We're Moving!

Hello loyal followers!

We have been using the blog for over four years now. In that time we've shared some great events and pictures.

Now we're moving!

We've secured an accessible website that is easy to update so we'll be posting all our upcoming events there. Check out our new Heritage Resources Centre Website

To keep up to date on other current events follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook

Sincerely,

The HRC Team

Heritage Planning Workshop

Our Four Day Heritage Planning Workshop is back! 
Where? Waterloo, Ontario

When? May 4 & 5 AND May 25 & 26 2013 

What will I learn? 

A number of themes will be covered including:

• Examining the Concept of Heritage
• The International Context
• Heritage Legislation
• The Full Range of Planning Tools
• Writing Statements of Significance
• The Heritage Property Business
• The Heritage Consulting Business
•  Decision Making

What does it cost? $350 

If you're intrested please e-mail hrc(at)uwaterloo.ca to register. 

HRC Annual General Meeting!

Annual General Meeting

Monday April 1, 2013

12:00 – 1:30pm

Location: Environmental Studies Building 1,

Room 221

Please join us to learn about the projects the Heritage Resources Centre worked on in 2012, including: Heritage Districts Work - More Stories of Success; Arch, Truss and Beam: The Grand River Watershed Heritage Bridge Inventory; and launching Building Stories. We will also overview 2013 projects and other future plans.

A special presentation will be made by students from the Heritage Planning class, on their project to create a marketing plan for the Heritage Resources Centre.

Lunch will be provided.

RSVP by March 25, 2013 to kajonas(at)uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567 ext. 36921

Grand River Heritage Day Workshop

Sign up for the Grand River Heritage Day workshop. Its a day of learning history of the Watershed, and registration is free.

See all the details HERE

Building Stories - Year 1 Successes

On April 30, 2012 a new website and mobile application launched that enables Canadians to take a direct role in identifying important community heritage assets. Building Stories(www.buildingstories.co) is an incredible new on-line resource making thousands of original documents, photos and historical records available online from a wide variety of communities. Since the launch the website has had great successes including:

• 925 historic sites added 
• Historic sites from every province and territory added, and our first US site added 
• 216 registered members 
• 18 registered groups 
• Presentations on the website at the Heritage Canada Conference, National Preservation Conference and Ontario Heritage Conference
• Between September 2012 and December 2012 we had 3898 visitors to the website 
• News Article in the  Globe and Mail and article in theOntario Professional Planners Institute Journal
• Commercial in Old Home Television episodes

News Release: Heritage Conservation Districts – More Stories of Success

News Release

Heritage Conservation Districts – More Stories of Success

Toronto, January 10, 2013 - The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) has completed the second phase of a study on Heritage Conservation Districts across Ontario, and once again determined that they do indeed work.

Building on the findings of Heritage Districts Work! Phase 1, which examined the oldest 32 districts in the province. Phase 2 Heritage Conservation Districts – More Stories of Success continued to look at well-established districts. The 32 districts examined were designated in or before 2002 and are found in the following municipalities: Cobourg, Hamilton, Ottawa, St. Catharines, Markham, Toronto, Centre Wellington, Orangeville, London, Stratford, and the Region of Waterloo. 

First phase results were confirmed. Most districts have met their goals, real estate values in Heritage Conservation Districts generally rise more consistently than surrounding areas, and people are overwhelmingly satisfied with living and working in districts.

Specifically, 26 of the 32 districts met all their goals. However, almost a third of districts did not have clear goals stated in their district plans. The goal used in these cases was an implied intent of heritage building conservation and maintenance. The lack of clarity shows a need for refinement in the future.

People are overwhelmingly satisfied with living or owning property in a district. When asked,  461 of the 857 people surveyed (over half) said they were very satisfied. An additional 232 people stated they were satisfied. In total, 693 people (80%) are happy living or owning property in a district. Combined, the dissatisfied

respondents represent less than 4% of all those surveyed.

