If the Empress Hotel’s Boston ivy could speak, chances are it would have used Arnold Schwarzenegger’s classic movie line — “I’ll be back” — to console concerned onlookers Tuesday afternoon.
“The girl’s getting her hair done today!” read an official Empress Hotel post on its Facebook page, confirming that the hotel’s Boston ivy is coming down temporarily.
Crews began removing the ivy to prepare for masonry restoration, said Angela Rafuse-Tahir, the hotel’s director of sales and marketing.
“In a heritage building like the Empress, the masonry requires regular maintenance and upkeep, and the removal of the ivy is necessary to access the building,” she said.
During the restoration, the more invasive English ivy will be removed permanently, she said.
Only the Boston ivy, the kind that turns red during the autumn, will be permitted to grow back.
Rafuse-Tahir said that during a 1989 renovation, a 60-foot root ball of ivy reportedly had to be removed from the grounds after it caused damage to the building, necessitating further repairs.
The sight of ivy removal in front of the grande dame of Victoria’s hotels prompted a swift response online.
Empress fan Wanda Proulx thanked hotel staff via Facebook for keeping “the fans of Victoria’s beautiful girl” updated on what was going on.
“It helps to understand what I am seeing as I stroll by so I don’t go into panic mode,” she wrote. “Some of us Victorians feel overly protective.”
“She is always beautiful, with or without [her] hair done,” said Chris Stephen. “[It’s] a spa day …You go, girl!”
