Every year, the City of Ottawa recognizes outstanding achievements in heritage conservation with the Ottawa Heritage Awards.

The application period is now open for projects completed between 2023-2024.

There are now three types of awards: those that are project-based, one for a community member or group, and a new student project category.
 
This year's deadline for applications is Friday, November 1, 2024.
 
Project awards may be presented in seven categories:
 
1. Restoration: Returning a heritage resource to its original form, material, and integrity.
2. Rehabilitation / Adaptive Reuse: Sensitive adaptation of a building or component for a compatible new purpose while retaining heritage character.
3. Infill: New construction in a historic context.
4. Addition: New additions to historic buildings.
5. Government: Awarded to a restoration project at a public sector property.
6. Heritage Grants: Awarded to recipients of funding under the Heritage Grant Program for Building Restoration.
7. Other: Open to projects that contribute to the conservation of Ottawa’s heritage that may not fit into the categories listed above.

Projects could include: 

-    Engineering projects (i.e. bridge restoration)
-    Landscaping projects (i.e. restoration of historic gardens or parks)
-    Alterations bringing a property into compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (i.e. ramps, enhancing digital access to heritage)
 
Some projects may qualify in more than one category. Please note that projects related to properties owned by the federal government will only qualify for the “Government” category.
 
Community Heritage Projects:
 
-   Awarded to an individual or group who has made a positive impact on heritage conservation or has enhanced the community’s understanding of heritage in Ottawa (i.e. heritage walking tours, public art exhibitions, educational programming, blogs or social media campaigns related to heritage, etc.). 
-   Individuals or groups who have included histories that are not well represented, such as Indigenous history, women’s history, LGBTQ2S+ history, and history of racialized and marginalized communities are encouraged to apply.
 
Student-led projects (NEW!):
 
-  Awarded to a student or student group that attends a post-secondary institute and is enrolled in a program related to heritage conservation, i.e. architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, engineering, history, or industrial design.
-  Projects should be based on the conservation of Ottawa’s built heritage and could be theoretical or studio based. Examples of projects could include the documentation of a heritage site, digitization of heritage resources, skilled trades and construction projects, or adaptive reuse projects. 
 
Projects completed between January 2023 and December 2024 are eligible.

For submission guidelines, contact information, or to apply or nominate a project for an award, visit The Ottawa Heritage Awards | City of Ottawa. 
  
Awards will be presented in the Fall of 2025 in collaboration with the Ottawa Urban Design Awards.
 
For more information contact:
Heritage Planning
City of Ottawa
613-580-2463
Email: heritage@ottawa.ca