Of the 871 properties in the districts that had two or more sales, 369 showed above average sales history trajectories. While 297 had average trajectories, only 204 performed below average. In short, the evidence says there is a strong real estate market.  

Interestingly, when all 64 districts were compared it was discovered that the longer a district operated the better they performed. When the districts from Phase 1 and 2 are combined and are sorted by performance score, trends emerge. At the highest end are a cluster of districts from phase 1, the oldest districts in Ontario (designated before 1992). The opposite is also true, at the lowest end of the scores are a block of districts from phase 2 (newer districts between 1992 and 2002).

Comparison of all 64 also revealed that a district’s success is largely attributed to the management of the area at the City level. However, active citizen groups also play a fundamental role in education related to district designation and operation. Following the completion of both phases of study, 12 districts were found to have education issues. Of these 12, only two had active citizen groups. This is a logical finding as unlike City staff, an active citizen group is consistently present in the district, as they reside or volunteer there. Although formal education is generally the mandate of these groups, they also serve to educate residents informally through casual interactions. In other words, community groups are an integral part of community education and the maintenance of successful districts.

This project was carried out by the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO), an Ontario based not-for-profit organization, on behalf of the hundreds of volunteers in communities across Ontario all of whom work passionately to maintain the built culture of our province. The ACO was funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and  partnered with several other volunteer groups including Heritage Ottawa and Community Heritage Ontario. Dedicated volunteers surveyed residences in the Heritage Conservation Districts and provided energy and purpose to the project. The efforts of the volunteers were assisted and coordinated through cooperation between the ACO and the Heritage Resources Centre (HRC) at the University of Waterloo.

The reports for each district, as well as the summary report, can be accessed on the Heritage Resources Centre’s website at: www.env.uwaterloo.ca/research/hrc/projects/heritage_conservation_districts/

You can learn more about the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, and donate to future research initiatives at: www.arconserv.ca

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More than a trip to the beach: A look at Forest, Ontario’s unique heritage

Guest blogger Lindsay Benjamin 

 For over 100 years members of my family have called Forest, Ontario home. I’ve only been around to enjoy 29 of those years in Forest, but this summer, for the first time, I saw Forest in a new light. Every year my family heads to heavenly Hillsboro beach, just outside of town to gather at our family cottage. Although our family built the cottage in the 1950s (and those neighbouring it), I never had much time to explore the local heritage. I was usually distracted by Lake Huron’s sandy beach, warm water and time spent with family. That was until I stumbled upon a Forest Heritage Walking tour in July while shopping Forest’s main street (King Street). I didn’t hesitate to tag along with the group guided by knowledgeable local historians. We strolled Forest’s core then hopped on a hayride through town, touring many of Forest’s historic gems. For your viewing pleasure I’ve recounted some of the highlights! 1. A. Hodgson Enterprize Building, 35 King Street West. A beautiful Italianate commercial structure built in 1888 and representing one of the most impressive, well-preserved buildings on King Street West (downtown). My great-grandmother worked here for a time when it was a pharmacy many moons ago (more precisely, some time in the 1950s).

Hodgson Enterprize Building 

2. Station Library, 61 King Street West. The first train station in Forest was opened here in 1859 on the recently completed Grand Trunk line from Guelph to Sarnia. It provided the nucleus around which the town grew. In 1985 the station was converted to a library and a caboose was installed to pay homage to the railways contribution to the founding of Forest.

 Station Library 

A plaque erected by the Ontario Heritage Trust, and located next to the Library and caboose details the history of Forest.

 The Founding of Forest plaque located outside the Station Library. 

3. Kiwanis Kineto Theatre, 24 King Street West. One of my favourite places in Forest and the site of the first time my mom let me go to a movie ALONE… 500 metres from my grandma’s house! The Munro Brother’s built the theatre in 1875 and in 1905, George Lundy and Floyd Rumford started the motion picture business. The name “Kineto” came from the type of equipment being used. Thanks to the Kiwanis Club, the theatre is now one of the few remaining independent theatres in operation in Ontario.

