On the Designation of the Niagara-on the-Lake Historic District As a National Historic Site of Canada

May 26, 2006

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Check Against Delivery

Introduction

Your Worship Lord Mayor Burroughs, Dr. Turner, Dr. Merritt, Dr. Monet,

Ladies and gentlemen.

It’s wonderful to be with you in Niagara-on-the-Lake today, and to have this opportunity to greet and speak with so many old friends, here at the very heart of the beautiful and historic Niagara Peninsula.

The first thing I’d like to do is convey the greetings and best wishes of Canada’s Minister of the Environment, and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, the Honourable Rona Ambrose.

I know for a fact that she shares our enthusiasm and love for heritage preservation, and that she is delighted by today’s celebration: the official designation of the historic district of Niagara-on-the-Lake as a national historic site of Canada.

Here in Niagara-on-the-Lake you know a thing or two about heritage, and the art and plain hard work of preserving it.

This region is rich with national historic sites.

The list of people, places and events that have been officially commemorated is long and impressive. Obviously, this community is conscious and proud of its identity.

Today’s designation of the Niagara-on-the-Lake historic district encapsulates in a very significant way Canada’s evolving approach to heritage preservation.

The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada

The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada was established in 1919.

Made up of respected historians and specialists from every province and territory of Canada, the Board makes recommendations to Minister Ambrose on the designation and commemoration of people, places and events of national historic significance.

The Board also works with Parks Canada to promote and protect Canada’s heritage.

And since its establishment, it has designated more than 1,800 people, places and events as being worthy of commemoration.

In recent years, as our thinking about built heritage has evolved, we now rightly talk about the heritage value of streetscapes, whole districts, gardens, and rural and urban landscapes.

And there is no finer urban landscape in all of Canada than Niagara-on-the-Lake’s historic district.

Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Historic District

This community possesses the best collection of buildings in Canada dating from the period immediately following the War of 1812.

Many of these early buildings have been lovingly restored and preserved.

They present a window into the past, into a time long gone.

A window that allows Canadians to visualize what life was like in this part of Canada at the turn of the 19th century.

Losing Our Architectural Heritage

In Canada, unfortunately, we’ve already lost far too much of our built and architectural heritage.

In the last generation, 20 per cent of our pre-1920’s historic buildings have been lost to demolition.

We seem to have lost sight of how much our historic places can contribute to the vitality and economic prosperity of our communities, but not here, and not in Minister Ambrose’s office.

Through commemorations like today’s, we are taking action to preserve our historic places.

We want to build a generation of heritage stewards and a culture of heritage conservation in Canada.

Ultimately, if we don’t preserve places like Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the stories they tell us, future generations will have great difficulty in perceiving and appreciating just who they are.

Budget 2006 and Canadian Heritage

Canada’s New Government recognizes and supports our country’s diverse culture and shared history as a nation.

In fact, we believe that the federal government has an important role to play in preserving Canada’s natural and historic heritage.

This is why in our first Budget, we eliminated the capital gains tax on donations of publicly listed securities to charities.

This will help create a donations pool that can be used to support worthy charitable causes and projects aiming at protecting our cultural heritage.

And Canada’s New Government will continue to recognize and support Canada’s diverse culture and shared history by commemorating the great people and places in our nation’s history, in the hope that it will inspire future generations to continue in the work of building a better Canada.

Recognizing Local Efforts

The Niagara-on-the-Lake community has really pulled together, first, to keep its historic district in such tip-top condition, and second, to work so hard for its official designation as a national historic site of Canada.

On behalf of all Canadians, I’d like to thank you for what you have done.

Specifically, I’d like to recognize the efforts of the members of the Citizens' Heritage:

Designation Committee:
• The late Margherita Howe
• The late Frank Hawley
• Richard Merritt
• Erika Alexander
• Jim Alexander
• Steve Oprici
• Wesley Turner
• Laura Dodson
• Norm Howe
• Joy Ormsby
• Peter Stokes
• Les Taylor
• Ron Dale

These individuals each belong to several organizations:

• Friends of Fort George;

• the Niagara Historic Society;

• the Niagara Foundation;

• the Niagara-on-the-Lake Conservancy;

• the Chamber of Commerce;

• the Niagara-on-the-Lake Heritage Advisory Committee (formerly LACAC);

• and Parks Canada.

Conclusion

I hope that your example galvanizes others across the country to generate and foster an even stronger culture of heritage preservation.

Our lives are enriched when we value and preserve key examples of our heritage, and of the many different stories that have made our society what it is today.

Here in Niagara-on-the-Lake today, we’re taking a very important step by designating and celebrating this superb collection of buildings as a national historic site of Canada.

Good luck to us, because only if we succeed in our efforts at preservation will future generations be able to enjoy the true richness of their heritage.

Thank you.