TORONTO – The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, former Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, has been appointed Chairman of the Ontario Heritage Foundation - the province's lead heritage agency. Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Culture, announced the appointment.

"I am honoured to lead the Ontario Heritage Foundation in its important work to identify, preserve, protect and promote Ontario's rich and varied heritage," said Mr. Alexander. "For almost four decades, the Foundation has celebrated the people, places and events that have influenced and that continue to shape our province's unique culture."

Mr. Alexander served as Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario from 1985 to 1991. He was a Member of Parliament from 1968 to 1980. He served as federal Minister of Labour in 1979. A Companion of the Order of Canada and a recipient of the Order of Ontario, Mr. Alexander has served on numerous public service boards. He has served as Chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and on the Ontario Press Council. He is currently the Chancellor of the University of Guelph. Mr. Alexander was appointed to the Ontario Heritage Foundation Board of Directors in December 2001.

The Ontario Heritage Foundation is a not-for-profit agency of the Government of Ontario. The Foundation:

• promotes the importance of heritage conservation
• preserves and protects significant heritage sites
• upholds and advocates the highest standards of conservation
• demonstrates the adaptive reuse of heritage properties
• commemorates important heritage sites and events with plaques throughout the province
• celebrates community heritage through the province-wide Doors Open Ontario touring adventure, as well as through the annual Heritage Community Recognition Program and Young Heritage Leaders program
• encourages young people to get involved in heritage activities
• raises revenue to support heritage activities

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Contact:
Shannon McFadyen, Coordinator, Media Relations and Marketing
Telephone: 416-325-5032
E-mail: shannon.mcfadyen@heritagefdn.on.ca