Heritage Platforms for 2022 Elections

This is a topic that is very important not just to me but to everyone who lives in not just our community, but our country as a whole. Given the recent revelations of the residential school tragedies and the creation of Truth and Reconciliation Day last year, people have taken it upon themselves to condemn important people who are a part of our city’s and our country’s heritage and desecrate and destroy things associated with them without considering that the actions of these people that they despise led to not just the creation of our cities, but Canada as a whole and that if not for them, many of us who are alive now, would not even exist because our families, ancestors and new immigrants would not have come here. While it is important that those who were affected by the residential school tragedies do learn the truth of what happened to their families, true reconciliation will not be possible if the people who are alive now are incapable or unwilling to acknowledge their existence and the circumstances behind it. As such if elected, one of the most important things that I want to accomplish in the short term is having monuments, such as the Queen Victoria statue in Victoria Park be designated as a heritage site. These monuments are necessary to acknowledge these people that created a nation that our families, ancestors and new immigrants to believe in and that if the recent revelations were truly a deal breaker, no one would come here. It is clearly obvious that the world has forgiven Canada, but now it is up to Canadians to do the same and protecting these monuments as heritage structures must be done.

So I would certainly say yes to all of your questions and it is my hope that we can undo the cycle of self-hatred that we have placed upon ourselves because we can accomplish nothing to protect and preserve our heritage if we do not forgive ourselves.

Alex Shevchenko

Brooklin Wallis

• Support for Municipal Heritage Committees
• With the passage of the Ontario Heritage Act in 1975, the responsibility for the conservation of our cultural heritage resources was given to municipalities. One of the key tools provided by the Act is the power to pass bylaws to formally designate properties for architectural, historical or contextual reasons. Changes to the Act in 2005 meant that many earlier bylaws were not written in such a way as to meet the development pressures heritage properties are under today.
• Would you encourage Council to provide your Municipal Heritage Committee with the support and resources it needs to update these older designation bylaws, where required?

I don’t support updating outdated laws for the sake of updating them, but I’m sure there are things in those old bylaws that are important. I wouldn’t want to blindly bring back a bunch of bylaws from 17 years ago, but I’d love to go through the bylaws in question to find what still has value and bring them back into effect.

• Those changes to the Ontario Heritage Act in 2005 allowed municipalities to List non-designated properties on the Municipal Heritage Register, previously just a record of designated properties. While these properties may be good candidates for future designation, listing provides limited protection to a property – a listed property owner must provide Council with 60 days’ notice of their intention to demolish the heritage building, rather than the Building Code Act’s 10 to 30 days’ notice. This provides municipal councils with time to make an informed decision. Would you encourage Council to support your Municipal Heritage Committee’s requests for listing non-designated properties on the Municipal Heritage Register?

I trust our heritage committee to make recommendations based on historical value, and not for political reasons, or to actively stop a building proposal for reasons unrelated to heritage. Not only that, but 30 extras days to consider wouldn’t block buildings that need to be built, it would only make sure we’re considering everything. Absolutely I’d support the Heritage committee’s requests for this.

• 2. Financial Incentives for Heritage Conservation
• Rehabilitation of our heritage resources enhances the unique character of local streets and neighbourhoods, attracting business, creative enterprise and tourism to our communities. The monies spent on this rehabilitation is usually spent locally, e.g., the repair of old windows by a local craftsperson rather than the purchase of new windows made elsewhere. Some local municipalities have a grant program to provide funds to designated heritage properties, e.g., repointing, repair of original windows, replication of front porch elements, reconstruction of a chimney, structural repairs, etc. Would you encourage Council to ensure your Municipality has a heritage property grant program, or, if it already has one, to ensure that the grant levels are adequate

Our current grant program appears to cover up to 50% of an eligible project, from $500-$3000. I think that a flat percentage-system leaves a lot of gaps, and that it needs to take the property owner’s income into account more. I would advocate to alter our program so that poorer heritage property owners would be able to have a larger portion of the repairs covered. Otherwise, heritage becomes exclusionary, only letting richer owners have “nice” heritage homes.

• The Ontario Heritage Act allows municipalities to set up a heritage property tax refund program, under which owners of designated property may apply for an annual refund of up to 40% of their property taxes for municipal and school purposes. Would you encourage Council to ensure your Municipality has a heritage property tax refund program and that the funding levels are adequate?

I looked up why this tax rebate even exists; at first, I thought “why should their property taxes be less, just because they own a heritage property?” After researching, I can see why! A promise to keep the building authentic in exchange for lower property tax rates seems great. It doesn’t seem to have a gigantic budget, but it also doesn’t seem to need one, as the city budget only forecasts it going from $5,000/year to $7,000/year in the next ten years. As long as we aren’t denying applicants that have perfectly good applications, the budget seems adequate.

