Ontario Heritage Conference Shaping Up for May 23-25
April 28, 2014Cornwall Ontario – Final preparations are underway for the 2014 Ontario Heritage Conference, which will be held May 23-25 t the NAV Centre in Cornwall.
“We are expecting between 175-200 delegate for a weekend of learning and sharing,” said Ginette Guy, Chair of Heritage-Patrimoine Cornwall. “We have participants coming in from Toronto, London, Ottawa, Waterloo and nearby communities east of Kingston.”
Under the auspices of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario and Community Heritage Ontario, the annual conference attracts professionals and volunteers who work in the heritage conservation sector, from heritage planners, architects and municipal planners and members of municipal advisory committees.
“The theme for our conference is Bridging the Past, Crossing into the Future which is a direct reference to the new low- level bridge crossing the St. Lawrence River in Cornwall,” says Ms. Guy. “The bridge is a ‘new beginning’ for Cornwall and an attraction we can build upon, to enhance the presence of our community. At the same time it is a symbol to spark discussion on how we preserve the past, while keeping it relevant and crossing into the future.”
This year’s program will offer 4 keynote addresses and 18 concurrent sessions, showcasing 37 speakers.
The opening keynote speaker will be Dr. Avi Friedman, the international award-winning expert in home design, community development and sustainability. Dr. Friedman, who is on the faculty of McGill University, knows Cornwall well, authoring a study on the Le Village District in the 1990s.
From heritage buildings accessibility issues to rail history and heritage tourism, there is something for every interest.
Algonquin College Heritage Masonry and Carpentry programs will give two hands-on workshops, and the Ontario Heritage Trust will present on new technologies for the heritage professional. The delegates will have a chance to tour the Counties starting with a road rally and later can take in the Lost Villages and the Cotton Mills.
New this year, some of the sessions have been opened to the public, allowing local residents to take in one or two sessions based on need and interest. The session “Heritage Property Real Estate & Insurance” given by the Ontario Heritage Trust and the Insurance Bureau of Canada will be of particular interes to local professionals. The Saturday dinner will also be open to the public, taking place at the Cornwall Armoury with Hon. Lt-Col Jim Brownell as guest speaker and featuring entertainer James Gordon.
Registration for the 2014 Ontario Heritage Conference is still open. For complete information about programming and registration please visit the conference website at www.ontarioheritageconference.ca.
About Heritage-Patrimoine Cornwall
The City of Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, has given Heritage-Patrimoine Cornwall a mandate to document and record heritage buildings throughout the Cornwall Area. For more information, please visit: http://www.cornwall-lacac.on.ca
About the NAV CENTRE
Located on the scenic shores of the St. Lawrence River in Cornwall, the NAV CENTRE is a full service conference centre offering access to 551 guest rooms and 70 dedicated state-of-the-art meeting rooms, spa, fitness centre with indoor pool and an Irish pub with live entertainment. The Centre can accommodate small groups of five to large groups of up to 500. Learn more at www.navcentre.ca.