Kiwanis Kineto Theatre

 The picture below gives you a glimpse of what the inside of the theatre once looked like. Not much has changed since then, aside from the addition of more comfortable chairs.

Historic photo of the interior of Forest’s Kiwanis Kineto Theatre.

4. Rumford Bakery, 8 Main Street North. Although it may not be much to look at today thanks to the addition of aw-inspiring vinyl siding, the Rumford Bakery holds a spot near and deal to my heart. Well, let’s be honest, my stomach. Operating continuously as a bakery from 1884 to 2008, this site represented a tasty and reliable meeting place for Forest residents. Edward Rumford opened this bakeshop and confectionary in 1880 and the present building was built in 1906. Recently the building was transformed into a local museum, but it’s use as a bakery is well represented among the displays. The Rumford Bakery sign still hangs on the façade. I’ll miss you delicious Forest macaroons, rolls, peanut butter cookies, and…you get the point!

 Rumford Bakery 

5. Forest Carnegie Library, 12 Main Street North. In 1910 council requested $3,000 from the Carnegie Institute to build a library. It was constructed for $4,765 and represents the first building in Forest to be recognized as a historic landmark with plaque affixed to its façade (see picture below). The building is in rough shape, but still a beauty. I love the addition of the eyebrow window over the portico.

 Forest Carnegie Library 

Forest Carnegie Library plaque

 6. St. James Presbyterian Church, corner of Main Street North and Jefferson Street West. St. James has been attended by members of my family for over 100 years and has been the site of many celebrations and remembrances. The present cornerstone was laid in 1890 and the church was dedicated in 1891.

St. James Presbyterian Church 

The interior of the church has been beautifully preserved with an exquisite organ, and extensive woodwork, stained glass and murals (see pictures below).

St. James Presbyterian Church, murals and organ. 

St. James Presbyterian Church, interior woodwork and brackets. 

 St. James Presbyterian Church wood pews.

Historical Walking Tour of North York Centre

*Saturday, September 15, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. *


In celebration of North York Central Library's 25th anniversary take a
walking tour of the North York Centre neighbourhood!  The tour will include
both historic sites, such as Gibson House Museum, and modern sites in the
vicinity of the library, with a special emphasis on buildings and people
that contributed to the development of public library service in North
York. Free.  Co-sponsored by the Toronto Public Library, North York
Historical Society and North York Community Preservation Panel. For more
information call 416-395-5623.

This walk begins and ends at the North York Central Library foyer.

This Weekend: Lt. Gov. Simcoe and Toronto Carrying Place Re-enactment & Parade

To mark the two hundred and nineteenth anniversary of the expedition.*


LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR  JOHN GRAVES SIMCOE AND THE HUMBER HERITAGE COMMITTEE

INVITE YOU TO JOIN THEM IN REENACTING THE FIRST DAY OF THE GOV´S 1793 JOURNEY  UP THE TORONTO CARRYING PLACE 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22nd 2012


ASSEMBLING AT THE QUEEN STREET RIGHT OF WAY AND THE SOUTH KINGSWAY TO
DEPART NORTHWARDS FROM THE ROUSSEAUX SITE AT 9:30 A.M.

THE EXPEDITION WILL TAKE THE FORM OF A PARADE, PERMITTING PEOPLE TO JOIN
AND LEAVE ALONG THE ROUTE AND WILL END BEFORE 2.00 P.M. AT THE 1793
CAMPSITE AT EGLINTON AND THE HUMBER RIVER*

Early drop off at Etienne Brule Park

THERE WILL BE AN HISTORICAL COMMENTARY BY GUIDE MADELEINE McDOWELL

Info: 416-767-7633

Fall Workshop: Architectural Styles

Dates: September 22nd & 23rd, 2012
Times: 10am - 4pm
Location: Leamington Municipal Office (Council Chambers), 111 Erie Street North


What will the workshop cover?
This workshop will focus on Ontario’s architectural styles. We will learn how to identify a wide variety of styles and distinguish which features (character-defining elements) are important to each style. Using our gained knowledge we will examine one of Leamington’s neighbourhoods to determine the local styles, as well as use examples from participant’s own neighbourhoods.

