Halton Region 1151 Bronte Road
Oakville, Ontario, L6M 3L1
Attention: Regional Chair, Mayors, and Councillors, Halton Region
RE: Halton Region shutting down heritage division, getting rid of 30,000-item historical collection
Dear Gary Carr, Regional Chair, Mayors and Councillors,
The Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods (Ontario) Inc. (FUN) represents many residents’ associations in Ontario’s urban areas. Resident associations in turn are engaged with their municipal governments in land use planning and development, and advocacy regarding policy and priority setting re service provision, and revenues. FUN believes that sustainable urban regions are characterized by environmental balance, fiscal viability, infrastructure investment, and social renewal.
This is to express the strong objection and concern of the Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods (Ontario) regarding the Region of Halton’s recent decision, as reported by the CBC1.
We fundamentally object to the decision to dismantle the Region’s artifact collection, representing both the loss of a coherent regional heritage collection, and potentially the breaking of a public trust commitment to care for an object, which was established when it was accessioned. We also object to the manner in which the decision was made – in closed session without public input. We request that you urgently reconsider the Region’s decision.
Respectfully submitted,
Geoff Kettel, President
cc: Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)
Ontario Historical Society (OHS)
1 Ontario’s Halton Region shutting down heritage division, getting rid of 30,000-item historical collection – CBC.ca, July 27, 2025.