By Doug Draper
A Niagara, Ontario citizens group dedicated to protecting and preserving our region’s heritage resources is hoping to strengthen its hand by joining forces with the 79-year-old Architectural Conservancy of Ontario.
Niagara Heritage Alliance President Val O'Donnell
The two-year-old citizens group, called the Niagara Heritage Alliance and made up of volunteer individuals and groups across the region, feels that signing on as a branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) will benefit is efforts in a number of ways, says its president Val O’Donnell.
Those benefits include “instant charitable status, access to an excellent province-wide organization with a remarkable record (and) the opportunity to participate in all ACO activities, (and) to share the experience and expertise of others dedicated to the preservation of our heritage,” added O’Donnell in a recent media release.
The ACO was founded in 1933 by architect and University of Toronto professor Eric Arthur with a mandate “to preserve buildings and structures of architectural merit and places of natural beauty and interest. It is now made up of 19 branches across the province, including the Niagara Heritage Alliance. “For the most part,” said O’Donnell, “branches operate independently, focusing on local issues, but when expert advice and guidance is sought, it is reassuring to know we have the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario to turn to.”
In a statement to Niagara At Large, O’Donnell went on to explain the need for a stronger citizens voice for safeguarding heritage resources in the Niagara region this way: “Although Niagara is the oldest, most historic region in Ontario, our heritage resources have virtually no protection,” she said. “At present, communities threatened with demolition of their heritage buildings or districts are virtually powerless to act.”
“Those citizens who find the courage to take a stand against wealthy developers face crippling legal fees, a pro-development Ontario Municipal Board, a Minister of Tourism and Culture who refuses to act … For the sake of Canadian history and culture, it is imperative that these issues be addressed.”
O’Donnell said the Niagara Heritage Alliance was as formed to represent all municipalities in the Region of Niagara. “We are committed to heritage preservation throughout the region and this alliance or umbrella group allows us to speak with a united and stronger voice when our built or natural heritage is threatened. We plan to communicate our concerns to all levels of government and the OMB.”
“We wish to make it very clear,” added O’Donnell, “that we are not anti-development, but we believe that development must be appropriate and sympathetic to the surrounding area. We advocate redevelopment where it is warranted, of heritage buildings or districts to retain heritage character and charm.”
Among the major objectives of the Niagara Heritage Alliance is to educate members, municipal governments and the public in general on what actions can be taken or tools can be used to help preserve and enhance the region’s heritage resources.
“It is a matter of considerable urgency that those committed to this issue become fully informed, united and active. Only then will our voice be heard and be effective,” O’Donnell said.
You can learn more about the Niagara Heritage Alliance by visiting its website at http://www.niagaraheritagealliance.org/ . You can email the group at niagaraheritagealliance@gmail.com .
Niagara At Large has made an ongoing effort to do what too many mainstream media organizations in Niagara are not doing very much of and cast a critical eye on activities that may diminish or destroy heritage resources in this region, and we look forward to providing as much coverage as we can to the work of the Niagara Heritage Alliance in this important area.
(NAL also invites our readers to share their views on this post in the comment boxes below. Please remember that we only post comments by individuals who also share their first and last with the rest of our readership.)
Niagara At Large 