By Pamela Minns
Ontario’s provincial government has removed “Heritage Day” entirely from our calendar.
Yet we ought not forget that in 1974 the Heritage Canada Foundation first established the third Monday in February each year as Heritage Day.In.fact, in Ontario the entire third week in February has traditionally been celebrated as “Heritage Week”. Heritage has been defined as “the sum total of our inheritance – built, cultural and natural”.
The 19th Century Keefer Mansion in the Niagara, Ontario community of Thorold, now a premier inn and restaurant. File photo by Doug Draper
This year, Ontario Heritage Week runs from Monday, February 18th to Sunday, February 24th. The theme, as announced by Heritage Canada Foundation for 2013 is “Good Neighbours”. The Foundation has stated that “preserving older homes and neighbourhoods ensures the long-term sustainability of communities. Indeed, investing in neglected homes and neighbourhoods can be an opportunity to provide affordable housing, improve public health, and revitalize and stabilize the community.”
For many years tourists were looking for world-class tourist attractions and studies now tell us that they are seeking out a “cultural heritage experience”. We have so much to offer here. The history of Regional Niagara has become of great interest to tourists and visitors to our area. This has especially been evident during our recognition of the War of 1812.
The homestead of War of 1812 heroine Laura Secord in the Niagara, Ontario community of Queenston. Preserved for public tours by the Niagara Parks Commission.
We need to continue with our commitment to preserve our built, cultural and natural heritage, and realize how important it has become to our towns, cities and region, as an economic motor.
Smarter Niagara has named four pillars for a complete Niagara, as follows : 1) environment, 2) economic, 3) social and 4) culture, including arts and heritage.
The Niagara Region Culture Plan is being implemented this year, and there are still some celebrations and recognitions planned in connection with the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. Regional Niagara was named the Cultural Capital of Canada for the year 2012; this title has created a feeling of pride in our Region and a challenge for all of us to build on our successes as we move forward.
Preservation of our heritage gives us pride in our municipality, our region and indeed our country. It helps to improve our quality of life, makes our individual municipalities unique, and gives us a sense of connection to the past. Spend some time during Heritage Week appreciating the rich history which is ours in our beautiful and diverse Region of Niagara……and be proud!
Pamela J. Minns is a Niagara, Ontario resident and a long-time advocate for the protection and preservation of heritage sites in this region.
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