Advocacy
Heritage Ottawa promotes the preservation of Ottawa’s distinctive built heritage and cultural landscapes. We speak out for and defend worthy heritage properties that are at risk of inappropriate intervention or loss.
Heritage Ottawa maintains contact with the City of Ottawa Heritage Department and makes regular presentations to the Built Heritage Committee, the Planning and Housing Committee, and Finance and Corporate Services committees at Ottawa City Hall relating to the rezoning, alteration and intensification of properties and areas protected by the Ontario Heritage Act.
We respond and comment on federal plans and studies as they relate to heritage properties in the National Capital Region: 24 Sussex Drive, Alexandra Bridge, Central Experimental Farm, Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site, and others.
We respond to dozens of media interview requests relating to the above properties as well as Lansdowne 2.0, Somerset House, Saint Brigid's, and the ongoing challenge of heritage demolition-by-neglect in our neighbourhoods.
To learn more about our major advocacy efforts, visit 50 Years | 50 Stories on our website.
HERITAGE OTTAWA
Our heritage stands at a critical crossroads.
A controversial application for major alterations to Ottawa's Château Laurier, if allowed to proceed as proposed,…
CBC News Ottawa, By Waubgeshig Rice
A City of Ottawa plan to build a rapid transit corridor along Baseline Road includes expropriating part of the Central Experimental Farm, and that has…
Heritage Ottawa was honoured to have Councillor Tobi Nussbaum deliver the following keynote address at our January 'Heritage Ottawa at 50' event.
By Councillor Tobi Nussbaum
We…
OTTAWA CITIZEN, by Leslie Maitland
The last week has been a roller-coaster ride for the citizens of Ottawa. First, many were encouraged to see the National Capital Commission Board vote in…
HERITAGE OTTAWA
The Château Laurier, a prominent Ottawa landmark since 1912, is clearly a special place.
A National Historic Site of Canada and a designated structure under the…
HERITAGE OTTAWA, By Leslie Maitland
Heritage Ottawa welcomes the National Capital Commission’s recommendation of Tunney’s Pasture as the preferred site for a new Civic Campus of The Ottawa…
METRO NEWS / OTTAWA, By Adam Kveton
A new provincial bill is requiring cities like Ottawa to create planning advisory committees in an effort to encourage greater…
Today, October 6, is the last day to have your say on the location of a future hospital campus.
Heritage Ottawa remains concerned for the future of the Central Experimental Farm.…
OTTAWA CITIZEN, By Barry Padolsky
In November 2014, the former Stephen Harper government allocated 60 acres of the Central Experimental Farm, a National Historic Site, for a new Civic…
OTTAWA SUN, By Don Butler
The National Capital Commission will review 12 potential sites for the new $2-billion Civic campus of The Ottawa Hospital, including four on contested Central…
Heritage Ottawa continues to advocate for protection of the Central Experimental Farm, a National Historic Site of Canada and active scientific research facility of global significance. The Farm…
HERITAGE OTTAWA
On August 18, several members of Heritage Ottawa's board of directors welcomed the opportunity to tour the former U.S. Embassy…
OTTAWA CITIZEN, By Matthew Pearson
The first thing Mayor Jim Watson’s new heritage task force must do is ensure the city’s property standards bylaw is being actively enforced,…
CITY OF OTTAWA
The City of Ottawa will create a heritage matters task force that will monitor heritage properties on a regular basis to help encourage the proper maintenance and protection…
HERITAGE OTTAWA
Formerly a grand landmark at the intersection of Bank and Somerset Streets, Somerset House appears doomed to be demolished piece-by-piece.
The building has stood…
HERITAGE OTTAWA
Advocating for the protection of Ottawa's built heritage and cultural landscapes is an ongoing effort for…
OTTAWA CITIZEN, Editorial Board
There has been “confusion” about how the public is to be consulted on building a new Civic campus for The Ottawa Hospital, admits CEO Dr. Jack Kitts.…
OTTAWA CITIZEN, By Aeden Helmer
The public was finally given the chance to offer feedback on the site of the city’s new multibillion-dollar hospital on Monday night, and the people didn’t…
OTTAWA CITIZEN, By Elizabeth Payne
It is time for Ottawa residents to “resolve our differences” over the location of a new Civic hospital and forge a plan for a new one, The Ottawa…
CBC Morning
Is the Central Experimental Farm the best site for a new hospital in Ottawa?
After the controversy over the Central Experimental Farm site, The Ottawa Hospital is now…
Heritage Ottawa and the Coalition to Protect the Central Experimental Farm remain concerned that the Farm is still the principle target for a new site for the Ottawa Hospital. We can still achieve…
CBC News, By Amanda Pfeffer
Key stakeholders in a controversial decision in 2014 to lease land from the Central Experimental Farm (CEF) to The Ottawa Hospital were kept in the dark in…
OTTAWA CITIZEN, By Elizabeth Payne
More than a year after announcing a new Civic hospital would be built on 60 acres of the historic Central Experimental Farm, The Ottawa Hospital now says…
CBC News, By Amanda Pfeffer
The Ottawa Hospital will review whether the 24-hectare Experimental Farm lands are the best site for its new facility, CBC News has learned.