 Goals of the workshop:

• To provide a second level of training in Heritage beyond the Heritage Planning Workshop 
• To create knowledge of Ontario’s architectural styles among heritage professionals, volunteers and interested citizens 
• To provide an opportunity for the application of each individuals knowledge of Ontario’s architectural styles 
• To relate architectural styles knowledge to Heritage Planning and discuss its relevance in real world situations

Fees:
 The workshop fee for practicing planners and other concerned citizens will be $225*. This price will include lunch and snacks on both days of the workshop. *HST is included
People with limited resources can contact the Heritage Resources Centre to see if a workable alternative can be reached.

Verification of Attendance:
Practicing planners and other stakeholders interested in heritage will receive a Verification of Attendance form.

Registration: 
To register, email: hrc@uwaterloo.ca

Iceland Architecture

If you think that looks like corrugated metal siding on this 19th century house, you're right. Sheet metal is a common surface treatment for historic buildings in Iceland. Look for Prof Shipley's talk this Fall on heritage in Iceland and learn more.

Waterloo Region Museum

Recently, we went to the Waterloo Region Museum for the Ontario Historical Society Conference. Its a great space with interesting architectural pieces built in. For instance the lines of the railway and Huron Road cross the foyer and historic maps can be found on the walls (see picture above).

The museum and the attached Doon HeritageVillage tell the Region's history.

Don't just take our advice, check out what a travel writer had to say!

New Release: Ontario Planning Book

The new book Beyond the Global City: Understanding and Planning for the Diversity of Ontario features and article by Heritage Resources Centre Director Dr. Robert Shipley. Its available through Amazon. 

Summer Experience Student Job with the HRC

Summer Experience Student Job Description – 2012

Position Title: Bridge Inventory Research Assistant

Length: 7 Weeks (Start July 9, End August 20)

Location: Heritage Resources Centre, University of Waterloo

Job Summary:

Assist the Heritage Resources Centre in the completion of a large-scale research project inventorying, researching and analyzing historic bridges within the Grand River Watershed

Job Responsibilities: 

• Contacting various municipalities, public organizations and provincial ministries to gather and record information on the location of bridges within the Grand River Watershed
• Organizing the information gathered into in a concise database
• Visiting bridges around the watershed to ensure their existence and take photographs
• Analyze and score bridges based on pre-existing evaluation criteria

Required Skills:

• Ability to work independently with little supervision and as part of team
• Organized and capable of multi-tasking
• Ability to prioritize and manage time efficiently to achieve deadlines
• Proven written and oral communication skills
• Well developed and analytical research skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Adept at using a digital camera

Career Development:

• Opportunity to network with a variety of heritage professionals from around the Province
• Gain strong knowledge of provincial guidelines for the evaluation of built heritage resources
• Intimate knowledge of the Grand River Watershed through extensive field work
• Opportunity to have your work published and discussed around the province
• Build upon your developing research skills in a professional setting

Transportation:

• Will require access to a personal vehicle for regular use
• Mileage will be reimbursed at .45 cents/km

Requirements:

Applicants must be currently enrolled in a secondary, or post-secondary institution or within six months of graduation and have reached the age of 15 and not yet reached the age of 25 upon commencement of employment or up to 29 years for persons with a disability as defined under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Applicants must be residents of Ontario and eligible to work in Canada.

Please send applications to Kayla Jonas at kajonas@uwaterloo.ca by 4pm on June 27, 2012. 

This past week was the Ontario Heritage Conference in Kingston.

Our team attended and was proud to offically launch Building Stories. Two of our staff were presenters and mentioned the new interactive website for historic places during their talks.

