Photo taken by Victoria Newman
“Heritage plaques are important to people in the London community because it tells the history of our city. As people who live here, we tend to take for granted that this is one of the oldest cities in Canada… we can’t really move forward without looking back a bit,” said Nikki Michienzi, Museum Coordinator at Eldon House.
Heritage is a huge deal especially in places that are so rich in it like London. In London, there are 328 individual properties designated as heritage properties, and seven heritage conservation districts pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act.
Heritage designated properties come with the blue plaques that you see. It provides a sign that that property is significant for its cultural heritage value and/or interest.
Kyle Gonyou who is a Heritage Planner with the city of London explained that heritage designated properties are “a tangible, physical link to our past. They help to connect us to where we’ve been as a community and help us to understand what makes our community unique and difference.” And that it is through these places that we can understand more about ourselves and our city.
When it comes to heritage designation only certain things can be designated. Designation is limited to real property such as buildings and bridges. But “movable objects, such as a painting, cannot be designated pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act,” said Gonyou.
Not every heritage property is that same meaning that they all carry with them specific rules and regulations that they must follow.
As Gonyou explained, some properties can be renovated on the inside but must maintain the from of their house where as others could be such that there is historical value on the inside of the house and so the inside cannot be renovated. It all really depends upon each property and what has been designated as heritage for that given property.
Photo by Victoria Newman
But then there are also properties that not only must abide by the rules set out in the Ontario Heritage Act but also by another set of rules such as the Eldon House. The Eldon House was given to the city from the Harris family as a museum for people to come and see a part of our past.
Michienzi explained that the Eldon House is “a different beast” because they have to follow “rules and restrictions left by the Harris family but also by museum standards,” as well as city heritage standards.
Heritage is always evolving, and it is important that we preserve these buildings and properties for future generations.
But as to why so many people are so interested in heritage properties, Dorothy Palmer who is a Recording Secretary for ACO London said that heritage properties have persevered throughout time and that everyone “should be able to look at interesting and beautiful architecture at some point” so that people can have that beauty in their lives everyday.
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