Eight years…
NATIONAL OBSERVER, By Mike De Souza
The Harper government broke federal cabinet rules when it attempted to transfer a historic and culturally significant piece of land, said Ottawa’s…
HERITAGE OTTAWA
In response to a letter signed by nearly 50 agricultural and climate change scientists and heritage advocates including Heritage Ottawa, Federal Environment…
CBC News | Ottawa
The Ottawa Hospital's chief of staff says he will leave the decision about where to build a new facility to replace the century-old Civic campus "up to the politicians…
CBC News, By Amanda Pfeffer
Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna told reporters she has "concerns" about the impending transfer of 24 hectares of land from the Central…
By Tobi Nussbaum
At today’s City Council meeting, permission was granted to Richcraft Homes to take down the iconic Bradley/Craig Barn in Stittsville and move it to Saunders Farm, over 20…
The Western Producer, By Robert Amason
A coalition of scientists and heritage advocates are trying to save what may be the second oldest piece of agricultural research land in the world.…
HERITAGE OTTAWA
A growing number of citizens and local organizations are voicing their concerns that the landmark Bradley-Craig Farmstead - a designated heritage property - should remain…
HERITAGE OTTAWA
Heritage Ottawa's Leslie Maitland appeared on CBC Television's Our Ottawa today to discuss the heritage significance of 24 Sussex Drive and Rideau Cottage.
When…
HERITAGE OTTAWA
In consultation with members of the New Edinburgh Community Alliance and Heritage Ottawa, City Heritage staff have drafted a new Heritage Conservation District Plan for New…
HERITAGE OTTAWA, by Linda Hoad, Vice-President, Programs
City Moves Towards New Heritage DesignationsThere was a full agenda at the Built Heritage Sub-Committee (BHSC) meeting of August 13…
HERITAGE OTTAWA
At the public meeting of the National Capital Commission ( NCC) Open House held on June 25, 2015, Heritage Ottawa President David Jeanes sought to clarify the role of…
HERITAGE OTTAWA
At the public meeting of the Ottawa Hospital held on June 24, 2015 Leslie Maitland, Past President of Heritage Ottawa and Dr. Clarke Topp, Professor Emeritus…
HERITAGE OTTAWA
Today the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, Heritage Ottawa, and architects Barry Padolsky and Shirley Blumberg began an application in the Federal Court…
HERITAGE OTTAWA
The National Capital Commission (NCC) will hold its Annual Public Meeting on Thursday, June 25.
Heritage Ottawa's President, David Jeanes, has registered the…
HERITAGE OTTAWA, By Leslie Maitland
The Medical Arts Building has passed the first hurdle towards designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. At yesterday's meeting of…
Heritage Ottawa continues to advocate for the integrity of the Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site, a place which belongs to all Canadians and has immense importance as a scientific…
Heritage Ottawa continues to advocate on behalf of the Central Experimental Farm. Here is a brief report of our recent actions.
In December 2014, Heritage Ottawa wrote to Dr. Jack Kitts,…
The following submission was made by Heritage Ottawa to the Built Heritage Subcommittee on April 9, 2015.
9 April 2015
Heritage Ottawa to Built Heritage Sub-Committee (…
Re: 2015 Draft Operating and Capital Budget - 2015.02.24 - Agenda Item 10
For more than 40 years Heritage Ottawa volunteers have worked with City Council and staff,…
HERITAGE OTTAWA, By Leslie Maitland
The recent announcement that 60 acres will be severed from the Central Experimental Farm (CEF) raises serious concerns for the future of this culturally…
HERITAGE OTTAWA, By Leslie Maitland
The Built Heritage Sub-Committee (BHSC) has recommended the designation of St. Anne's Rectory, located at 17 Myrand Street in Lowertown, under Part IV…
HERITAGE OTTAWA, By Leslie Maitland
Heritage Ottawa supports the position of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) that the proposed Memorial to the Victims of Communism be…
HERITAGE OTTAWA, By Leslie Maitland
The recent OMB ruling in favour of a developer's proposal to build new student housing in Sandy HIll points to certain weaknesses in our city's heritage…
HERITAGE OTTAWA, By Leslie Maitland
Today marked the first meeting of the newly-constituted Built Heritge Sub-Committee (BHSC). The purpose of this Committee is to consider City staff…
OTTAWA CITIZEN, By Matthew Pearson
City staff are recommending that the Built Heritage Subcommittee approve an application to alter an historic home in Alta Vista, despite concerns from…