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May 12, 2000

Exciting news on the heritage front

movie makers A camera crew gets into position for CBC's TV movie Harry's Case, shot at the Ontario Heritage Centre last summer.(photo courtesy of the Ontario Heritage Foundation)

Each week, the main purpose of this column is to record some of the history of the area but as I indicated in my introductory column, I want to occasionally report on other perspectives that may be of interest to the heritage community.  In this case, I would like to talk about the Ontario Heritage Foundation (OHF).

The OHF is a not-for-profit agency of the provincial government which for 30 years has been “dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario’s rich and varied heritage.” 

$5 million fund

The foundation’s recent newsletter Heritage Matters and an accompanying press release provide several items of interest to people with heritage concerns.  The most exciting news is a $5 million dollar provincial fund for non-profit organizations and municipalities for restoring, preserving and maintaining their heritage properties. 

Another $5 million has been allocated to the OHF to establish an endowment fund for capital costs to maintain heritage properties.  This fund is based on the government matching any funds the foundation raises, which would lead to a $10 million dollar investment. 

As Allan Gottleib, the chairman of the OHF, stated: “this is an exciting day for heritage in Ontario.”  For further information, contact the foundation at (416) 314-0744 or go to their web site at:

www.heritagefdn.on.ca.

Of special interest to communities receiving Community Voices is the OHF’s Heritage Community Recognition Program that recognizes individuals and groups that have made a significant contribution to heritage preservation, protection and conservation.  Since 1996, municipal councils and band councils have nominated numerous people for these awards for writing and research, preservation of buildings, long-standing heritage volunteer service and related activities.

In the past four years, the following are some of the people who have received the award certificate and pin in the Nipissing District:  Roger Lafond of Field; Gerald Beaudry and Claude Goulet of Caldwell Township; Pam Handley of North Bay; Elinor Smith and Stanley Anderson of Chisholm Township; David Lafleur of Springer Township; Colette Lavergne and Andre Lafreniere of Sturgeon Falls; and Marcel Foisy of Bonfield Township.

New heritage leaders program

There is also a new Youth Heritage Leaders Program which recognizes individuals and formal and informal groups of youth, 18 years of age and under, that have made a significant contribution to heritage preservation.

For further information, including nomination forms for both recognition programs, contact your municipal or band office or phone the OHF office directly at (416) 325-5032.  APPLICATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED AT THE OHF BY MAY 31, 2000.

The OHF publication Heritage Matters profiles the future of heritage activity in the new millennium by providing a summary of a speech by Allan Gottleib at a recent Heritage 2000 Symposium.  Gottleib proposed a monitoring system to report on heritage preservation and recommended tax incentives to make the preservation economically viable. 

Protect sites

He also proposed new legislation to protect heritage sites, as well as badly needed investment in new technology that can encourage interactive learning and virtual tours of heritage sites.  The full text of his speech is available at

www.heritagefdn.on.ca/About/newsreleases/nr-Nov-99.htm.

Also of interest is a report on how heritage sites are being used by film and television companies to the financial advantage of these sites. 

In 1999 there were 45 film crews working in OHF buildings around the province (see photo above).

Perhaps some day you will see some Hollywood stars at a heritage site near you

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