Heritage is a living legacy, a legacy which helps us understand the past, gives meaning to the present and influences the future. And the Ontario Heritage Trust plays a unique role for heritage in the province. The Trust is the only legislated heritage organization responsible for the identification, protection, renewal and promotion of all types of Ontario's heritage – built, cultural and natural. It is the Government of Ontario's trustee for properties of provincial heritage interest.

For four decades, the Ontario Heritage Trust has been on the front lines of heritage conservation. Working with various partners and individuals throughout the province, the Trust remains the centre of excellence for the delivery of services to the government and communities of Ontario for the sustainability and availability of its built, cultural and natural heritage. We are committed to celebrating the people, places and events that have influenced our past and that continue to shape our culture.

As the province's lead heritage agency, we have been entrusted with keeping Ontario's heritage alive and meaningful. The Trust gives Ontario's heritage relevance. The Trust:

• promotes the importance of heritage conservation
• preserves and protects provincially significant built, cultural and natural heritage sites
• upholds and advocates the highest standards of conservation
• demonstrates the adaptive reuse of heritage properties
• advises the Minister of Culture on designation of provincially significant properties throughout Ontario
• commemorates important heritage sites, events and people with plaques throughout the province
• celebrates community heritage
• encourages young people to get involved in heritage activities
• raises revenue to support heritage activities

Together with our many dedicated partners across the province, we celebrate and protect Ontario's heritage.

The Trust demonstrates its commitment to increasing the public's awareness of the importance of heritage conservation in a number of ways. We do this by:

• providing public access to many of our properties
• recognizing individuals through our annual Heritage Community Recognition Program
• featuring our programs and activities through our magazine Heritage Matters
• hosting special events like plaque unveilings and open houses
• recognizing youth through our annual Young Heritage Leaders program
• sharing our expertise through workshops, seminars, conferences and special publications
• advising others on conservation projects
• documenting significant archaeological work in the Annual Archaeological Report, Ontario and the Ontario Archaeological Reports
• celebrating Ontario's Heritage Week the third week of February each year
• discovering Ontario's heritage treasures through the popular province-wide Doors Open Ontario program