Team with their new banners! 

If you didn't attend, you can check out our photos, the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario's photos, or the photos of Community Heritage Ontario.

Building Stories Workshop

In order to show communities and organizations the full extend of Building Stories, the Heritage Resources Centre is offering its first workshop about the site in June:

When: Thursday June 7^th 

Time: 9am – 12pm

Where: Environment Building, University of Waterloo

Cost: $70

Email: hrc@uwaterloo.ca to register 

Announcing the Launch of Building Stories

Creating a Canada-wide Online Interactive Inventory for Historic Sites

BUILDING STORIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WATERLOO, May 22, 2012 – On April 30, 2012, a new website and mobile application launched that enables Canadians to take a direct role in identifying important community heritage assets. Building Stories (www.buildingstories.co) is an incredible new on-line resource making thousands of original documents, photos and historical records available online from a wide variety of communities.

The development of Building Stories adds significantly to the tools available to engage the public, explains the importance of heritage and builds community confidence. The tools in Building Stories can help communities identify properties to place on municipal registers, to identify areas as Heritage Conservation Districts and to expand the volunteer base of the conservation movement. Dr. Robert Shipley, Director of the Heritage Resources Centre, states: “Through being able to use the inventory tool in a web-based and interactive way, it will allow communities and individual citizens to take a direct and active role in identifying the significant and valued structures that make up such a vital part of the country’s heritage assets. There has never been anything like this and the result will be to magnify and expand both interest in, and understanding of our built environment.”

Sites added to the Building Stories inventory are mapped and require an address and at least one photo. Users can then add additional commentary about the history, design and context of the property. Entire Statements of Significance can be added if available. In addition, documentation such as photographs, audio files, video files or copies of important documents (e.g. drawings, leases) can be uploaded. Characteristics of specific buildings may be entered using the recognized Canadian Inventory of Historic Buildings Iconography depicting simple pictures of architectural and/or design features.  Tours of heritage buildings can be created by selecting properties and can be shared with the community at large.

These sites can be accessed through a mobile application available for Android, iPhone and Blackberry phones. Users will be able to select a tour of a desired destination using the mobile application, such as walking or driving tours and special events tours, such as Doors Open. In addition, the mobile application will allow the capture of a site with a picture and GPS coordinates, while additional details can be filled in online. 

Currently, the website includes entries from every province and territory in Canada. However, Building Stories will continue to grow into new communities, as new collections and archives are added to the fully searchable database, and as individuals comment on existing listings and contribute their own sites with stories, memories, digital artifacts, and photographs.

Many different groups can use the site: volunteers and heritage supporters can identify and record sites of value to them; tourists visiting Canada can search sites and tours and are invited to provide digital photos; professionals and academics can add sites from their projects and use the website for research.

An impressive number and variety of communities have contributed to the development of Building Stories including: Town of Goderich, Municipality of Huron East, Doors Open Huron County 2012, Town of Grimsby, City of Brampton, City of Kingston, City of Hamilton, Town of Halton Hills, and the Town of St. Marys.


Building Stories was made possible with the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage through the Canada Interactive Fund and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports’ Cultural Strategic Investment Fund.

Building Stories is a partnership between the University of Waterloo’s Heritage Resources Centre and the Computer Systems Group, both at the University of Waterloo and the Centre for Community Mapping (COMAP). The mission of the Heritage Resources Centre (HRC) is to promote a better understanding of natural and human heritage for the improvement of planning management and public policy through research, education, and extension work.

COMAP, a Canadian non-profit, is dedicated to research development and deployment of information and communications technology to strengthen the role of civil society in Canada. The Computer Systems Group (CSG) is a research group that specializes in document and software engineering, and software design and implementation.

###

For more information please contact:

Kayla Jonas

Project Manager

Building Stories

kajonas@uwaterloo.ca

519.888.4567 ext. 36921

Volunteers Needed In Ottawa

Volunteers are needed for the Heritage Conservation District Study in Ottawa. 

