PEARSON’S FORMER OTTAWA HOME FACING DEMOLITION

The former home of Lester B. Pearson is facing demolition after an Ottawa municipal committee reversed a decision to save the heritage building. Pearson lived at the 231 Cobourg St. property between 1955 and 1958 when he was minister of external affairs. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957. “The building is literally self-destructing,” said Robert Martin, the consultant who assessed its heritage value. The Ugandan High Commission, which owns the two-storey home, wants to demolish it and build a three-storey office building. On Tuesday, the city’s planning committee voted 9-1 in the commission’s favour. Last month, the city’s built-heritage subcommittee voted 5-2 against demolition. City council will make a final decision on May 9.