Municipality :
Community : Bradford West Gwillimbury
Lot :
Concession :
Description : Both Innisfil and Bradford West Gwillimbury are experiencing rapid development, with all of the "growing pains" associated with a transition from small, rural communities to urban centres. Increasingly, there have been conflicts over the preservation of built heritage. In both municipalities, century-old farmhouses have been demolished, despite the efforts of local historical societies and residents - raising questions about the role of the local Heritage Committee and Council,in preserving the past. MPP for York Simcoe, Julia Munro organized a panel discussion on the issue, November 12 at the Queensville
Community Centre, with an expert panel that included Catherine Nasmith, of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario. The Architectural Conserancy also provides grants to homeowners, to encourage the maintenance and preservation of heritage buildings, and has played a role in restoring a number of significant structures. Elaine Robertson urged municipalities to be proactive, in preserving heritage - but also realistic. If it's going to cost $150,000 to restore a building, "who's going to pay for that?... Who's going to pay for moving it? Who's going to restore it on its new site? Who's going to use it?... We have to be realistic as to what we can save, and what we can't save." Robertson outlined the steps for a Heritage Committee: carry out an inventory of buildings, then establish a Registry - listing on the Registry provides a 60-day grace period for any home that might be threatened by demolition - and finally, designation.