• 3. Modern Tools to Conserve our Built Heritage
• Protection and financial incentives are important tools municipalities can use to support the conservation of our built heritage resources. And new tools are being developed or used in new ways, such as the recognition in official plans of cultural heritage landscapes, the use of holding provisions in zoning bylaws to ensure certain conditions are met before development approval is given, and the serious consideration of the recommendations of heritage impact assessments. Would you encourage Council to ensure your Municipality is using all the tools at its disposal to support the conservation of our built heritage resources?

Of course! Why not use tools when they are available?!

• 4. Heritage as an Environmental Priority for Municipally-Owned Buildings
• The wise management of our existing public building stock has compelling societal and environmental benefits. Building renewal and re-use capitalizes on materials and energy already invested, reduces construction and demolition waste (20-30 percent of landfill is building waste) and builds resilience to climate change. Would you encourage your Council to give priority to the continuing use or adaptive re-use of existing buildings (identified as heritage or not) in their facility and capital planning; and where buildings are determined to be surplus to needs, use best efforts to dispose of the building/facility to other public or private sector owners for re-use or sensitive redevelopment?

The greenest building is the one that’s already there. The climate crisis is real and important and we need to be adapting to the needs of the planet whenever we can, even if it’s sometimes expensive.  A resounding “Yes!” to this question.

Debbie Chapman

1. Support for Municipal Heritage Committees 

With the passage of the Ontario Heritage Act in 1975, the responsibility for the conservation of our cultural heritage resources was given to municipalities. One of the key tools provided by the Act is the power to pass bylaws to formally designate properties for architectural, historical or contextual reasons. Changes to the Act in 2005 meant that many earlier bylaws were not written in such a way as to meet the development pressures heritage properties are under today. 

Would you encourage Council to provide your Municipal Heritage Committee with the support and resources it needs to update these older designation bylaws, where required? 

Yes, I would encourage council to provide the necessary support and resources to update the older designation bylaws. The value of heritage properties often gets ignored when a developer has their sights on listed properties. Recent examples include Mill St and Queen St N.

Those changes to the Ontario Heritage Act in 2005 allowed municipalities to List non- designated properties on the Municipal Heritage Register, previously just a record of designated properties. While these properties may be good candidates for future designation, listing provides limited protection to a property – a listed property owner must provide Council with 60 days’ notice of their intention to demolish the heritage building, rather than the Building Code Act’s 10 to 30 days’ notice. This provides municipal councils with time to make an informed decision. 

Would you encourage Council to support your Municipal Heritage Committee’s requests for listing non-designated properties on the Municipal Heritage Register?

I sit on Heritage Kitchener and on a sub-committee where we have been going through the listed properties that are not designated but that have heritage attributes. For each property we examine, we rank them based on the owner and the attributes. Once completed, we will be sharing the results with staff and HK to discuss the viability of designation in each case. It has been a tedious, yet useful process. It would be much quicker if more resources and support were provided to realize this process.

2. Financial Incentives for Heritage Conservation 

Rehabilitation of our heritage resources enhances the unique character of local streets and neighbourhoods, attracting business, creative enterprise and tourism to our communities. The monies spent on this rehabilitation is usually spent locally, e.g., the repair of old windows by a local craftsperson rather than the purchase of new windows made elsewhere. Some local municipalities have a grant program to provide funds to designated heritage properties, e.g., repointing, repair of original windows, replication of front porch elements, reconstruction of a chimney, structural repairs, etc. Would you encourage Council to ensure your Municipality has a heritage property grant program, or, if it already has one, to ensure that the grant levels are adequate?

I would encourage and support heritage property grant programs. The preservation of heritage buildings provides recognition of part of our historical past. It serves as a tourist draw. Most heritage buildings provide a true human scale with setbacks and materials that we have lost in our newer buildings. The grant should be much higher than the current maximum $3,000 as heritage preservation jobs are very expensive. If we want meaningful preservation we need to have a meaningful grant program.

The Ontario Heritage Act allows municipalities to set up a heritage property tax refund program, under which owners of designated property may apply for an annual refund of up to 40% of their property taxes for municipal and school purposes. Would you encourage Council to ensure your Municipality has a heritage property tax refund program and that the funding levels are adequate? 

Kitchener has a heritage property tax refund program of up to 40% rebate. Details about the grant are not available on the city website. I would have to do more research to learn if and under what circumstances this refund has been granted.

