History & heritage have become prime issues in Canadian public debate. The creation of the Historica Foundation & Canada's National History Society, spirited debate about the place of history in school curricula, the CBC's heavy investment in the People's History of Canada, all send signals to the Heritage community. However, signals are sometimes ambiguous & occasionally subverted. They can easily be superseded by other concerns - for lower taxes, public security or material gain. An historian who has thought a lot about history & public policy as founding director of the McGill Institute for the Study of Canada, Desmond Morton will bring some insights & some controversial ideas about how we can catch - or miss - the current wave of interest.

A brief overview will be provided of the Heritage Conservation Districts (HCD) designation in Ontario over the past 10 years, with special reference to the types of districts designated & emerging trends.
In most cases, HCD designation requires many years of hard work & dedication on the part of a few individuals, municipal staff, & consultants. Before success can be realized, there is a need to demonstrate clear community goals & objectives; benefits to be reaped & the potential costs involved. Several recent examples of successful/unsuccessful attempts at HCD designation will be examined which will demonstrate the lessons that HCD has to offer toward a "made-in-Ontario Smart Growth" strategy. This will encourage community & stakeholder collaboration & decision making; strengthen local economies that support & encourage a broad range of cultural opportunities; provide opportunities to develop strong & vibrant communities through preservation & revitalization of local built heritage resources; & encourage "compact development."

Steve Peters will be discussing his private member's bill to preserve the gravesites of former Ontario Premiers.
"I believe the Act is extremely important because it will recognize the final resting places of these Premiers in a dignified & respectful manner," said Peters. "By doing this, it will demonstrate that the residents of Ontario are aware of & have a deep & lasting appreciation of their work during their tenures of office."

http://www.stevepeters.com/

The talk will review the restoration of the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre as presented from the perspective of the project's principal architect.

Access to information on local heritage is essential if heritage is to have a place in "smart growth" decisions.
To achieve this, the City of Brantford is preparing a heritage inventory database on Lotus Notes. The inventory can be integrated with other corporate databases such as the City's Geographic Information System. Heritage maps, such as the 1975 Bird's Eye View & a map from the 1875 Historical Atlas for Brant County, are incorporated into the inventory & can be made zoomable for close-ups. A glossary of heritage terms, illustrated with photos from local buildings, is being incorporated. While each property will have a current digital photograph, the inventory can also contain additional photos, historical photos, articles, sketches, etc. The public will be able to access it through the internet & find it to be highly searchable.

Carlos Ventin is recognized as one of Canada's leading conservation architects. His personal intervention has rescued more than 50 significant Ontario heritage buildings from demolition. Mr. Ventin has led more than 150 hundred successful historical restoration projects, including two of Ontario's most significant landmarks, the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen's Park & Toronto Old City Hall. Each of these projects earned Heritage Toronto Awards of Excellence.
Mr. Ventin has applied his expertise to a comprehensive range of heritage projects from art galleries, museums & opera halls to libraries, churches & court houses. He recently conducted the feasibility study of the former Toronto Power Generating Station for the Niagara Parks Commission.
Mr. Ventin is affiliated with The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Ontario Association of Architects, & The Canadian Association of Professional Heritage Consultants. He is regularly featured in magazine articles, as a public speaker & is a frequent guest lecturer at architecture school in Canada & abroad.

http://www.ventingroup.com/r_html/ventin.html

The presentation describes the economic problems of Cuba, explains the role of tourism in development, & explains the role of architectural conservancy in these policies. It is illustrated by about 50 slides which show buildings before, during, & after reconstruction, & other scenes which assist in the description of the economic & political context.
A good example of "smart growth" because an existing resource, the heritage buildings, are being "recycled" to provide an important component of economic development. Markets are being created for renewable resources such as fruits & vegetables. Joint ventures are used to allow Cuba to attract foreign capital & expertise while retaining control of the pattern of development.

Registration via printable Registration Form in pdf format.