Heritage is everything we have inherited, that we value and wish to preserve for future generations. It is a living legacy that helps us to understand our past, provides context for the present and influences the future.

The Ontario Heritage Act, amended in 2005, has strengthened our ability to identify, preserve, protect and promote Ontario's heritage for the benefit of present and future generations. Beyond our new name (we were previously known as the Ontario Heritage Foundation), we now have an enhanced role in natural heritage conservation and also advise the Minister of Culture on heritage designations of provincially significant properties – an important new power that will help preserve Ontario's built and cultural heritage.

As our programming continues to expand, the Trust will grow and adapt to meet evolving conservation issues and challenges.

As a result of the 2005 amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act, the Trust wished to update its visual identity to reflect the breadth of its mandate. The old logo, a blue and gold provincial plaque, depicted the agency's oldest and most recognized symbol and program activity. The new logo captures the Trust's extensive mandate through four graphic components:

• a provincial plaque, lending an element of continuity from the previous logo, showcases the agency's best-known program and speaks to the Trust's commemoration and celebration of important people, places and events in Ontario's history
• a stylized eastern white pine – the provincial tree – highlights the Trust's expanded natural heritage mandate
• an iconic column represents the Trust's directive to identify, preserve, protect and promote the province's built and cultural heritage
• a stylized provincial trillium speaks to the Trust's role as the province's heritage trustee, holding property on behalf of the Crown for the people of Ontario

The new logo was officially unveiled by the Trust at the Heritage Day celebration held at Toronto's Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre on February 20, 2006.

The Trust's headquarters are located in downtown Toronto at 10 Adelaide Street East.  More contact details …

The Trust holds 24 built heritage sites for the people of Ontario – from a restored 19th-century pharmacy to an Edwardian mansion … from an early fur-trading post to the world's last operating double-decker theatre … from a former slave's and leading abolitionist's house to the former home of a Father of Confederation. Eleven of these properties have also been designated as National Historic Sites.

Properties such as Fulford Place in Brockville, the Niagara Apothecary in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site in Dresden and Macdonell-Williamson House in East Hawkesbury attract thousands of visitors each year. Some sites serve as museums, reception venues, offices and film locations, used and enjoyed by the people of Ontario and visitors to the province.

The Trust also manages a portfolio of more than 140 natural heritage properties, including over 100 properties that are part of the Bruce Trail.

Protected land includes the habitats of endangered species, rare Carolinian forests, wetlands, sensitive features of the Oak Ridges Moraine, nature reserves on the Canadian Shield and properties on the spectacular Niagara Escarpment.

Dr. Thomas H.B. Symons is the Chairman of the Ontario Heritage Trust. See who else is on the Board of Directors …

Heritage preservation has always been driven by the commitment of volunteers. Many of the Trust's built properties are operated in partnership with local municipalities and community heritage groups. Working with these partners, the Trust ensures that these heritage sites will remain an important part of the lives of future generations. If you would like to join our volunteer efforts to help preserve Ontario's heritage, please contact us.

Yes, we have many free publications that can be mailed to you – including our informative magazine, Heritage Matters. Subscribe to this free magazine today …