The training session will be held on Monday, June 4th, at 6 pm in the courtroom of Arts Court, 2 Daly Avenue. The training session will be an hour. 

The surveys themselves should be undertaken in June, as folks tend to disappear come July/August, and the results are due in August. Since these HCDs are so large, only a sampling of addresses need be approached. The surveys should only take a couple of hours for each pair of surveyors.

View the results for the first phase of the study.

Congratulations to our friends in Seaforth! 

Seaforth BIA wins prestigious award at National Conference

It was Margaret Mead who penned the famous quote about the inevitable ability of thoughtful,

committed citizens to implement change.

Never was this more evident than on Seaforth’s Main Street. A collaboration between Peter

Klaver, the late Debby Somerville, the Municipality of Huron East and its Municipal Heritage

Committee has resulted in a dramatic facelift to the town’s business district and now notable

recognition by the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association (OBIAA) at its recent

National Conference in Thunder Bay.

“Dressing for Success”—a major renovation project in Seaforth—involved the restoration of six

properties within the town’s Business Improvement Area during 2011. Klaver, a BIA Member

and Past Board Chair, and BIA Member Somerville, spearheaded the major renovations

undertaken at the following heritage properties:

• Timber’s Outfitters

• Decadence in the Country

• Etue Insurance and Financial

• Tulips Dental Centre

• Sally’s Closet Too!

• The Commercial Hotel

Nominees for an OBIAA award under the “Bricks and Mortar” category had to meet stringent

criteria.

Innovation: a unique approach to a BIA management/development challenge

Replication: a solution or idea that could be modified and utilized by other BIA’s

Representation: inclusive, partnerships, community involvement

Outcome: significant and measurable impact; objectives reached

Given the improved aesthetics and property values on Seaforth’s Main Street, the ensuing

economic development, and low commercial vacancy rate, it is evident that “Dressing for

Success” achieved its goals—and OBIAA rewarded this accomplishment.

As John Kiru, President of OBIAA and executive Director of the Toronto Area BIA, noted

“recognition goes a long way in encouraging BIA’s across the province to continue with their

stellar work in improving the economic and social wellbeing of their communities.”

The Ontario BIA Association recognizes the best in revitalization and management, and through

its awards celebrates the most successful, innovative efforts in Ontario BIA development.

“Seaforth has seen challenging times over the past few years,” says Jan Hawley, Huron East’s

Economic Development Officer, “yet despite the downturn in the economy, its business district

has remained vibrant, positioning itself well within the region. And the efforts of Pete and

Debby played a big part in that.”

Indeed, the vision and work of Peter Klaver and Debby Somerville, supported by the

Municipality and Heritage Committee, has resulted in a win-win-win: for the town, for its BIA,

and for its Main Street businesses.

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Contact for further information

Jan Hawley, Economic Development Officer

Municipality of Huron East

519.527.-0160

edo@huroneast.com

Communiqué

REMINDER! ONLY 2 WEEKS LEFT

Submit your nominations to Canada’s

TOP TEN Endangered Places List

Deadline is May 18, 2012

LET US HEAR FROM YOU!

Ottawa, ON May 9, 2012 – The Heritage Canada Foundation is accepting nominations to Canada’s Top Ten Endangered Places List. The list is released annually to bring national attention to sites at risk due to neglect, lack of funding, inappropriate development and weak legislation. It has become a powerful tool in the fight to make landmarks, not landfill.

HCF uses three primary criteria to determine the 10 final sites for inclusion on the list:

• Significance of the site
• Urgency of the threat
• Community support for its preservation

If you know a site that should be included on our list, tell us about it today.

Click here for the 2012 Top Ten Endangered Places List Form.

Nominations should be received by Friday, May 18, 2012.

Questions? Contact us at heritagecanada@heritagecanada.org or phone: 1-866-964-1066 ext. 229.