REPORT TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
FROM:	Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services
	Valerie Shuttleworth, Director, Planning & Urban Design
PREPARED BY:	Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning
DATE OF MEETING:	February 7, 2006
SUBJECT:	Heritage Week 2006 February 19-25, 2006

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the week of February 19-25, 2006 be proclaimed as Heritage Week in the Town of Markham;

And that the Heritage Section set up an educational heritage display in the Great Hall of the Civic Centre during Heritage Week to promote Markham’s built heritage programs;

And that the Prince of Wales Prize Flag be authorized to be raised on the Town of Markham Civic Centre Flagpole for the duration of Ontario Heritage Week.

PURPOSE:

To recommend that Council proclaim the week of February 19 to 25, 2006 as Heritage Week in Markham. Council permission is also requested to permit the Heritage Section to erect a heritage display in the Great Hall and to permit the Prince of Wales Prize Flag to be raised at the Town of Markham Civic Centre Flag Pole for the duration of the week in commemoration of Heritage Week.

BACKGROUND:

February 19 to 25, 2006 is Ontario Heritage Week, a time during which municipalities across the province are invited by the Ministry of Culture 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’s theme is “Our Cultural Heritage Places” (see Appendix ‘A’). The Heritage Canada Foundation has produced a poster and copies will be available, free of charge, from the Town.

DISCUSSION:

It is recommended that an educational heritage display be set up by the Heritage Section in the Great Hall for the period of Heritage Week. The display booth would allow the distribution of heritage related brochures including the material from the Heritage Canada Foundation. This display would not only serve as part of the Town’s participation in the 2006 Heritage Week Celebration, but would also serve as another means of fulfilling, in part, the Commission’s objective of public outreach, information and education.

In addition it is recommended that for the duration of the week, that Council authorize the flying of the Prince of Wales Prize Flag 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, which was presented to the Mayor.

Heritage Markham, Council’s advisory committee on heritage matters is also organizing a “Heritage Night of Skating” at Cedarena in February similar to the event held in 2004. This event will be open to the public, free of charge. In addition, Heritage Markham will be holding a Designation Plaque Ceremony at the Council Meeting on February 28^th.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

No financial implications are to be considered in this report

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

None

ATTACHMENTS

Appendix A Heritage Canada – Heritage Day Page

Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Director of Planning & Urban Design

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Commissioner of Development Services

Report File Path: Q:\Development\Heritage\SUBJECT\Heritage Week\2006\DSC Feb 7 2006.doc