Report to: Development Services Committee                             Report Date: February 3, 2009

 

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Heritage Week 2009 Proclamation

                                            February 16 to February 22, 2009

PREPARED BY:               Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning, ext 2080

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the week of February 16-22, 2009 be proclaimed as Heritage Week in the Town of Markham

 

That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution, including the community outreach measures outlined in the report.

 

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Not applicable

 

 

1. Purpose       2. Background         3. Discussion        4. Financial      5. Others (Strategic, Affected Units)       6. Attachment(s)

 

 

PURPOSE:

To recommend that Council proclaim the week of February 16 to 22, 2009 as Heritage Week in Markham.  Council permission is also requested for staff to implement steps as outlined in the report.

 

BACKGROUND:

February 16 to 22, 2009 is Ontario Heritage Week, a time during which municipalities across the province are invited by the Ministry of Culture/ Ontario Heritage Trust to join in the celebration of Ontario’s rich and diverse heritage.  Since 1974, the Heritage Canada Foundation has designated the third Monday in February as Canada’s Heritage Day.  Ontario communities have taken up the challenge and chosen to celebrate our heritage for a full week.

 

This year, the Heritage Canada Foundation is celebrating Heritage and the Environment: Saving Places Built to Last. A number of useful resources are now available online to assist in the development of a program around this theme—whether it is to celebrate the inherently green credentials of historic buildings, highlight how they have been upgraded to more environmentally friendly standards, or to offer information on how to “green” heritage buildings.

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

As part of Heritage Week, staff will undertake the following:

 

a)      An educational heritage display will be set up by the Heritage Section in the Great Hall for the period of Heritage Week 2009.  The display table will allow the distribution of heritage related brochures including material from the Heritage Canada Foundation.  This display will not only serve as part of the Town’s participation in the 2009 Heritage Week Celebration, but will also serve as another means of fulfilling, in part, the Commission’s objective of public outreach, information and education. 

 

b)      For the duration of the week, the Prince of Wales Prize Flag will be flown on the Town of Markham Flagpole in commemoration of Heritage Week.   The Prince of Wales Prize flag is an award bestowed by the Heritage Canada Foundation and was presented to the Town by his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.  In 2000, the Town of Markham was the first ever recipient of the Prince of Wales Prize, for outstanding stewardship of the built heritage by the municipality.  The flag to be flown is a duplicate of the original flag, presented to the Mayor and Council.

 

Heritage Markham has confirmed its support for the above actions.

 

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE

Not applicable

 

 

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

The protection of cultural heritage resources helps achieve a quality community by ensuring the Town of Markham’s historical resources remain part of the fabric of the Town, strengthening the sense of community.

 

 

DEPARTMENTS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Not applicable.

 

RECOMMENDED BY:  

 

 

 

 

 

Biju Karumanchery, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Senior Development Manager

 

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Commissioner of Development Services

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

 

Appendix ‘A’             Heritage Day 2009 - Information from Heritage Canada

 

 

 

Q:\Development\Heritage\SUBJECT\Heritage Week\2009\DSC report Feb 3 2009.doc