3. Modern Tools to Conserving our Built Heritage 

Protection and financial incentives are important tools municipalities can use to support the conservation of our built heritage resources. And new tools are being developed or used in new ways, such as the recognition in official plans of cultural heritage landscapes, the use of holding provisions in zoning bylaws to ensure certain conditions are met before development approval is given, and the serious consideration of the recommendations of heritage impact assessments. Would you encourage Council to ensure your Municipality is using all the tools at its disposal to support the conservation of our built heritage resources? 

Yes.

4. Heritage as an Environmental Priority for Municipally-Owned Buildings 

The wise management of our existing public building stock has compelling societal and environmental benefits. Building renewal and re-use capitalizes on materials and energy already invested, reduces construction and demolition waste (20-30 percent of landfill is building waste) and builds resilience to climate change. Would you encourage your Council to give priority to the continuing use or adaptive re-use of existing buildings (identified as heritage or not) in their facility and capital planning; and where buildings are determined to be surplus to needs, use best efforts to dispose of the building/facility to other public or private sector owners for re-use or sensitive redevelopment? 

Yes.

In addition, please consider these additional questions: 

What are some examples of your heritage engagement thus far, and if elected, what are the first few local heritage issues you would like to address? 

I have sat on Heritage Kitchener for the past four years. Prior to being elected I advocated the preservation of two houses at 246-262 Queen St. S along with other concerned residents. At a recent Heritage Kitchener meeting the idea of decolonizing heritage was raised. I would like to see this discussed further and relevant changes made to the composition of the committee and the way heritage is examined. I refer to other heritage issues in answer to the last question.

Have you had any experience working with/for your local Heritage Community? If so, explain. 

I pushed against facadism and for the preservation of 16-20 Queen St. N.  I supported the rejection of the 22 Weber St HIA and have sought clarification on other heritage concerns that have arisen during my tenure on Heritage Kitchener.

Tell us about a successful heritage project in your community.
What opportunities exist to better support heritage in your local community? 

Arrow Lofts, the Victoria School and the Kaufman Lofts are great examples of heritage preservation. I would like to continue working on the listed properties and start approaching property owners to determine their willingness to designate their properties. I feel we need to be ahead of the game rather than waiting until a new development proposal comes along and then scramble to try to save the dwindling heritage stock in the city.

Waterloo

Ward 1

Rob Parent

I admire and support your goal in preserving our architectural heritage goals in Region of Waterloo. By coincidence one of my concerns as was expressed earlier in an on line media response was the loss or compromise of our heritage / history due to the rapid increase of high rise condos in residential and business neighbourhoods to make way for increased urban density. Surely, historical facades can be preserved and incorporated into the design of new buildings.
As for your questionnaire, I have not personally been involved in the advocation of historical preservation of buildings. However, from a distance and in passing I am pleased that others like your organization , have been. Having said that, upon my being elected in Ward 1 Waterloo, I would support your goals and would be pleased to assist and advocate on your behalf.

Sandra Hamner

Thank you for the opportunity to provide thoughts on the heritage platform for Waterloo Region and specifically the City of Waterloo.

I believe it is important for us to encourage and re-use structures, districts and landscapes of architectural, cultural and historical significance. Education and advocacy are key initiatives to help with these initiatives.

I also believe that we need to re-examine our older designation bylaws so that they are assisting us to meet current and future needs in recognizing our past.

I welcome the opportunity to learn more from the ACO North Waterloo Region Branch on ways that we can work together to recognize and preserve the architectural, historical and cultural of our community.

Ward 3

Madeline Steiss

My family has a long history within the Region of Waterloo. A member of my lineage was inducted into the 2022 Waterloo Regional Hall of Fame, Adam Steiss Jr. He began the famous limburger cheese factory in Heidelberg in 1878. The house he lived in is still there to this day. Heritage buildings are very important to my family and I; they give us an insight to the early days of our region and represent historical and cultural significance for families like mine with a long lineage of living in Waterloo Region.

If elected, I want to encourage the preservation of heritage buildings. I will ensure that myself and other members of council are informed and request adequate information in order to make decisions about heritage buildings. It is important to ensure the upkeep of heritage properties. I support using tools such as the heritage property tax refund program, heritage property grant programs, and encouraging bylaws that support the conservation of heritage buildings. I hope that we are always able to live among the beautiful heritage properties that represent my, and all families who have lived in Waterloo Region before us.

