TORONTO - It's time again to celebrate Ontario's heritage leaders! The Ontario Heritage Foundation, through its annual Heritage Community Recognition Program, is seeking nominations of individuals and small project groups who have made significant contributions to local heritage in their communities.

Municipal councils, regional councils, First Nations councils and Métis community councils can acknowledge individuals and small project groups for significant voluntary contributions to cultural, natural or built heritage preservation or heritage garden conservation. The councils work in conjunction with local community and heritage organizations to identify candidates for recognition. Examples of voluntary activities eligible for recognition include:

• hands-on work restoring or maintaining a heritage structure (building, bridge, etc.)
• fundraising efforts to support the restoration of a historical building
• researching heritage gardens, buildings, social history or natural heritage resources
• volunteer participation in activities that preserve, protect or promote First Nations, Métis or Franco-Ontarian heritage

"It is important for us to celebrate the significant volunteer heritage work being done in communities across the province," said Foundation Chairman Allan Gotlieb. "The commitment of the volunteers and the endorsement by local communities of their work demonstrates the importance of heritage preservation."

Since the program was introduced in 1996, over 1,300 Ontarians have been honoured for their local heritage preservation activities.

The 2003 guidelines are available at online. (Nominations must be endorsed by the local council and signed by the Chair, Mayor, Reeve, Warden, Chief or Council President.) The deadline for nominations is September 30, 2003.

The Heritage Community Recognition Program complements the Foundation's successful Young Heritage Leaders, a program that annually recognizes young volunteers under 18 for heritage conservation efforts.

The Ontario Heritage Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario, dedicated to preserving, protecting and promoting Ontario's heritage for all of us to enjoy now and for others to experience in the future.

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Contact:
Shannon McFadyen
Telephone: 416-325-5032
E-mail: shannon.mcfadyen@heritagefdn.on.ca