Heritage  

Waterloo Region has a rich and diverse heritage, including distinctive cultures, traditions, natural features and archeological resources. Our festivals, artisans, landmarks and structures help define our community. Preserving the heritage of Waterloo Region is an important means of confirming a regional identity, enhancing our quality of life, supporting social development and promoting economic prosperity.

There are many ways to learn more about our heritage:

• Visit the Region's museums and heritage sites, including historic bridges throughout the region
• Join in events that support our shared history, such as Doors Open Waterloo Region or take the Historic Driving Tour
• Participate in the Heritage Planning Advisory Committee

The Region of Waterloo's responsibility to conserve our cultural heritage is shared with the Federal and Provincial governments. Area municipalities, other government agencies, the private sector, property owners and the community as a whole also play an important role.

Cultural Heritage Landscape Conservation

The Region of Waterloo is developing an Implementation Guideline for Cultural Heritage Landscape Conservation. A Cultural Heritage Landscape (CHL) is defined in the Provincial Policy Statement (2005) as a geographical area of heritage significance which has been modified by human activities and is valued by a community. It involves a grouping of individual heritage features such as structures, spaces, archaeological sites and natural elements, which together form a significant type of heritage form, distinctive from that of its constituent elements or parts. Examples may include, but are not limited to Heritage Conservation Districts, villages, parks, gardens, battlefields, main streets and neighbourhoods, cemeteries, trailways and industrial complexes of cultural heritage value.

A Public Meeting is being held on April 9, 2013 in order to receive comments from agencies, organizations, and interested members of the public on the second draft of the proposed Implementation Guideline for Cultural Heritage Landscape Conservation. No decision will be made by Council at the Public Meeting. Comments received during the current circulation period or at the Public Meeting will be addressed in the final draft to be submitted to Council for consideration at a later date. For more information, contact Kate Hagerman, Cultural Heritage Specialist at khagerman@regionofwaterloo.ca.

West Montrose Covered Bridge    

A Public Information Centre (PIC) for the West Montrose Covered Bridge was held Feb. 2013 to present information and gather community input on the various options and cost implications of limiting access, increasing load restrictions, improving fire protection and ongoing maintenance for the bridge.

Please feel free to review the public meeting package below and submit your comments using the links below.

• Public Meeting Package

You can also submit your comments by mail or email to:
Tom Reitz
Waterloo Region Museum
10 Huron Road
Kitchener, ON N2P 2R7
TReitz@regionofwaterloo.ca

For more detailed information visit the West Montrose Covered Bridge information page.

Heritage Impact Assessment Workshop

A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is a study that determines how cultural heritage resources will be impacted by a proposed development or infrastructure project and how the cultural heritage resource will be conserved. 
 

In November 2012, the Region of Waterloo, in partnership with local Area Municipalities, hosted a workshop on HIAs. To review the materials presented at the HIA workshop please click on the links below:

HIA Overview (Thomas Wicks, Ontario Heritage Trust).                                                HIA requirements for the Cities of Kitchener, Cambridge and Waterloo and the Region of Waterloo.
Summary Notes from the Panel Discussion.