given as the primary reasons for removing the organ.
We emailed the University President and asked for an independent qualified accessibility report and stats on typical audience sizes along with how many seats will be gained in an effort to see whether all could be accomplished while keeping the organ in place. We also suggested making the donor aware of the plan to remove the organ since it could be unpopular.
There are SO many reasons to keep the organ including its importance as a Memorial; its significance as the first and largest mechanical action organ in Western Canada designed during the time Gerhard Brunzema was Casavant’s artistic director; its continuing value as a performance, educational and research instrument regardless whether there is an organ program; and its replacement value quoted as 3 million dollars.
Organists and organ enthusiasts can view the stop list here. It is a most impressive instrument. I suspect and value quoted above is very low. While I have not played this instrument, similar organs are installed at the University of British Columbia and Western University. The University hosted that national conference of the Royal Canadian College of Organists which included a national performance competition in which a number of my university colleagues — Michael Bloss, Tina Munroe, and Harry Janzen competed.
For the right space, with sufficient resources, this instrument would be a marvellous addition to a musical program, sacred or secular. I hope it finds a good home.
To share comments and support you can write to:
President Dr. Bill Flanagan: uofapres@ualberta.ca
Provost Dr. Verna Yiu: provost@ualberta.ca
[Arts] Faculty Manager Eva Glancy; glancy@ualberta.ca
Dean of Arts, Dr. Robert Wood: rtwood@ualberta.ca
Chair of Music, Dr. William Street: wstreet@ualberta.ca
Board of Governors Kate Chisholm: boardchair@ualberta.ca
Dean and Vice-Provost of the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Chris Andersen: cta1@ualberta.ca
Chancellor Nizar Somji: chancellor.somji@ualberta.ca
Concert organist, Anna Lapwood adds her voice to the cause here.
In addition, in case imminent renovation plans go through, this beautiful instrument needs a new home. If you know of any potentially interested venues with space including a balcony for the Rückpositive, please message Marnie Giesbrecht here.
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Take Note - Reflections on life, music, politics, retirement and more by Ken Gray 
it is just sad and I hope that if it is not there it will find a new home. We closed an Anglican Church in Ottawa which had an excellent organ and gifted it to another parish. I was delighted as was the receiving organist who was new to the parish having been out of a job due to a fire in his church. He (Bob Jones) is one of the finest in the city! You just do not let a fine instrument or musician go. Ever!!! And when Anna Lapwood weighs in….!
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Ha. I wonder if you refer to the Bob Jones who was at Western with me in the late 1970s. A witty conversationalist and student of the late David Palmer at Windsor.
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