Report to/Rapport au :
Community and
Protective Services Committee
Comité des services
communautaires et de protection
and Council / et au
Conseil
Submitted by/Soumis par : Chair/présidente
Arts, Heritage and Culture Advisory
Committee/ Comité consultatif sur les arts, le patrimoine et la culture
Contact
Person/Personne ressource: Marc Desjardins, Committee Coordinator / coordinateur
du comité
(613) 580-2424 x28821, Marc.Desjardins@ottawa.ca
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Arts,
Heritage and Culture Advisory Committee recommend the Community and Protective
Services Committee refer the nominations contained in Document 1 to Council for
approval.
RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité consultatif sur les arts, le patrimoine et la culture
recommande au Comité des services communautaires et des services de renvoyer au
Conseil la candidature comme l’indique le document 1.
BACKGROUND
The Ontario Heritage Trust’s (OHT) Heritage
Community Recognition Program celebrates volunteer achievements in preserving,
protecting and promoting local heritage.
Since 1996, the Trust has worked with communities across the province to
recognize 3,160 volunteers for their contributions to conserving built,
cultural and natural heritage. Municipalities may
submit a maximum of one nomination in each of five categories – in the areas of
built, cultural or natural heritage preservation, Lifetime Achievement
(recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to local heritage
preservation for 20 to 24 years), and the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for
Lifetime Achievement (recognizes volunteers for contributions to heritage
conservation over a period of 25 years or more).
Since 2002,
the City of Ottawa has submitted nominations as part of this program.
DISCUSSION
Any
resident of Ontario, over the age of 18, who has made outstanding volunteer
contributions to their local community in the area of built, cultural or
natural heritage preservation is eligible for nomination. Heritage activities must have been provided
without payment. Duties performed during
the normal course of elected, professional or business work are not
eligible. Posthumous nominations are not
eligible. Small project groups may be
nominated for built, cultural and natural heritage conservation. For example:
·
a small
steering or ad-hoc committee responsible for a special project
·
co-authors
of a local history publication
·
partners
who have restored a heritage home
The
entire membership of an organization is not
eligible – for example, Municipal Heritage Committee, historical society or the
board of a conservation authority.
Individuals who have made exceptional contributions to local heritage
preservation for 20 to 24 years should be nominated in the Lifetime Achievement
category. Individuals with contributions
of 25 years or more should be nominated in the category for the Lieutenant
Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement.
The Categories
The Ontario
Heritage Trust has provided the following examples as activities that would
qualify for nomination in each category:
Built heritage:
(Photographs
of structures must be provided)
·
leadership in the
restoration and preservation of heritage structures (buildings, bridges,
etc.)
·
outstanding
contributions as a volunteer member of a Municipal Heritage Committee or other
organization dedicated to preserving heritage structures
·
significant
fundraising to support the restoration of a historic structure
Cultural
heritage:
·
outstanding
contributions as a volunteer with a historical society, museum or historic site
·
research
or writing related to local history
·
voluntary
teaching of local history or traditions
·
personal
collections of local artifacts, heritage photographs
or memorabilia that are shared with the community
·
volunteer
participation in activities or events that protect, preserve or promote First
Nations, Métis, Franco-Ontarian heritage or others
Natural
heritage:
·
demonstrated
leadership in the protecting natural heritage (endangered species
habitats, rare Carolinian forests, wetlands, tall grass prairies,
etc.)
·
significant
natural heritage conservation activities by private landowners
·
outstanding
contributions as a volunteer with a local natural heritage organization
·
significant
volunteer work at a conservation authority/area or parkland
Lifetime
achievement (individuals only):
·
an
individual who, for 20 to 24 years, has made exceptional contributions to
built, cultural and/or natural heritage conservation (refer to examples of
activities above)
Lieutenant
Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement (individuals only):
·
an
individual who, for 25 years or more, has made exceptional contributions to
built, cultural and/or natural heritage conservation (refer to examples of
activities above)
*individuals previously recognized in the
Lifetime Achievement category are eligible
Submitting a Nomination
The Ontario Heritage Trust requires that nominations be endorsed by the
mayor, reeve, warden, regional chair, chief or council president (or delegate)
of a municipal council, regional council, First Nation band council or Métis
community council. A council may submit a maximum of one nomination for
each of the five categories. The
deadline for submission to the OHT for this year’s program is June 30, 2012.
