Places of Worship are under ongoing threat for demolition and badly need a strategy for protection.
The Ontario Heritage Trust has begun a major inventory of Ontario’s Places of Worship of 25 years and older. In addition the Ministry of Tourism and Culture is consulting on a draft guide for the conservation and protection of heritage places of worship in Ontario.
The proposed guide will provide information on the heritage conservation process in Ontario and the specific considerations that arise when heritage places of worship are involved. This includes decisions under the Ontario Heritage Act related to listing, designation, alteration, removal and demolition. When finalized, the guide will be a supplement to the Ontario Heritage Toolkit.
The draft guide was posted for public comment on the Environmental Registry at:
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTEzMzAw&statusId=MTY5ODMy on Friday, May 20, 2011, for 30 days.
You are encouraged to visit the Environmental Registry to review the document and provide your comments to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
The Ministry of Tourism and Culture acknowledges, with thanks, the work of the Ontario Heritage Trust with the Religious Heritage Properties Working Group in the development of the guide.