TORONTO – The Ontario Heritage Trust – through the Young Heritage Leaders 2005 program – is seeking nominations of youth under 18 who have made valuable contributions to local heritage preservation in their communities. The deadline for nominations is March 10, 2006.

Through the Young Heritage Leaders program, municipal councils, regional councils, First Nation councils, Métis community councils and schools can acknowledge local youth for significant voluntary contributions to cultural, natural or built heritage preservation.

The councils and schools work in conjunction with local education, youth and heritage groups to determine candidates for recognition. The Trust encourages these groups to contact their local council or school with proposed nominations. Examples of voluntary activities eligible for recognition include:

• fundraising or research efforts to support the restoration of a heritage building
• volunteer service at a museum, historical site, conservation area or parkland
• developing exhibits, websites or publications about local history
• participating in historical re-enactments
• volunteer participation in activities or events that protect, preserve or promote First Nations, Métis or Franco-Ontarian heritage

This year, the Ontario Heritage Trust and the program sponsors – Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life – will award a $2,000 scholarship to the young person whose leadership in preserving, protecting and promoting heritage is deemed to be the most exceptional. The scholarship will be held in trust and will be paid to the recipient's post-secondary education institution of choice upon enrolment.

"Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life are pleased to support the Ontario Heritage Trust's Young Heritage Leaders recognition program," said Jan Belanger, Assistant Vice-President, Community Affairs, for Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life. "It is important for us to recognize the exceptional young leaders of tomorrow."

The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, Chairman of the Ontario Heritage Trust, said, "Young people play an important role in preserving and protecting local heritage. It is incumbent on us to recognize the personal sacrifice of time and effort these Young Heritage Leaders have made."

Since the program was introduced in 2000, over 2,600 young people have been honoured for their local heritage preservation activities. Visit www.heritagefdn.on.ca to view the program guidelines. Nominations must be submitted by a local council or school and endorsed by the Chair, Mayor, Reeve, Warden, Chief, council President or Principal.

The Ontario Heritage Trust 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.

Contact:

Alan Wojcik, Manager, Marketing and Communications
Telephone: 416-325-5013
E-mail: alan.wojcik@heritagefdn.on.ca