Selection of Recipients
All nominations that meet the program criteria
will be recognized through the program. The Trust will notify the council of
the status of the nominations before the end of December.
Presentation to Recipients
The Trust will provide certificates and
achievement pins for the recipients. It
is the responsibility of the council to frame the certificates. Councils must notify the Trust of local
presentations. When possible, the Trust
will send a representative to the community to make the presentation. Recipients of the Lieutenant Governor's
Ontario Heritage Award will be invited to a presentation reception hosted by
the Lieutenant Governor at Queen's Park.
They will receive certificates and special achievement pins.
CONSULTATION
The Arts, Heritage
and Culture Advisory Committee (AHCAC) is among the
list of contacts to whom the Ontario Heritage Trust circulates the invitation
to submit nominations for this award on an annual basis.
City Operations - Parks Recreation and Cultural Services
The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services
Department support the nomination for an Ontario Heritage Trust Community
Heritage Recognition Award contained in Document 1.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
There are no financial implications to the City of Ottawa.
LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT
IMPLICATIONS
There are no Legal/Risk Management impediments to
implementing any of the recommendations in this Report.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 – Letters in support of the Cultural Heritage Nominee
Carolyn Quinn (attached)
DISPOSITION
City Clerk’s Branch will submit
the nomination to the Ontario Heritage Trust.
Document 1
April 26, 2012
AHCAC
c/o Marc Desjardins
City of Ottawa
100 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa ON K1P 1J1
(internal Mail Code 01-71)
Dear members of the AHCAC,
I am writing this letter in support of the nomination of Linda Russell for the Ontario Heritage Trust’s Heritage Community Recognition Award that recognizes individuals who have made volunteer contributions to preserving, protecting and promoting community heritage.
I have worked with Linda Russell on Ottawa’s Doors Open event for the past 12 years. I can say without hesitation that it was Linda’s vision that brought the event to Ottawa.
After participating in Doors Open Toronto with Linda back in 2001, she convinced me and a group of interested people from a range of backgrounds and interests that we could bring Doors Open to Ottawa. It was her enthusiasm that also convinced our then Mayor Bob Chiarelli to commit a part-time City of Ottawa staff person to working with a community-based advisory committee to help make it happen. She clearly understood the importance of the event as a community-building opportunity and a chance for the municipality to celebrate its heritage through its architecture.
Linda is a founding member of the Doors Open Ottawa Advisory Council, and has been its chair for a number of years. I always found her conscientious about the overall goal of giving people in the city an opportunity to experience firsthand the beauty and interest of the interior spaces of many buildings – some major urban landmarks, others of more local neighbourhood interest – and the many and varied activities that take place in them. She understood the value of that experience in raising people’s awareness of their city’s heritage and their own place within it.
Whether it was through her extensive media contacts, her skills in attracting creative and committed people, or meeting with building owners to sell the Doors Open concept to them, Linda has been a major force in shaping the event and contributing to its huge success in Ottawa.
As well as fulfilling her role on the Advisory Council, working with city representatives and building owners, Linda has been committed to making the experience of the dozens of volunteers needed during the event weekend a positive one. She helps organize volunteer orientation sessions, motivates participants and answers innumerable questions.
I think of Linda as the keeper of the flame; someone who has provided leadership throughout the 11 incredibly successful years of Doors Open Ottawa. A weekend event that now attracts over 100 buildings and more than 50,000 visitors a year.
It is without hesitation that I support the nomination of Linda Russell for this important award.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Quinn
Director of Communication, Heritage Canada Foundation
Volunteer member of Doors Open Ottawa Advisory Council