Ward 4

Karen Fischer

Wellesley

Wilmot

Mayor

Jenn Pfenning

Heritage can be a complex term for a community. It should be used to express the full depth and breadth of history to the extent that is possible including integration of pre-colonial history and heritage. Working to bring this about is an opportunity for meaningful action on Truth and Reconciliation. It is also an opportunity to better reflect the diverse aspects of our community with empathy and respect.

1. Support for Municipal Heritage Committees
   1. Municipal Heritage Committees should be appropriately connected within the municipality to ensure their work receives the resources and support required to protect relevant buildings, spaces, and features in our communities. Bylaws should be kept up to date with the Ontario Heritage Act to ensure the work can be effective.
   2. The Wilmot Heritage Non-Designated property list is well populated and I have been proud to be part of the work of maintaining it over my term as Councillor serving on the Heritage Wilmot Advisory Committee.
2. Financial Incentives for Heritage Conservation
   1. In order to preserve heritage properties it is important to have tools to support the property owners’ ability to maintain and preserve them. I support exploring what options are available, and what could fit our needs and means in Wilmot, and in the Region.
   2. A heritage property tax refund program is an option I would consider supporting.
3. Modern Tools to Conserve our Built Heritage
   1. When our community has determined that a feature or landscape is important to preserve, we should use whatever tools are available to protect it. Preserving representative pieces of the day and the near past ensures we will have them around to become the old buildings of tomorrow.
4. Heritage as an Environmental Priority for Municipally-Owned Buildings
   1. Reduce, reuse, and finally recycle are concepts that don’t just apply to consumer goods. Buildings that exist should be viewed with the same lens. Wherever possible, municipal assets should be refurbished and repurposed rather than demolished. The decision-making process should include both heritage value and environmental impacts.

In the current term of Council, I have enjoyed being part of the Heritage Wilmot Advisory Committee. I have supported the work of the committee by working to document identified assets in our heritage registers as well as potential sites. I have also engaged in discussions with property owners to encourage their support of designation as well as inclusion on the non-designated register.

By preserving the heritage buildings, streetscapes, and landscapes in our communities, we preserve history and provide context that helps us orient ourselves to know where we have been and where we are going.

Ward 4

Steve Martin

I believe that preserving our buildings whenever possible is important.  I think that we have an opportunity through the Heritage Committees to work with owners of old buildings so that we can help to preserve and conserve instead of tearing down and rebuilding.  The carbon footprint can be lessened as we work on preserving our older buildings.  I live in a house that is 122 years old, and have been doing my best to repair any deterioration to the house and to maintain it with its original design.  I have been insulating and improving the heat efficiency whenever possible.  I purchased wooden floor boards from an old building that was torn down when I was renovating some rooms in my house.

Woolwich

Mayor

 

 

 

 

Patrick Merlihan

1. Support for Municipal Heritage Committees.

Yes. I am currently co-chair of the Woolwich Heritage Committee.

I support the request to list non-designated properties on the Municipal Heritage Register.

2. Financial Incentives for Heritage Conservation.

Woolwich Township does not have the resources to commit money to rehabilitate private heritage properties. If there was an up-level government grant, I would support facilitating that funding to assist those who would rehab designated properties. We are currently using debentures to rehab a heritage bridge and there are many other infrastructure projects that are unfunded.

A would certainly consider a heritage tax refund for heritage properties. I’m not sure within our community if that would encourage properties to rehab heritage sites. Would be worth investigating further to weigh impact versus reward.

3. Modern Tools to Conserving Built Heritage.

Yes. I would encourage Council, through our Heritage Committee, to modernize how we protect heritage structures.

4. Heritage as an environmental priority for municipally-owned buildings.

Yes. Re-use of existing buildings is always a first-priority.

5. Examples of heritage engagement.

I am the co-chair of the Woolwich Heritage Committee since 2020. I have been active in recruiting members for the committee and have helped get projects back on track.

As a member of Council, I successfully advocated to the rest of Council to rehabilitate the heritage Peel St Bridge to a pedestrian crossing.

Examples of working with Heritage Community.

Chair of Woolwich Heritage Committee.

Successful Heritage Project:

A number of heritage designations, a ghost community sign project that will depend on Council budget to purchase signs. Committee is working on developing a car and walking heritage tours and working with economic development officer to promote initiatives.

What opportunities exist to better support heritage.

Funding for small municipalities to rehabilitate heritage structures needs to happen. Heritage is for everyone, and municipalities should get assistance to help preserve – there are so many unfunded infrastructure projects that low-use heritage projects are not prioritized.

More tools, resources and know-how to properly set up committees for success. Networking opportunities between municipalities would be a great resource as well.

Ward 1

Cheryle Baker

Ward 3

Regional Councillor

Region of Waterloo Chair