TORONTO – It's time again to celebrate Ontario's heritage champions! 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. The deadline for nominations is October 12, 2004.

For the first time, the Foundation will also be accepting nominations for lifetime achievement in working to identify, preserve, protect or promote the heritage of Ontario.

"Ontario is fortunate to have so many dedicated individuals and groups working to preserve and promote our unique and irreplaceable heritage," said Minister of Culture Madeleine Meilleur. "Their efforts enrich and strengthen our communities, and build pride in our province. I encourage local governments to take this opportunity to ensure that such contributions are recognized and celebrated by us all."

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. The Foundation encourages these groups to contact their local council with proposed nominations.

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 exceptional volunteer work being done in local communities to preserve the heritage of Ontario," said The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, Ontario Heritage Foundation Chairman. "The commitment of heritage volunteers and the endorsement by local councils of their work are essential to maintaining vital, healthy communities."

Since the program was introduced in 1996, over 1,600 Ontarians have been honoured for their local heritage preservation activities. Nominations must be submitted by a local council and endorsed by the Chair, Mayor, Reeve, Warden, Chief or council President. (View the program guidelines.)

The Ontario Heritage Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario, dedicated to identifying, 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:

Lori Theoret, Media Relations and Marketing Coordinator
Telephone: 416-325-5074
E-mail: lori.theoret@heritagefdn.on.ca