The Ontario Heritage Trust's 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.

In 2007, a nomination category for the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement was added to the program to recognize volunteers for contributions to heritage conservation over a period of 25 years or more. Fifty-two individuals have received the award.

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.

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

Nominations must 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 Trust encourages community and heritage organizations to contact their local council with proposed nominations.

Endorsed nominations must be submitted using the program nomination form. Online submissions, supported by a mailed, faxed or scanned copy of the signed nomination form, are preferred.

A detailed description of the nominee and their achievements must be included. Supporting material (publications, media stories, photographs, letters of reference) should be provided. Photographs of the candidates with their projects or participating in the activity for which they are being nominated are helpful. Please do not send originals of important or official documents, as they will not be returned.

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.

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.

The nomination form is available in PDF format. Online submissions, supported by a mailed, faxed or scanned copy of the signed nomination form, are preferred.

Please send completed forms and supporting material to:

Heritage Community Recognition Program
Ontario Heritage Trust
10 Adelaide Street East
Toronto, Ontario
M5C 1J3

Additional information may be obtained by contacting the Ontario Heritage Trust at:

Telephone: 416-314-4907
Fax: 416-325-5071
E-mail: reception@heritagetrust.on.ca