TORONTO – Heritage Week 2006 was launched today by the Ontario Heritage Trust (formerly the Ontario Heritage Foundation) at Toronto's magnificent Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre. This year's theme for Heritage Week, Our Cultural Heritage Places, encourages the celebration of our cultural structures – from concert halls, opera houses and theatres to First Nations longhouses, community halls, museums and art galleries across the province.

Participating in today's launch event were The Honourable James K. Bartleman (Ontario's Lieutenant-Governor), The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander (Chairman of the Ontario Heritage Trust), The Honourable Madeleine Meilleur (Ontario Minister of Culture and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs) and Emcee Steve Paikin (Co-Host, Studio 2, TVO).

Since 1974, the Heritage Canada Foundation has designated the third Monday every February as Heritage Day in Canada. In 1985, the Ontario government designated the third week in February as Ontario Heritage Week, with the federal Heritage Day kicking off the week. The Ontario Heritage Trust recently assumed responsibility for the provincial celebration of Heritage Week from the Ministry of Culture.

"Heritage Week is a wonderful opportunity for Ontarians of all backgrounds to come together," said The Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, "to celebrate our remarkable shared heritage."

"Ontario Heritage Week has always been a time to showcase our heritage," said The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, Chairman of the Ontario Heritage Trust. "This year, as we celebrate buildings such as this magnificent theatre, we are reminded of the importance of honouring our cultural heritage."

"Ontario's unique and splendid heritage is cause for great celebration," said The Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Ontario Minister of Culture. "Throughout the province, we see a renewed interest in preservation and conservation. It's clear that heritage helps build stronger communities and improves our quality of life."

Highlights of this year's Ontario Heritage Week launch event included: the singing of "O Canada" by Toronto's St. Michael Catholic School children's choir; remarks by The Honourable James K. Bartleman; an announcement by The Honourable Madeleine Meilleur about Ontario's new heritage toolkit for effective conservation; a presentation about the Historic Places Initiative; a special ceremony showcasing The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre's restored Vaudeville Scarab scenery flats and to honour the donors who made this restoration project possible; and a special performance by Umoja – The Spirit of Togetherness (a music and dance ensemble that captures the vibrant sounds of South Africa).

Last year's passing of the Ontario Heritage Act strengthened regulations to protect Ontario's unique heritage sites, including its mandate to protect natural heritage. In addition, the Ontario Heritage Foundation's name changed to the Ontario Heritage Trust.

"We remain the province's lead heritage agency," added Alexander, "working with a broad range of ministries, stakeholders and partners throughout Ontario to ensure that our shared heritage is preserved and protected. Our new logo captures that spirit."

In addition to the launch event, the Ontario Heritage Trust hosted free guided tours at the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre as well as special lectures and free guided tours at Fulford Place in Brockville. Dozens of other community activities and events throughout Ontario will be celebrated during Heritage Week. Community activities include: a tour of the heritage furniture collection at Waterloo's Doon Heritage Crossroads; an old-fashioned skating party hosted by Ottawa's Bytown Museum; a Heritage Week colouring contest sponsored by the Windsor Heritage Committee; and special exhibits in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Woodstock, Tillsonburg and Almonte. For a complete listing of these exciting events ...

Contact:

Gordon Pim
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Ontario Heritage Trust
Telephone: 416-325-1484
E-mail: gordon.pim@heritagefdn.on.ca