DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE
	TO:	Mayor and Members of Council
	FROM:	Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services Valerie Shuttleworth, Director of Planning & Urban Design
	PREPARED BY:	Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage Planning
	DATE OF MEETING:	2005-Feb-15
	SUBJECT:	Heritage Week 2005

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report entitled “Heritage Week 2005”, dated February 15, 2005, be received as information.

PURPOSE:

Heritage Markham recommended that Council proclaim the week of February 20 to 26th, 2005 as Heritage Week in Markham. On February 8, 2005, Council extracted the Heritage Markham recommendation from Committee’s January minutes and approved the proclamation of Heritage Week 2005. In addition, approval was given 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 Ontario Heritage Week (Appendix “C’). The purpose of this report is to provide further information on Heritage Week activities.

BACKGROUND:

February 20 to 26, 2003 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 Ontario Heritage 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 “Spiritual and Sacred Places”. The Heritage Canada Foundation has produced a poster and published a guide for teachers, youth leaders and heritage groups. Both of these publications 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 2005 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 is currently on display in the Great Hall.

Heritage Markham, Council’s advisory committee on heritage matters is also organizing a “Heritage Night of Skating” at Cedarena on February 17^th similar to the event held in 2004. This event will be open to the public, free of charge. Heritage Markham will be holding its Designation Plaque Ceremony on February 16^th at Heintzman House in Thornhill which will also include a presentation called “Researching Your Heritage Home”. Heritage Markham has also requested that Heritage Section staff forward heritage related information packages to the various school board offices in Markham so that this material can be forwarded to area schools to publicize and celebrate Heritage Week.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

No financial implications are to be considered in this report

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

None

ATTACHMENTS

Appendix A Heritage Markham Extract (January 12, 2005)

Appendix B Heritage Canada – Heritage Day Page

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

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

Figure 1

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