"Breathing New Life into Old Buildings" is Focus of 2014 Heritage Symposium in Smiths Falls

Photo: 1910 Postcard by Valentine & Son's Publishing Co. Ltd, Courtesy of Toronto Public Library

Thursday, October 9, 2014

A discussion around how to recapture the heritage properties of Smiths Falls and give them a new purpose in the community is the focus of the 3rd Annual Heritage Symposium conference to be held in Smith Falls on Monday, October 20 at the Station Theatre.

I think it's very timely for the Town of Smiths Falls." said Irv Mazurkiewicz, member of the Heritage Advisory Committee which hosts the annual event.

The very visible restoration of the Hotel Rideau on Beckwith Street has started the conversation locally around preservation and adaptive reuse of properties.

"Really, we just want to get people out to have that conversation," said Nicole McKernan, senior planner for the town on the Hotel Rideau project itself. "That is a very pivotal project in downtown."

It's hoped that this project, which plans to completely restore the building's exterior facade including the two-storey covered entranceway, will demonstrate to other heritage property owners what it possible.

The heritage committee is hoping property owners and real estate agents will mark their calendars for the upcoming heritage symposium to learn about how heritage preservation relates to economic benefits and added value.

Examples such as Port Hope and closer to home Perth and Merrickville have proven what can come from a solid preservation plan.

"They're turning that heritage into an economic prospect. Heritage can equate to the economy," Mazurkiewicz said.

The symposium will feature a diverse group of speakers. James Sebele is from the University of Waterloo's Heritage Resource Centre and will take the microphone at the symposium this month. Sebele will speak about his master's research on the impact of heritage designation on real estate values.

Attendees will also have the chance to hear from those who have gotten their hands dirty in the name of heritage preservation. Jan Hawley is an economic development officer who worked in the revitalization of the town of Seaforth. Another strong example of revitalization comes from Richard and Anke Lex of Collingwood who turned the Tremont, a former railway hotel into a multi-use cultural hub.

"It provides context of what heritage can be," McKernan said.

The fourth and final speak is Andrew Jeanes from the Ontario Ministry of Heritage. Mazurkiewicz notes Jeanes will be able to provide detailed information on programs and grants available from the province.

"I think there's going to be a lot of questions for him," he said.

The annual Heritage Symposium has always been well attended. Last year the event hosted 75 people. This year's event is once again being held at the Station Theatre, another fantastic local example of creative reuse of a heritage property.

Admission to the event is $15 or $10 for students. The town is asking for those interested in attending to RSVP by Wednesday, Oct. 15 to Nicole McKernan: nmckernan@smithsfalls.ca or 613-283-4124 ext. 1116.